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 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".
Photograph depicts the diesel-fired burners of the ore dryers. The large pipes and valves above were part of the fuel supply system fed by Cassiar's fuel tank farm which also supplied the power house generators. The dryer section of the mill received ore from the crushing plant by tramline and truck. These burners blasted the ore with hot air, and dried ore to desired moisture content before it was sent to the dry rock storage building and stored for mill use. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts unidentified woman using Bauer Mcnett machine to test length of fibre samples by using water. Woman stands facing wall, away from photographer, unidentified equipment on either side.
Photograph depicts unidentified man lifting package of asbestos bags with forklift in large building. Truck in background, ready for loading.
Photograph depicts young man in hospital clothes, arm resting on table beside bed. An open book can be seen lying on bed, and miscellaneous items on bedside furniture. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph gives name of individual.
Photograph depicts man with arm in cast, lying in hospital room, nurse on left, Doctor on right. Windows and miscellaneous hospital equipment on shelves in background. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph gives names of individuals in image.
Photograph depicts church building with what appears to be speakers mounted on roof above main entry. Trees in foreground and background. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "All Saints Anglican Community Church".
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 men's ball game in foreground, spectators and cars visible behind backstop net. Bar and snackbar building in right midground, trees and mountain base in background. See item 2000.1.1.3.19.52 for information regarding bar and snackbar building.
Photograph depicts man with badminton racket in foreground of gymnasium, woman with racket facing away from photographer in background. Doors, chairs, and piles of boxes visible in background.
Photograph depicts Hilde Voss (see item 2000.1.1.3.19.68) wearing white shirt, with unknown woman in snackbar. Counter and other individuals on left, cooking supplies in foreground. Interior window in background connected snackbar to poolroom. Eventually this snackbar was moved to poolroom, and liquor store located in original snackbar.
Photograph depicts group of twenty-four men standing on front steps of main office building. Handwritten annotations on recto of similar photograph: "OFFICE STEPS APPROX 1965 / TOP L-R / JULIEN ST. GEORGES / GEORGE TROWSDALE / HANS VELTMEYER / BOB LOVETT / KARL SHULTZ / LOTHAR TISCHLER / - "; "2ND / FRANK CLEMENTS [i.e Kliment?] / BILL PLUMB / HEWETT / - "; "3RD - / - / RENE PASIAUD / DICK [Stevens]"; "4TH / DOC NAVIN / VIC SARAKOSKI / - "; "5TH / CHARLIE GANDER / GORDON EDWARDS / AL FLANIGAN [i.e. Flanagan?] / ANDRE BEGUIN / CHARLIE BRONSON / JACK THORNICROFT". Information in above annotation supplemented with insight from individuals who contributed to Northern BC Archives Facebook Photo ID Project, contact archivist for more information in research file pertaining to this photograph.
Photograph depicts flowing water believed to be Troutline Creek which ran south of Cassiar, B.C. Tailings pile and plant buildings visible behind forest in midground, northern mountain range in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Cassiar June 15 71".
Photograph depicts flowing water speculated to be Troutline Creek which ran south of Cassiar, B.C. Forest on opposite shore and mountains in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Cassiar June 15 71".
Photograph depicts flowing water speculated to be Troutline Creek which ran south of Cassiar, B.C. Forest on opposite shore and mountains in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Cassiar June 15 71".
Photograph depicts tramline buckets and tower on plantsite. Vehicles, building materials, and unidentified buildings also visible on plantsite (including what appears to be a water tower). Mountains and valley in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Cassiar June 15 71".
Photograph depicts two-story yellow and orange office building. Unidentified individual stands with garden hose in foreground near what appears to be a lawnmower. Warehouse semi-visible in left background; blue truck and new mill building visible in right background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Cassiar Office June 15 71".
Photograph depicts two unidentified men on front deck of building behind trees. Road and car in foreground, mountains visible in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Directors Lodge Cassiar June 15 71". Building also known as "House 130".
