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 Multipurpose Recreation Building and Hirsch Creek Shelter concepts. Negative tones.
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.
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 preliminary colour perspective sketch designs for park shelters using aluminum components. Kitimat 1958.
Negatives showing the Nechako Reservoir, the Kenney Dam, & the Skins Lake Spillway which were built to create hydroelectric power to be used by the Alcan aluminum smelter in Kitimat. Also pictured is Des Lake, Alcan barge Tahtsa II at East Tahtsa, a view of the Entiako River as it enters the Nechako Reservoir, an underwater cutting barge, & Eurocan's logging operation at Andrews Bay on Ootsa Lake.
Negatives showing the Nechako Reservoir, the Kenney Dam, & the Skins Lake Spillway which were built to create hydroelectric power to be used by the Alcan aluminum smelter in Kitimat. Also pictured is Des Lake, Alcan barge Tahtsa II at East Tahtsa, a view of the Entiako River as it enters the Nechako Reservoir, an underwater cutting barge, & Eurocan's logging operation at Andrews Bay on Ootsa Lake.
Photographs of a pioneer site in the area of the Upper Kitimat River. Photographs include a pitted cedar tree, an old cabin site, test pits, old boots found at cabin site, an old dugout, and notched/squared off logs.
14 photograph prints : b&w ; 9 x 12.5cm
4 photograph prints : b&w ; 12.5 x 9cm
Custodial History
Photographs taken by James Tirrul-Jones in his role as museum curator.
Scope and Content
Photographs of a pioneer site in the area of the Upper Kitimat River. Photographs include a pitted cedar tree, an old cabin site, test pits, old boots found at cabin site, an old dugout, and notched/squared off logs.
Photocopies of documents from John McLachlan's early years with Alcan. Includes Offer of Employment, Letter of Acceptance, Personnel Introduction Form, Decaration of Regular Employment, and Job Description.
John McLachlan arrived in Kitimat in 1953 and went on to work at Alcan's Property Engineering Department for almost 40 years. He started out as a land surveyor and cartographer in the town's early years and ended his career as a Senior Legal Draftsmen.
Scope and Content
Photocopies of documents from John McLachlan's early years with Alcan. Includes Offer of Employment, Letter of Acceptance, Personnel Introduction Form, Decaration of Regular Employment, and Job Description.
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.
