James McNay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 31, 1907. Between 1951 and 1953, he worked in the payroll department for Alcan. He had to leave his wife Effie and his two young daughters, Margaret and Diane, aged 6 and 5 in 1951, at home in Surrey, B.C., during his 3-4 month stints in Kitimat. To fill some of his free time and show his family where he was and what Kitimat was like, he spent many hours walking in the area with a 35mm Kodak camera. He photographed the scenic beauty of the area and parts of the construction of both the smelters and the town. He died in Surrey on August 7, 1983.
Custodial History
Donated by Margaret McNay. Images were taken by her father and sent to their family in Surrey in the 1950s.
Scope and Content
Slide showing logged area. Lots of tree stumps, and a pile of logs on the left. Standing forest in behind. Near smeltersite? Service Centre?
Photo showing the muck dredged from the wharf area to provide sufficient water space for large ships dumped on these barges by the Clamshell Bucket and towed out into deep water by a small motor boat, the TD-9 dozer goes to work pushing the load off as they move along.
Photo showing the muck dredged from the wharf area to provide sufficient water space for large ships dumped on these barges by the Clamshell Bucket and towed out into deep water by a small motor boat, the TD-9 dozer goes to work pushing the load off as they move along.
Photo showing Vancouver Tug and Barge Co. Marine Towing Equipment moored at temporary wharf, the tugs ``Ladene`` and ``Labelle`` were used during towing, careening and placing of caissons.
Photo showing Vancouver Tug and Barge Co. Marine Towing Equipment moored at temporary wharf, the tugs ``Ladene`` and ``Labelle`` were used during towing, careening and placing of caissons.
Photo showing barge beached near the mouth of Moore Creek after a bad storm during the night of 8-9 December, no damage was done to the scow or load of housing material for the townsite.
Photo showing barge beached near the mouth of Moore Creek after a bad storm during the night of 8-9 December, no damage was done to the scow or load of housing material for the townsite.
Photo depicts a view of Minette Bay scow grid with two barges being unloaded. The left barge is loaded with Johnson Crooks materials and the right barge with Hullah Construction materials.
Photo depicts a view of Minette Bay scow grid with two barges being unloaded. The left barge is loaded with Johnson Crooks materials and the right barge with Hullah Construction materials.
Photo depicts a view of Minette Bay scow grid with two barges being unloaded. The left barge is loaded with Johnson Crooks materials and the right barge with Hullah Construction materials.
Photo depicts a view of Minette Bay scow grid with two barges being unloaded. The left barge is loaded with Johnson Crooks materials and the right barge with Hullah Construction materials.
Notes
Title based on content of photograph. -- Alcan ID No. BC-2-1061. Alcan Collection 78.11.89
Photo depicts two barges moored in Douglas Channel and loaded with flat-top house sections for construction workers and their families.
Notes
Title based on content of photograph. -- 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. Pat Jimenez Collection
