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 Haisla Boulevard pedestrian walkway bridge. Photos include bridge before centre support was installed, and after.
Notes
Further info on the walkway bridge - the pedestrian overpass was designed by John Ware to carry people, heavy wet snow loads and walkway snow plow, with a large saftey factor. The central span was designed as the maximum length of concrete double 'Tee' beam that could be carried on an open flatbed railroad car through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The pre-stressed central span was supported on each end by poured reinforced concrete cantilevers built clear of the multi-lane highway. Initial structural calculations were done out by the very capable Kitimat Town Engineer Graydon. His calculations were checked by Kitimat's consulting engineering firm in Vancouver. Ware's design and the engineer's calculations were then sent to a pre-stressed concrete manufacturer in Calgary. When the beam arrived it was properly installed between the two cantilevers, and metal handrails were added just before the winter snow arrived. The bridge was deseigned to self support without any needed centre support. However, when city officials saw the light looking long span walkway bridge they decided that it was too fragile and that a column must be placed at mid span to give it adequate support. This decision would result in a fatal vehicle accident, as wet snows caused a driver to lose control and crash into it.
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 Haisla Boulevard pedestrian walkway bridge concept.
Preliminary sketch design for walkway bridge over 4 lane divided highway. Designed by Jack Ware in collaboration with:
Kitimat municipal structural engineer-Bryan Graydon
Kitimat municipal structural engineering consultants-Vancouver
Note
Center prestressed beam is supported by the cantilevered beams at each end
Prestressed beam was the longest beam that could be carried on a rail flatbed car across tocky mountains in 1958
Design of supports was simplified to round columns for ease of construction
Notes
Further info on the walkway bridge - the pedestrian overpass was designed by John Ware to carry people, heavy wet snow loads and walkway snow plow, with a large saftey factor. The central span was designed as the maximum length of concrete double 'Tee' beam that could be carried on an open flatbed railroad car through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The pre-stressed central span was supported on each end by poured reinforced concrete cantilevers built clear of the multi-lane highway. Initial structural calculations were done out by the very capable Kitimat Town Engineer Graydon. His calculations were checked by Kitimat's consulting engineering firm in Vancouver. Ware's design and the engineer's calculations were then sent to a pre-stressed concrete manufacturer in Calgary. When the beam arrived it was properly installed between the two cantilevers, and metal handrails were added just before the winter snow arrived. The bridge was deseigned to self support without any needed centre support. However, when city officials saw the light looking long span walkway bridge they decided that it was too fragile and that a column must be placed at mid span to give it adequate support. This decision would result in a fatal vehicle accident, as wet snows caused a driver to lose control and crash into it.
Photographs of early Kitimat and Alcan smelter. Souvenir photobook with five photos.
Townsite with Mount Elizabeth in background. Smoke is visible beyond townsite in the forest. May 15, 1956.
Townsite with sandhill visible in background. May 15, 1956.
Main Road - Motel - Townsite. View of road leading from service centre into town. Kildala area cleared but not much is built. Kitimat River bridge visible at bottom. Aug 1955.
Kitimat Valley. View of Alcan site, hospital beach, and pier. Looking north.
Smeltersite. View of Alcan smelter and smeltersite.
Donated by Carol Larson. Originally belonged to her mother, Lydia Strecheniuk.
Scope and Content
Photographs of early Kitimat and Alcan smelter. Souvenir photobook with five photos.
Townsite with Mount Elizabeth in background. Smoke is visible beyond townsite in the forest. May 15, 1956.
Townsite with sandhill visible in background. May 15, 1956.
Main Road - Motel - Townsite. View of road leading from service centre into town. Kildala area cleared but not much is built. Kitimat River bridge visible at bottom. Aug 1955.
Kitimat Valley. View of Alcan site, hospital beach, and pier. Looking north.
Smeltersite. View of Alcan smelter and smeltersite.
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 Girl Guide Camp, Phylis Munday Trainer
a- Kitimat Guide Camp July 58. Fancy dress Joanne Rewers. Dresses appear to be made from tree branches?
b- Kitimat Guide Camp Lakelse Lake July 58. District Commissioner Les Creed. Patrol Leader (2nd co) Nyl Creed. Standing in front of a tree.
c- Kitimat Guide's Camp July 58. Captain 2nd co. Joan Nyeste. Wearing fancy tropical dress, with others also in dress.
d- Kitimat Guide Camp July 58. Trainer - Phyl Munday (the famnous mountain climber recently on thrill of a lifetime on Mt. Waddington) demonstrating earth cooking pit.
e- Kitimat Guide Camp July 58. Leaders Mollie Bush (3rd c/o), Peg Hammond (2nd), (demonstarting uses for aluminum foil in ??)
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 Girl Guide Camp, Phylis Munday Trainer
a- Kitimat Guide Camp July 58. Fancy dress Joanne Rewers. Dresses appear to be made from tree branches?
b- Kitimat Guide Camp Lakelse Lake July 58. District Commissioner Les Creed. Patrol Leader (2nd co) Nyl Creed. Standing in front of a tree.
c- Kitimat Guide's Camp July 58. Captain 2nd co. Joan Nyeste. Wearing fancy tropical dress, with others also in dress.
d- Kitimat Guide Camp July 58. Trainer - Phyl Munday (the famnous mountain climber recently on thrill of a lifetime on Mt. Waddington) demonstrating earth cooking pit.
e- Kitimat Guide Camp July 58. Leaders Mollie Bush (3rd c/o), Peg Hammond (2nd), (demonstarting uses for aluminum foil in ??)
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.
