John Ware was a past employee of the Kitimat Town Planning Department (1957-1959). He was hired by Hollister Kent, Planning Director for Kitimat. During his two years here, Dr. ware designed the first Kitimat street signs, the Haisla Boulevard overpass, and the Hirsch Creek Park shelter centennial project (1858-1958). He was layed off when Alcan lost major Aluminum buyers and the town expansion halted, resulting in a cut back of Kirtimat employees. He then moved to the USA.
Custodial History
Donated by John Ware.
Scope and Content
Photographs of the Hirsch Creek shelter planning, construction, and completed structure.
Three black & white images show planning. One concept sketch, and two copies of a plan showing different angles of the structure.
Two colour images of construction showing interior
Two sepia images showing completed structure and view of interior
One small black & white image of near completion, with construction sacffolding on outer wall. A woman is next to it.
Four black & white images of completed roof. Woman standing on roof in one.
Ten black & white images of completed structure in winter. Sculpture is visible.
Notes
Further info on the shelter - the shelter was one of about five ideas that John Ware was asked to come up with by the Kitimat Centennial Committee. He then decided the this version would be the one to fit the build. The yellow glazed bricks were imported from Texas, even though they were ordered from a Canadian firm. He wanted a bright permanent colour that would require little maintenece. The 'sculpture' was made of pieces of triangular sheet steel on steel supports, with a colored enamel finish - similar to the original fireplace, which was red. The triangular sheets that made up the sculpture yellow and green? and intended to look like steel fir trees. The likely reason the sculpture was removed was that there was a fear if anyone climbed onto the shelter and jump down, they may impale themselves on the sharp steel.
One photograph of Kitimat Night School "Talking Shop" Mrs. Rosalie Gray (teacher) and Jean Kintsos (14 May 1957). One photograph of unknown construction workers in Kitimat (no date).
Photographs taken by James Tirrul-Jones in his role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
One photograph of Kitimat Night School "Talking Shop" Mrs. Rosalie Gray (teacher) and Jean Kintsos (14 May 1957). One photograph of unknown construction workers in Kitimat (no date).
Notes
983.42.1 to 5 (Missing 2 to 4) : R51-0a and R51-4a
Photographs consisting of images of men in Kitimat, water depth measuring stick, machinery, offices, buildings, Bank of Montreal, Boy Scouts camp, boy scouts flagpole, canoeing, boats, docks, Alcan construction, Delta King, trailers, Douglas Channel, Smeltersite, Smeltersite Project sign, Moore Creek falls, and Moore Creek bridge.
Photographs consisting of images of men in Kitimat, water depth measuring stick, machinery, offices, buildings, Bank of Montreal, Boy Scouts camp, boy scouts flagpole, canoeing, boats, docks, Alcan construction, Delta King, trailers, Douglas Channel, Smeltersite, Smeltersite Project sign, Moore Creek falls, and Moore Creek bridge.
Series contains 38 photographs (37 b&w; 1 colour), mainly showing scenery and buildings around Kitimat in the early 1950s. Subjects depicted include: Hudson's Bay store steps, Mount Elizabeth, power lines, Kemano near Kildala Pass, a baby girl (presumably Nancy Anne Marciniak), bunkhouses, construction machines, buildings under construction, smeltersite, highways, early neighborhoods, Kitamaat Village, and the Kitimat River.
Mike (Miecyszlaw) and Nancy Marciniak lived and worked in Kitimat in the 1950s. Their daughter, Nancy Anne, was born here in 1957.
Custodial History
Items were donated by Nancy Hickinbottom (nee Marciniak) to the Kitimat Museum & Archives in November 2014.
Scope and Content
Series contains 38 photographs (37 b&w; 1 colour), mainly showing scenery and buildings around Kitimat in the early 1950s. Subjects depicted include: Hudson's Bay store steps, Mount Elizabeth, power lines, Kemano near Kildala Pass, a baby girl (presumably Nancy Anne Marciniak), bunkhouses, construction machines, buildings under construction, smeltersite, highways, early neighborhoods, Kitamaat Village, and the Kitimat River.
Various types of wild plants in Kitimat such as Twisted Stalk, Queen's Cup, Fairy Bells, Baneberry, Elderberry, White Baneberry, White Heather, Rose Hips, Red-osier Dogwood, Wax Berry, Red Huckleberry, Thimble berry, Alaska Blueberries, Bunchberries, Cranberries, Sitka Mountain Ash, Creeping raspberry, and Mountain cranberry.
Photograph taken by Gisela Mendel in her role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
Various types of wild plants in Kitimat such as Twisted Stalk, Queen's Cup, Fairy Bells, Baneberry, Elderberry, White Baneberry, White Heather, Rose Hips, Red-osier Dogwood, Wax Berry, Red Huckleberry, Thimble berry, Alaska Blueberries, Bunchberries, Cranberries, Sitka Mountain Ash, Creeping raspberry, and Mountain cranberry.
Photograph of aerial view of Kitimat townsite, 1975. Nechako, Kildala, and in progress Whitesail, and neighbourhood D clearing sites visible. Alcan and Eurcan sites also visible on right side.
Photos donated by Joan Smith for Anglican Church 50th Anniversary. Donated in April 2003.
Scope and Content
Photograph of aerial view of Kitimat townsite, 1975. Nechako, Kildala, and in progress Whitesail, and neighbourhood D clearing sites visible. Alcan and Eurcan sites also visible on right side.
Photographs of 2nd Kitimat Guide Co.
a- Thinking day Feb 22, 56. District Commissioner Leslie Creed. Assistant Leader Josephine Rewers, 2nd Kitimat Guide co. Sitting on gym floor.
b- 2nd Kitimat Girl Guide co. 1st birthday party Feb 57. Assistant Leader Joe Rewers. District Commissioner Les Creed, Velma Kernigham. Cutting a cake.
Gabriel (Gabor) Nyeste was one of the leaders of the Scouts of the First Kitimat Troop (Boy Scouts). He moved to Kitimat to work on the Alcan project and left in the early 60s. He passed away in Kamloops in July 2020.
Custodial History
Donated by Gabriel Nyeste, Aug 6 1983.
Scope and Content
Photographs of 2nd Kitimat Guide Co.
a- Thinking day Feb 22, 56. District Commissioner Leslie Creed. Assistant Leader Josephine Rewers, 2nd Kitimat Guide co. Sitting on gym floor.
b- 2nd Kitimat Girl Guide co. 1st birthday party Feb 57. Assistant Leader Joe Rewers. District Commissioner Les Creed, Velma Kernigham. Cutting a cake.
Photos were taken by John Stokes, a Federal Fisheries employee who visited Kitimat for work purposes. Likely taken from a floatplane while landing in the area.
Custodial History
Donated by George Stokes in April 2023.
Scope and Content
Three aerial images of Kitimat neighbourhoods (Nechako area) in 1956.