Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2022.044.002a-b |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Description |
Two photos depicting men and a steam donkey mounted on a sled. .a): Three men leaning on the side of the steam donkey on an unpaved road. .b): Steam donkey and men are now in a logged area, two men on the front of the donkey's sled, and one man (likely the 'donkey puncher') standing at the winch(?). Cables can also be seen at the top of the photograph, extending out of frame. |
Image File Name |
1939-42 - Steam Donkey & men - Franklin River Area, Camp B - 2022044002a-b - jpg72 - 001 |
Year Range from |
1939 |
Year Range to |
1942 |
Place |
Franklin River Area, Camp B |
Provenance |
Both photographs were taken at Franklin River's Camp B (Corrigan Creek). Camp B was opened in 1936 by Bloedel, Stewart & Welch. It was originally built along Corrigan Creek and was moved twice. It was moved to Parsons Creek and the old Canadian National Railroad in 1940. In 1945, Camp B was moved from Parson’s Creek to Coleman Creek. It became a massive logging operation, housing 400 workers and 35 families. Married couples and single workers were housed in seperate bunkhouses. Logging camps in general would also be racially segregated. Camp B had a recreation hall, a school and even a swimming pool. By the 1980s the camp's accomodations closed down as the workers began to commute to work from Port Alberni. Camp A was built at Franklin River. A railroad following Franklin River for four miles and then turning south along Corrigan Creek was also built. A 'donkey puncher' is an engineer who would operate the steam donkey. A steam donkey is a steam powered winch that was used to move logs. Bloedel, Stewart & Welch (BS&W) was formed in 1911 by US lumberman Julius Bloedel and railway contractors John Stewart and Patrick Welch. BS&W's first logging operation was at Myrtle Point, near Powell River. By 1925, BS&W had purchased and was logging extensive holdings of prime timber in the Union Bay, Menzies Bay, and Alberni areas on Vancouver Island. In 1951 Bloedel, Stewart and Welch merged with H.R. MacMillan to form MacMillan Bloedel Limited. BS&W's Alberni operations included several logging camps on Great Central Lake (GCL). Camp 3, a railway camp, was located approximately 13 km up GCL on the east side. Camp 6, also a railway camp, was located at the head of the Lake at the mouth of the Drinkwater Creek. Camp 7 was a float camp and was moved from place to place as needed. Camp 8 was re-established as a logging camp headquarters after the closure of the Great Central Sawmill (1925-52) located at Boot Lagoon. Camp 9, another railway camp, was located approximately 10.5 km up GCL on the west side. |
Search Terms |
Camp B Franklin River Corrigan Creek Bloedel, Stewart & Welch Steam donkey skidder people BS&W MacMillan Bloedel M&B cable logging cold deck |
Collection |
Documentary, Vancouver Island |
People |
Wallinger |
Subjects |
People People associated with manual labor Yarding & Loading Heavy Equipment Camp |