Photograph depicts brown and white building similar to the "Director's Lodge" at Cassiar, B.C. (see items 2000.1.1.3.19.88 and 2000.1.1.3.19.89). Station wagon parked in driveway behind short fence in foreground. Trees in foreground, forest and mountains visible in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "Cassiar June 15 71".
Squirrel appears to be sitting on deck furniture of Director's Lodge at Cassiar, B.C. (see items 2000.1.1.3.19.88 and 2000.1.1.3.19.89).
Squirrel appears to be sitting on deck furniture of Director's Lodge at Cassiar, B.C. (see items 2000.1.1.3.19.88 and 2000.1.1.3.19.89).
Photograph depicts two unidentified men in front of yellow and red helicopter at unknown location. Power lines and trees in background. It is possible that this photo may have been taken at Clinton Creek, Y.T. rather than Cassiar, B.C.
Photograph depicts the West Peak of the Cassiar mine on McDame Mountain. Pit area visible between West Peak and road in foreground. Mine valley and north mountain range in background. Photo speculated to have been taken from a point on or near the South or North Peak.
Photograph depicts mine valley and road in foreground. Cassiar plant and tailings pile visible in left midground, townsite in right midground. Mountainside of McDame Mountain in foreground, southern mountain range in background.
Photograph depicts two unidentified men entering building with the sign "THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA" above main entrance. Photographer with tripod in foreground.
Photograph depicts row of houses behind trees. Road, front yards, and vehicle in foreground, mountains in background.
Photograph depicts unknown individuals seated in chairs of room speculated to be a living room or common area. Potted plants, television, open door, and wall hangings in background. Lamps, chairs, and side tables in foreground.
Photograph depicts line of men across serving counter in building believed to be cafeteria. Two unknown employees dishing food in left foreground.
Photograph depicts men and women seated in red and yellow chairs at tables. Windows and curtains visible in right background. Sign hanging in left background reads: "DINNING ROOM MUST BE VACATED [10?] MIN. AFTER CLOSING TIME POSTED".
Photograph depicts long building with blue siding. Security was located at corner of building in centre foreground, behind stop sign. Single red door on left was main entrance into mine dry, where individuals were checked through security. Two larger windows on left indicate the location of the mine store where work apparel could be purchased. Building also housed change house (see item 2000.1.1.3.19.121) and offices of the mine department supervisory staff. Employee parking lot located out of frame to right. Mill building stands in background, tramline dump station on left. Ore car visible, about to enter dump station. Unidentified man and child can be seen in foreground.
Photograph depicts woman wearing safety gear in second floor of mill building, holding unidentified instruments. Helen Joseph took air quality tests in the working areas and town (see item 2000.1.1.3.19.147).
Photograph depicts mobile home modified for Cassiar winters (steeply sloped roof added). Yellow suburban parked in driveway in left foreground. Forest trees and mountainside visible in background. Sign reading "686" posted on tree in left foreground. Believed to be the home of Gerry Cooper.
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 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.
Photograph depicts two unidentified policemen standing in front of RCMP vehicle in snowy area. Trees, power lines and unidentified building visible in background.
Photograph depicts five unidentified individuals skiing in flat snowy area, forest in background.
Photograph depicts DeCecco wearing helmet and snowsuit while seated on Arctic Cat "Pantera".
Photograph depicts group of men and women on rocky shore, pile of fish in foreground. Photo speculated to have been taken in the Telegraph Creek area, possibly at the Tahltan or Stikine River, B.C.
Photograph depicts interior of church believed to be the All Saints Anglican Community Church at Cassiar, B.C. Table and pulpit in foreground, pews and door in background. Stained glass windows line both sides of the building.
Photograph depicts range of mountains in winter near Cassiar, B.C.
Photograph depicts two unidentified men in coveralls and hard hats, working in garage. Blasthole drill stands behind them in midground, walls in background.