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 cleared out area at smeltersite. Raised mound towards the middle with vehicle tracks. Douglas Channel visible in distance.
Slide showing cleared out area at smeltersite for smelter construction. Equipment working in distance. On the left, a bit of a potline framework is visible.
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 cleared out area at smeltersite for smelter construction. Equipment working in distance. On the left, a bit of a potline framework is visible.
N/W corner of Smelter Site, looking east. North access road in left foreground. Area for service buildings in center foreground. Cold deck pile No. 1 in right foreground. Overburden disposal ramp in background.
N/W corner of Smelter Site, looking east. North access road in left foreground. Area for service buildings in center foreground. Cold deck pile No. 1 in right foreground. Overburden disposal ramp in background.
Photograph of service building area looking southeast transformer repair pit slab in foreground. Structural steel being placed in forge dshop and warehouse prior to erection. Crane visible working. Douglas Channel in background.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of service building area looking southeast transformer repair pit slab in foreground. Structural steel being placed in forge dshop and warehouse prior to erection. Crane visible working. Douglas Channel in background.
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. K.C. administration building left foreground. Ground water ditch in front of pre-cast concrete yard. Service building area with pre-cast panels in place for forge shop and warehouse. Footing forms prepared for potroom 2C at right.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. K.C. administration building left foreground. Ground water ditch in front of pre-cast concrete yard. Service building area with pre-cast panels in place for forge shop and warehouse. Footing forms prepared for potroom 2C at right.
Photograph of view looking north-east over initial area cleared for smelter service building construction. Light area has been gravel filled, dark area overburden to be stripped. Trucks and machinery visible at work.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of view looking north-east over initial area cleared for smelter service building construction. Light area has been gravel filled, dark area overburden to be stripped. Trucks and machinery visible at work.
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. Precast yard and storage in foreground. Structural steel being erected in service buildings. Forms being placed for building 153 and rectifier building 102. Trucks dumping backfill behind. Burning in townsite area left background.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. Precast yard and storage in foreground. Structural steel being erected in service buildings. Forms being placed for building 153 and rectifier building 102. Trucks dumping backfill behind. Burning in townsite area left background.
Photograph of view looking north-west showing local shops and excavation of surcharge from the site of potlining mix plant bldg. 244. Some vehicles and machinery outside. Smeltersite homes in background.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of view looking north-west showing local shops and excavation of surcharge from the site of potlining mix plant bldg. 244. Some vehicles and machinery outside. Smeltersite homes in background.
Photograph of view looking north showing employment office north of present administrative offices. Scaffolding still on the sides. Cars parked in front.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of view looking north showing employment office north of present administrative offices. Scaffolding still on the sides. Cars parked in front.
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. Steel erection complete south half service buildings. Potline 2 floor slabs extend to line 13. Potline 1 footings extend to line 10 for potroom 1B and 1C. Pre-cast yard and storage area in left foreground.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. Steel erection complete south half service buildings. Potline 2 floor slabs extend to line 13. Potline 1 footings extend to line 10 for potroom 1B and 1C. Pre-cast yard and storage area in left foreground.
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. Foreground, perforated concrete pipe for ground water ditch. Middleground, pre-cast concrete yard with storage stacks at right. Structural steel partially complete in service buildings lines D to M. Footings for potline 2 at right. Trucks on road in foreground. Airplane in sky above.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of smeltersite looking east. Foreground, perforated concrete pipe for ground water ditch. Middleground, pre-cast concrete yard with storage stacks at right. Structural steel partially complete in service buildings lines D to M. Footings for potline 2 at right. Trucks on road in foreground. Airplane in sky above.
Slide showing transmission tower and arch building at smeltersite. Road and construction material visible in front of them, and other buildings behind to the left. Douglas channel visible in distance.
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 transmission tower and arch building at smeltersite. Road and construction material visible in front of them, and other buildings behind to the left. Douglas channel visible in distance.
Photograph of looking west, smeltersite service building area, showing compaction roller operating. Truck in centre. Building visible on hill in background.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of looking west, smeltersite service building area, showing compaction roller operating. Truck in centre. Building visible on hill in background.
Photograph of looking northeast showing service building group. Note partial glazing of forge building and men placing ferrodeck roofing on electrical building. Lots of snow.
Bud Powell is a longtime resident of Kitimat and former smeltersite resident. He worked for Alcan.
Custodial History
Donated by Bud Powell.
Scope and Content
Photograph of looking northeast showing service building group. Note partial glazing of forge building and men placing ferrodeck roofing on electrical building. Lots of snow.
