Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2022.059.002 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Description |
Five men walking on railway tracks. Wooden buildings, possibly bunkhouses, can be seen on the left. Written on the back: "1932 Wellburn - Cameron Tie Mill Mile 61.4 C.N.R." |
Image File Name |
1932 - Cameron Tie Mill - Mile 61.4 - 2022059002 - jpg72 - 001 |
Date (y/m/d) |
1932/ / |
Place |
Mile 61.4 |
Provenance |
Mile 61.4 was part of the Deerholme to Cowichan Lake route for the Canadian National Railroad Cowichan Subdivision. The CNR Cowichan Subdivision ran from Victoria in the east to Youbou in the west. The line was opened in 1925, and CN established a daily passenger service to Youbou. It was abandoned in 1979. Due to what is written on the back, it is believed this photo possibly depicts Wellburn Timbers Limited. Gerry Wellburn founded Wellburn Timbers Limited in 1928 and later sold it to his friend H.R. MacMillan in the mid-1940's, though he remained as the company's manager. Wellburn was also the founder of the BC Forest Discovery Centre. Born in Yorkshire, England in 1900, Gerry moved to Victoria with his family where his father ran a grocery store at the corner of Pandora and Cook. Young Gerry had started collecting stamps in England so when he discovered both British Columbia and Vancouver Island had once issued their own stamps, he became fascinated. In 1923, he moved his wife Ethel May and daughter Lois to Courtenay where he worked in logging and sawmilling. In the early 1930's he founded Wellburn Timbers Ltd., a sawmilling and logging company in Duncan. In 1943 he sold the company to his friend H. R. MacMillan and continued on as manager of what is now the Shawnigan Division of MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. During his career, Gerry started logging with six horses; progressed to using steam yarders and was one of the first to use Caterpillar tractors and trucks. Other accomplishments of his include being: a founder of the Truck Loggers Association, made an honorary member of the Association of Professional Foresters, the president of the Duncan Chamber of Commerce and the Victory Bond sales drives, and the Chairman of the Duncan Hospital Society for 12 years. He opened the BC Forestry Museum (now the BC Forest Discovery Centre) opened in 1965. |
Search Terms |
railroad tracks logging camp bunkhouses people Canadian Pacific Railway Deerholme Cowichan Subdivision Mile 61.4 Wellburn timbers limited Cameron Tie Mill |
Collection |
Wellburn |
Subjects |
People People associated with manual labor Camp Buildings & Structures Documentary, Cowichan Valley Road & Railway Construction |