File contains 3 strips of negatives depicting water control structures inluding pipes, culverts, and holding ponds. The strips were found in a photo lab pouch annotated "Sedimentation Pond Sept 1991" and addressed to "Cassiar Mining Corp. Attn; R. Tyne."
This file includes two major photographic collections concerning the construction and development of the underground mine at Cassiar, title the McDame Project.
The first collection includes fifteen monthly progress reports documenting the development from July 1988 to December 1989. The progress reports are authored by G. Verret, and were distributed to the executives of Cassiar Asbestos in Vancouver as well officials of the B.C. Government and other creditors of the Corporation. Most images are annotated and dated. Many of the loose photographs are accompanied by an inventory sheet.
Subjects depicted include: the staging area prior to mine development, the initial development of the “Vent Portal”, a jumbo drill working on the mine face, the working face marked for drilling and wired with fuses, a Caterpillar dozer clearing snow after an avalanche, scene of a fire in winter time, complete conveyor sump decline, mining vehicle parked on the “Lay-Down Area” presumably near the portal, the working face of the mine at various stages of development, 1563 portal being slashed, the removal of the overburden for the tramline loading station site, the construction of the transfer tower(s), construction of the stockpile area, the construction of a sedimentation pond, a presumed cave in, construction of footings for the conveyor, construction of the tramline loading terminal station, construction of the crusher building, a slash titled “Breakthrough in Access Ramp”, storage of powder and fuses, a washout in conveyor decline, fog at the portal in -30 degrees Celsius, the 1290 junction flooded, a slab of shotcrete which fell on and injured a miner while shotcreting, shotcrete blasted off walls for repairs, images of the “Hilti-test”, shots showing grade of drift, and structural failures in the 1350 adit.
Locations and structure within the underground mine depicted include: yellow ventilation ducting, ground support including steel screen and shotcrete, steel cables bolted unto ground support, puddles in the adits, the access road to the lay-down area, the exhaust drift, “Fans and Heaters in the 1415 adit”, the 1350 sump, the access ramp to the 1320, the exhaust ramp safety bay, the conveyor decline, the ventilation adit, the 1563 portal, the temporary repair shop at the 1415 portal, junctions of various drifts, the ”Fresh Water Pump & Pumphouse on lower Creek”, the “Ventilation Raise/1563 Platform”, a “Diamond Drill Station” at 6066 North in the underground mine, the “Bridge to the Gravel Pit”, the “Crushing and Screening Plant” in the gravel pit, the ventilation bulkhead in the conveyor decline, and the “Powder Magazine”.
People depicted include Rose Gay and R. Tyne on a tour of the underground mine, a geologist with a rockhammer, a miner identified as A. Jacobs working, contract miners Bruno and Marbel from Canadian Mine Development, and unidentified miners rockbolting, shotcreting, and drilling using jackleg drills.
Vehicle and mining equipment depicted include jeeps, pickup trucks, a front end loader, an unidentified a small unmanned tracked machine with a long arm, scoop trams, a land cruiser, an ore truck with a flat tire, the cone crusher, a “scissor lift”, a mobile shotcrete machine, a new grout pump, a new Boart Jumbo Drill, and a detached bucket half of a 413 ore truck.
The second collection depicts the McDame Project construction in 1986 and 1987.
Content of these photographs includes: various machinery used for excavating and drilling, underground progress of tunneling, supports, wire meshing, rock formations in mine, and exposed asbestos. There are no annotations regarding this photographs.
Men working among lumber at crusher building site, various materials scattered throughout. Vertically protruding planks from framework of crusher building are in foreground. Tree-covered valley in background. Construction of a long structure near the edge of the excavation area can be seen in midground; this is speculated to be the section of the crusher building which housed conveyor "B".
Men standing behind saw horses on bottom level of crusher building site, lumber scattered throughout. View facing into mountainside.
View of crusher building from above, featuring the bottom level foundation. A dirt road and long building believed to be housing conveyor "B" cross the midground. Valley in background.
Photograph depicts man standing at bottom of crusher building. Portions of framework near top are covered with plastic. Snow on mountainside in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Lunchroom Damaged by Boulder". Large boulder stands to right of small building, walls of right corner partially destroyed. Lumber, upturned saw horse, and various other material lie on ground. Dirt road in foreground, mountainside in background.
Blue sky in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Elaborate barricades required due to amount of loose rock falling continuously". Three men work in area confined by barricades made of vertical metal rods and horizontal wood planks. Miscellaneous building material and supplies cover the ground. Rock pile in foreground on right.
Photograph depicts a construction worker carrying a plank of lumber across a higher level area of the construction site, semi-constructed walls below him. Barricades against loose rock are semi-visible in foreground (see item 2000.1.1.2.352).
Three men work in area confined by barricades made of vertical metal rods and horizontal wood planks (see item 2000.1.1.2.352). Two ladders in foreground, (one being used by construction worker). Lumber and semi-finished walls can be seen at higher level of elevation in background.
