1957/58 The early years, life in a northern coastal town, Kitimat, BC part 2
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- 1957/58 The early years, life in a northern coastal town, Kitimat, BC part 2
We're heading back to Kitimat for part two of the early years, life in a north coastal town. This footage was captured in 1957 and 58 when the town was all of six years old. Homes and shops were built, however there were still many construction projects in full swing. The footage covers areas around the town including the Alcan aluminum smelter, retail shops, neighbourhoods and more. The driving footage is particularly enjoyable. What is notable is the lack of trees in yards, the lack of grass and landscaping at many sites as construction is still ongoing.
A few locations you may recognize are the fire department, schools and what appears to be an administration building. There are a few faces to be seen and likely many memories of Kitimat in its early years. I'm at a disadvantage not having traveled to Kitimat but I'm certain there are locals who will be able to identify most if not all the locations. Have fun and enjoy!
edit - Likely 1956-58 as a 1958 Ford Edsel was noticed. Thank you all.
14 min 54 secs, 8mm 2k digital scan
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Immigrated to Kitimat from Scotland in 1954, stayed till 1971. Recognize lots of landmarks. School, hospital, churches. Still have many friends both in Kitimat and elsewhere.
This is great 8mm film, 1958. Film was expensive to buy and develop at the time. Many people only did short clips. I lived there 55 to 58. Have many rolls of 8mm my dad took. They are real 56/58.
Pretty cool. Though I wish I could experience the Big Rig NASCAR days
2:00-2:15 this looks to be from the photographers perspective viewing east towards Kitamaat village across the Douglas channel. The foreground on the western shore from which the photographer stands looks to be Alcan beach and perhaps the old hospital that was down there (unsure when it was taken down).
1:30 to 5:02 seems to be all or mostly on the west side of the Kitimat River, where the first smelter/townsite was, and which is still an industrial/commercial area (Rio Tinto, LNG, Service Centre).
At 1:45 we see the Delta King, an old riverboat from California, which was brought up to Kitimat to serve as an additional bunkhouse for the many smelter workers, and was sent back down south around 1959.
Around 2:08, I think that's Kitamaat Village across the water (the original Indigenous Haisla village, much older than the town of Kitimat itself, and still home to many people today. Originally known as Cimauca or Tsee-Motsa, meaning 'snag beach' in the Haisla language).
2:27 - I think these are bunkhouses/residences for Alcan workers and their families (single-family houses in front, dormitories for single men in back?)
4:24 - the sandhill - a natural sand and gravel deposit likely left behind by glaciers thousands of years ago. Much of it was used in the creation of the Alcan smelter site, but part of it remains today.
5:01 - old Kitimat train station in Service Centre
5:02 - going east across the bridge over the Kitimat River towards Kitimat itself
5:08 - 5:20 - I think this is housing on the east bank of the Kitimat River, near present day Riverlodge Recreation Centre.
5:27 - driving east on Haisla Blvd, with the Hospital visible in the middle distance and houses along Albatross Ave at the top of the hill above.
5:34 - 6:08 - the old Hospital
6:08 - view looking southwest across downtown/lower Kitimat and the Kildala neighbourhood.
6:34 - houses probably in the Nechako neighbourhood (on the hill)
7:10 - United Church, across from Nechako Centre.
7:37 - I think this is a school which was formerly known as Cormorant School and is now Kitimat City High. It's also in Nechako.
8:25 - pretty sure this is the current Redeemer Lutheran Church, though I'm not 100% certain
8:32 - Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School
8:52 - I think this is one of the sets of apartments along the top of the hill, overlooking Kitimat - one complex is now called Hillcrest Place and I don't know the name of the other one off the top of my head. Not 100% sure.
8:59 - 9:20 - the Public Safety Building/Fire Hall
9:24 - Osprey Street, looking east, then turns around to look up Kingfisher Ave (triangular roof of United Church visible at the center of the screen 9:45) and eventually westwards
10:07 - looking south to Douglas Channel
10:21 - fire hall again
10:26 - Nechako Centre (a shopping centre/public area in the Nechako neighbourhood), Nechako School visible in the far background, 10:42 is a movie theatre
10:45 I think is Osprey Street again
12:36 - downtown parking lot
That's all I could identify. Check onthisspot.ca/cities/kitimat/aluminum or the Kitimat Museum and Archives' website for more info on historical Kitimat.
Holly, thank you for the detailed analysis. Well done!
You're welcome! Thanks for uploading this cool footage.
Was none exciting in 1990s chartering from Prince Rupert for high school tournaments for Farwest Bus Lines.