Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2020.013.027 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Description |
A chokerman, also called choker setters, attaching cables to a partially lifted log for retrieval via a grapple loader. "Hillcrest Lumber Co. LTD. Mesachie Lake" painted on its side. "H. Co / 9 - 51(?)" written on the lower right. 9 - 51 could be the date of the photograph, although it is partially obscured. |
Image File Name |
1951 - Hillcrest Chokerman & Loader - Mesachie Lake - 2020013027 - jpg72 - 001 |
Date (y/m/d) |
1951/09/ |
Place |
Mesachie Lake |
Provenance |
In 1917, Carlton Stone built a sawmill in Sahtlam, BC, five miles west of Duncan, BC on Vancouver Island. It was destined to become the largest independently owned family sawmill in British Columbia, employing some 300 employees in the sawmill / planer mill complex and another 50 in the logging division. The company operated in Sahtlam from 1917 to 1943 and when the timber was depleted, Stone moved the whole operation lock, stock and barrel by rail to Mesachie Lake, BC, 19 miles west of Duncan, BC past the town of Lake Cowichan (From: The Last Whistle - Hillcrest Lumber Company LTD by Cecil Ashley). From 1942 to 1968, Hillcrest Lumber Company was at Mesachie Lake. The mill closed when it no longer had an adequate timber supply. At its peak, it employed 450 people. There were 40 houses for employees and their families, a church, a school, a playing field and the community hall. Photograph is part of an album donated by Norman Stone, who was one of the Carlton's sons. |
Photographer |
Gold, Wilmer |
Search Terms |
People Logging Grapple Loader Chokerman Hillcrest Lumber Company Mesachie Lake |
Collection |
Heavy Equipment |
People |
Stone Gold |
Subjects |
Yarding & Loading Documentary, Cowichan Valley People People associated with manual labor |