Stick, boom, and bucket of a "NORTHWEST" cable shovel excavator can be seen left of a steep wall of earth in lower level of construction area. Construction worker is partially visible in foreground on far right. Building materials in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "View of completed building." Large door on side of building, offering view of interior. Miscellaneous material in snowy foregrounded area: tractor equipment, steel drum, lumber etc.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "FORMING FOOTING RETAINING WALL JULY 4/64." Photograph depicts construction workers
standing in forms for cement laid against mountain wall on high elevation of construction site. A retaining structure made with wood planks and rebar separates mountainside dirt from cement forms. A front end loader can be seen in midground, near unidentified building. Mountain range in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "POURING FOOTING RETAINING WALL JULY 4/64." Photograph depicts construction workers manually pouring cement into forms laid against mountain wall on high elevation of construction site. Cement is being transported by wheelbarrow. A retaining structure made with wood planks and rebar separates mountainside dirt from cement forms. A bulldozer can be seen in background, as well as a front end loader and back hoe tractor. Building at crusher site also in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "RETAINING WALL POUR JULY 9/64." Photograph depicts large unidentified machinery in front of the retaining wall under conveyor of crusher building. Boom of crane can be seen in midground on right. Crusher building in background, dirt road in foreground.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "FORMING FOOTING FOR TRANSFORMER HOUSE AUG 20/64." Photograph depicts construction workers standing in forms made of wood and rebar for cement footings. Lumber scattered throughout, mountain range in background.
Photograph depicts large square model of the new mill building that was built at the Cassiar plant site in 1970. Model is displayed on green material set on a platform in snowy area. Machinery modeled inside the structure is colour-coded. Mountain in background.
Photographs depict construction of the new mill, each taken from approximately the same distance and featuring two different angles of the building. Construction work progresses from framework to sheeting and siding. Vehicles, piles of building supplies, and a construction trailer are often in foreground, mountains in background. It is believed that these photographs were taken during a labour dispute. Each photo has been annotated on recto with the date and time of day, and some document the number of workers on site. Annotations include: "2 days work", "work gets less & less", "not much for 4 men", "very little done - less than usual low performance", "0° - 20° weather must have thickened their blood".
Photographs depict different construction projects at separate locations in Cassiar. Photographs were originally housed in envelopes with the following annotations: "POLICE STATION. July 15, 1977."; "Aggregates and Concrete (PERMASTEEL)"; "Fibre Storage and Handling"; "Powerhouse Expansion"; "Sewage Collection Plant."; "Sewage Treatment Plant"; "Single Person Accommodations - Site Work."; "Outside Work - Camp Nos. 1,2,3." Photos generally feature the work sites, supplies, vehicles, machinery, and work in progress at each location.
Additional photographs integrated into file include maintenance project on lining of tubes, lining of aspiration hood, and lining of willow fiberizer. Also five photographs of maintenance in the townsite to fix in ground piping.
Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd opened a second mine in 1967 at what became the one-industry town of Clinton Creek, Y.T. File contains photographs depicting progressive construction of buildings at the Clinton Creek mine, plant, townsite and powerhouse. Mine photos depict the crusher site and tramline station. Plant photos depict the dryer, fibre storage, mill, service, vault, and office buildings, as well as the dry rock storage tunnel, reclaim tunnel, and loading dock. Construction living quarters are depicted as well as the construction of residences at the townsite. The power house was built south of the town and plant, on the shore of the 40 Mile River. Some annotations describe the type of material being used for construction.
- File contains photographs done to item level description, depicting miscellaneous people and locations at or around Cassiar, B.C. This includes a photograph of renowned prospector William (“Bill”) Storie, Bill Pratt with a fox, a community gathering in a someone's home, and a hockey game.
- Also included but not to item level is a photo of "David Madore" as part of his application to Cassiar, photo of "William Field" a local hire maintenance mechanic, and photos of a RNWMP Post sign (Royal North West Mounted Police) that depicts annotations "Indian grave" , "Miners Cabin" , "Road House" , "Customs House" , "St. James Church" , "Swansons Store" etc., and 15 negatives of various individuals at what appears to be someone's home.
- Also included is cabin at Boya Lake, which used to be named Chain lake, located off the Stewart-Cassiar highway. This land of this cabin may have been involved legal issues , which was related to people at Cassiar.
Photograph depicts wood houses behind stand of trees in Cassiar valley. Truck, power poles, and road in foreground, mountains in background. Typed caption below photo in original duotang album: "Two Bedroom Pan-Abode Houses - Cassiar Townsite". Handwritten annotation on verso: "Sept 1954".
Photograph depicts snow-plowed road lined with trees, valley and mountain in background. Believed to have been taken from vehicle. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "Approach to Quartz Rock Creek".
Photograph depicts snow-plowed road in foreground, Cassiar mountians in background. Road is lined with trees and power poles, and vehicle is visible in distance. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "Looking west from townsite".
Photograph depicts Prime Minster Pierre Trudeau shaking hands with two men upon arrival in Cassiar.
Photograph depicts Prime Minster Pierre Trudeau speaking with an unknown man in a yellow hardhat while standing in a crowd by a Department of Transport airplane.
