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On the
waterfront- A look activity in Ocean Falls in 1958 to 1960.
John Bouzek: Photos and Write up
Early Transportation on the coast of British Columbia
was dependent on Ships. Early worker arrived in the area on
vessels and the Union Steamship, Canadian National, Canadian
Pacific and Waterhouse were some of the shipping lines that
carried passengers and freight into Ocean Falls.
The Union Steamship vessels were the work horses of the
Coast and their vessels heading for the fishing camps, Prince
Rupert and the mining communities of Anyox, Alice Arm and
Stewart or to the logging camps on Queen Charlotte Islands would
call into Ocean Falls. When you traveled Union you never knew
where you next stop may be.
The Canadian National vessels were more scheduled and
there time of arrival was set well in advance.
Canadian Pacific vessels usually included a stop in
Alaska and only stopped at the larger communities on their way
to or from Vancouver.
Waterhouse vessels were freighters but did have some
passenger accommodation. Northbound their ships carried supplies
and southbound the cargo was usually processed and frozen fish,
bagged ore, and paper products.
The Union Steamships were the workhorse of the coast.
There vessels would stop and place there was traffic. If there
was no dock the vessel would slow down in midstream and the
passenger or freight would be transferred by the ships crane. Up
to the end of the Second War the Union Steamships operated the
“Catala” and the “Cardena” vessels on the northern run. After
the war the line purchased three corvettes that were painted all
white and became known as “The White Ladies”
The Canadian National operated the “Prince Rupert” and
“Prince George”. After the Prince George was destroyed in an
explosion and fire the company built a new Prince George and it
operated into the falls in the 1950’s.
The Canadian Pacific operated the “Princess Nora” on
the northern run. This vessel was later operated by a joint CP.
CN. Company and called “The Queen of the North”. Later it was
sold to Northland Navigation and was called the “Canadian
Prince”. Northland Navigation replace the Canadian Prince with
the Northland Prince.
The Standard Oil tankers brought Bunker “C” oil for
use in the mill. Sulphur arrived by vessel
One or twice a year a vessel would arrive with China
Clay from the white cliffs of Dover. This was used to make two
sided glossy paper as used by Time magazine.
Tugs and Barge were used to transport the paper south
Vancouver area and freight was brought north. Tugs were used to
transport booms of logs and a tug with a self dumping barge was
used to bring logs from the Queen Charlotte Islands and northern
waters.
The following pictures are vessels that worked in the
harbour and visited Ocean Falls in 1958 to 1960 |
