From the years 1953-1958, Mike Kinnear took photos during his school years, until graduation, while working for Fred Ryan Ltd. after school and holidays. Photos for him was a hobby, and he took many photos of the smelter and townsite as it grew around him. Mike also took a number of photos for the Kitimat Northern Sentinel, during the Ken Brumley and Pixie Meldrum years as editors. Mike and his family left Kitimat in 1958, but he spent the best part of 40 years in the photographic field, mainly in the retail/wholesale part of the photo industry.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret and Mike Kinnear.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Kemano Power House interior. View is from above, looking down at the generators.
View of the gravel fill in place for some of the houses being erected by Hullah construction on Swallow Street. Note the prefabricated forms under erection in centre background.
View of the gravel fill in place for some of the houses being erected by Hullah construction on Swallow Street. Note the prefabricated forms under erection in centre background.
Photo depicts flat-top temporary housing lining the hillside up to the Aluminum City Motel at the treeline. View is northwest. Grader on Kuldo Boulevard.
Photo depicts flat-top temporary housing lining the hillside up to the Aluminum City Motel at the treeline. View is northwest. Grader on Kuldo Boulevard.
Notes
Alcan Negative No. 29337. -- The circus tent assembly line was erected . Temporary housing destined for Kitimat was assembled at Vancouver Tug and Barge below the Lion's Gate Bridge in three sections, then barged to Kitimat - 10 houses or 30 sections on each barge. -- Electrician Bill Frahler wired approximately 2,000 houses in Kitimat camps and townsite between 1954 and 1958, working first for Johnson-Crooks then Straits Construction, both U.S. contractors.