Photograph depicts three unknown RCMP constables standing in red serge uniform with four unknown young girls in dresses.
Photograph depicts Trudeau's photographer looking into the camera while standing behind the prime minister and an unknown man. All three men are wearing white hardhats.
Photograph depicts Trudeau speaking with men in hardhats with an "electrical shop" sign behind.
Photograph depicts Trudeau being shown the Cassiar mine from outside by Cassiar employees
Photograph depicts Trudeau standing outdoors with three unknown RCMP constables. Cassiar valley is in the background.
Photograph depicts Trudeau standing outdoors and speaking with an unknown man.
Photograph depicts a group of peaople gathered outside for a building dedication.
Photograph depicts a building with mountains in teh background. A man wearing a hardhat stands outside.
Photograph depicts group of eight men standing on lawn in front of building known as "House 130" or "Director's Lodge" (see item 2000.1.1.3.19.88). Left to right: Nick Gritzuk, Charles Rainforth Elliot, Jack Christian, W. Harold Connell, Plato Malezemoff (from Newmont Mining), Tam Zimmermann, Ken A. Creery, Fred Martin Connell. Daffodils and tulips planted in foreground, trees and mountains in background. Most men featured in photo are believed to be members of Cassiar's Board of Directors.
Photograph depicts group of eight men standing on lawn in front of building known as "House 130" or "Director's Lodge". Left to right: Nick Gritzuk, Charles Rainforth Elliot, W. Harold Connell, Jack Christian, Fred Martin Connell, Ken A. Creery, Plato Malezemoff (from Newmont Mining), Tam Zimmermann. Trees and mountains in background. Most men featured in photo are believed to be members of Cassiar's Board of Directors.
Photograph depicts group of young boys observing "CASSIAR ASBESTOS CORPORATION LTD" display table. Table features photos existing in this archival collection (see items 2000.1.1.3.19.10 and 2000.1.1.3.19.11). Photo speculated to have been taken at an event in Vernon, B.C. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1963".
Photograph depicts the inside of a mill.
Photograph depicts red truck dumping waste at what is believed to be the tailings pile at the Cassiar plant. Small building and unidentified individual in bottom left foreground, valley and mountains in background. Photo caption next to printed copy of image in 1953 Annual Report: "Stockpile of 80,000 tons of Ore at Mill."
Photograph depicts large dry rock storage building in foreground on left, mill in background, dryer building in right midground. Miscellaneous supplies in far right foreground, mountains visible in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Sept 1954". This photograph was originally stored inside duotang labeled "CASSIAR ASBESTOS CORPORATION LIMITED PHOTOGRAPHS 1954"; photo caption beneath this image: "40,000 Ton Dry Storage Building / Mill / Dryer Building".
Photograph depicts the large bearing cups of one of the Ruston Hornsby diesel engines that turned the generators in the power house on the Cassiar plant. Engine believed to be under repair. Electric panels and unidentified individual in background.
File includes six aggregations of photographs which have been assembled in this file in order to maintain the integrity of each group by keeping the photos arranged together, though each group features operations pertaining to multiple files in this subseries. Includes groups featuring photos from 1961, 1965 1971, a helicopter trip, a community album, and a workplace album. Photographs depict images pertaining to the following operations at Cassiar, B.C.: mining, milling, maintenance, labratory tests, and tramline and town operations. Images featuring operations of the company town include the grocery store, bank, churches, school, library, lounge, pool, theater, community center, outdoor recreation, hospital, dentist, cafeteria, bus route, residences, air strip, firehall, laundromat, park, police, and newspaper.
Photograph depicts building containing Cassiar's bar and snackbar, visible across ball field. This building originally housed school classrooms, movie theater, barber shop, and rec centre with three pool tables. Private liquor store originally located in far right of building. Liquor store was known to be the only legal bootleg liquor business in the province at the time, before it was transferred to Cassiar's government liquor store and replaced with a Sear's office. Catholic church and other buildings are visible behind trees in right midground. Road and field in foreground, valley and mountains in background. Community Centre located behind photographer, out of frame, curling rink on photographer's right.
Photograph depicts buildings at various locations in mine: crushing plant (centre?) and what is believed to be the original tramline loading station on left. Mine road featured in center, blasthole drill visible near dump truck in midground. Mine valley in background. Photo believed to have been taken from mine's South Peak. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts an Atlas Copco Drillmaster (blasthole drill) near the mine road, mountainside in background. This is a precision hammer drill which had its own power source. It is believed that this photo was taken on the North ridge, near the cirque dump. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts a man wearing a hard hat preparing explosive material, mountains in background. Dog stands near edge in midground, large bags of Ammonium Nitrate in right foreground. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts explosion, part of the bench-mining process employed at Cassiar. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts crawler cable shovel, bucket over box of Kenworth truck in excavation area of mine. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts a large shelter over building believed to be power house. Electricity lines cross midground and run to power house. A man can be seen crossing the foreground by steel frame supplies, and a second building is partially visible on right. Mountains stand in background and a crane can be seen operating in front of power house. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".