Nasmyth Shingle Bolt Mill
by Mercedes Rhode
History
-Nasmyth Shingle bolt mill, Hollyburn Ridge, 1925
-Lois Enns collection, HHS archives
Logging has a long and complex history within the province of British Columbia. Beginning around 1862, it gradually spread across the various mountains in the area. In the early 1970’s logging arrived to the mountain and forest areas around West Vancouver. Early on logging companies faced many challenges, including: cutting down the massive trees with only the simple axes that were available, along with the dry summers, with little water, and snowy winters, when everything was covered. Because of this many of the first logging companies were not around for that long. In the early years, due to the lack of roads and flumes, the only way to transport material to the sites was by manpower and occasionally oxen, which could only travel to certain heights. This changed with the expansion of the industry. People began using horses and constructing artificial water channels, known as flumes, to transport material. Logging was essential for B.C’s economy; it cleared areas for development and expansion.
Shingle bolt mills were one type of mill that was constructed. A shingle bolt is simply described as the raw materials from which shingles were made (Mansbridge 12). The production of shingle bolts was done by splitting a wedge-shaped section into a block cut from a log (Mansbridge 12). The main tree type used to produce shingle bolts was Western Red Cedar, which was very common across B.C. The construction of flumes helped to transport the bolts to areas of easier access on the mountain, where they would then be picked up.
Shingle bolt mills were one type of mill that was constructed. A shingle bolt is simply described as the raw materials from which shingles were made (Mansbridge 12). The production of shingle bolts was done by splitting a wedge-shaped section into a block cut from a log (Mansbridge 12). The main tree type used to produce shingle bolts was Western Red Cedar, which was very common across B.C. The construction of flumes helped to transport the bolts to areas of easier access on the mountain, where they would then be picked up.
-Map of Hollyburn Ridge, 1948, the Nasmyth mill site
-Hi Colville(WV Archives)
In 1918 James H. Nasmyth started a number of mills on and around Cypress Mountain, in West Vancouver. One of his mills, called the Nasmyth Shingle bolt Mill was located on Hollyburn Mountain near Rodgers Creek. For the construction of this mill materials from an old sawmill in Burnaby were reused. The material used was brought up the mountain on skids, a type of sled, and was pulled by a steam-powered logging engine. Around the mill, roads and fumes were slowly constructed, which made it was possible for supplies to be brought up. Cabins were also constructed; where loggers and mill workers would live. This mill focused on the construction of shingle bolts, wedge-shaped chunks of wood, which were eventually made into shingles and roofing material. The Nasmyth mill supplied shingle bolts to the 27th street mill. Shingle bolts were the main focus because sawn lumber was more difficult to transport down the flumes. Nasmyth shut down the mill in 1923 for a number of reasons, including: its high running cost, lack of water in summer and the long cold winters. It was abandoned for a short period and then in 1925 discovered and transformed into a ski lodge.
-Nasmyth mill, Hollyburn Ridge, 1925
-Lois Enns collection, HHS archives
After the mill was abandoned, some skiers came across it and decided to turn it into a ski lodge. The mill was the first site of the Hollyburn Ski lodge and camp. The lack of snow in the winter of 1926, lead to the lodge being moved further up the mountain. The original cookhouse from the mill was used to construct most of the new lodge. The original structure built at this time is still standing and in use today. The main reason for reusing parts of the mill was due to remote and isolated area where it was located. It would have taken a lot of time and energy to carry enough new material up.
Importance
-Trail between mill site and Hollyburn Lodge, 2013
-Mercedes Rhode
The Nasmyth mill is important in history because it was a major player in early logging in B.C. In the beginning the idea of logging on Hollyburn was not very popular or accepted, people who were residing in the area thought it was being destroyed and that logging was “stealing the heritage of future generations”(John Davidson 1924). It was described in one account, talking particularly about Rodgers Creek as:
“Turning the beautiful creek into a roaring, rushing, turbulent torrent, breaking its banks, washing out roads and paths and depositing a deep layer of sand and gravel over the lawns and gardens of residents who had spent lots of time and money on their homes.”
Over time people saw that it was important for industrial activity and good for the economy. Logging lead to the arrival of roads and trails; which made it easier for cabin owners, skiers, hikers, and people in general to access areas of the mountain that were once isolated and it was much simpler to travel around.
“Turning the beautiful creek into a roaring, rushing, turbulent torrent, breaking its banks, washing out roads and paths and depositing a deep layer of sand and gravel over the lawns and gardens of residents who had spent lots of time and money on their homes.”
Over time people saw that it was important for industrial activity and good for the economy. Logging lead to the arrival of roads and trails; which made it easier for cabin owners, skiers, hikers, and people in general to access areas of the mountain that were once isolated and it was much simpler to travel around.
Preserved Remains
-Hollyburn lodge, 2013
-Mercedes Rhode
Numerous portions of the mill remain and are being used today. The best-preserved remains of the mill are the portions that were used to construct the Hollyburn ski lodge. The entire original cookhouse was transported approximately one mile up the mountain and used to construct the majority of the ski lodge, which is still standing today. Also the a great amount of lumber from the flumes was salvaged and used to build some of the first, of many, cabins that can be found on the mountain. Most of the mill cabins were fixed up after it was shut down and are now used as vacation spots. In general most parts of the mill were reused.
Links for Additional Information
Logging History:
http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/2345.aspx
http://www.bcfs100.ca/bscripts/timeline.asp
http://www.bellacoolamuseum.ca/en/digital_heritage/logging/index.php
Hollyburn Lodge/The Nasmyth Shingle Bolt Mill:
http://cypressmountain.com/hollyburn-lodge
http://hollyburnheritage.ca/home/
http://torc.linkbc.ca/torc/downs1/HollyBurnLodge.pdf
http://skimap.org/data/50/1/1293413486.pdf
http://botanyjohn.org/gallery/v/hanwriwa/(PG 8-9)
Blogs:
http://quieterelephant.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/these-boots-are-made-for-walking/
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/docview/269385074
Books:
Mansbridge, F., & Enns, L. (2008). Hollyburn: The mountain and the city. Vancouver: Ronsdale
http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/2345.aspx
http://www.bcfs100.ca/bscripts/timeline.asp
http://www.bellacoolamuseum.ca/en/digital_heritage/logging/index.php
Hollyburn Lodge/The Nasmyth Shingle Bolt Mill:
http://cypressmountain.com/hollyburn-lodge
http://hollyburnheritage.ca/home/
http://torc.linkbc.ca/torc/downs1/HollyBurnLodge.pdf
http://skimap.org/data/50/1/1293413486.pdf
http://botanyjohn.org/gallery/v/hanwriwa/(PG 8-9)
Blogs:
http://quieterelephant.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/these-boots-are-made-for-walking/
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/docview/269385074
Books:
Mansbridge, F., & Enns, L. (2008). Hollyburn: The mountain and the city. Vancouver: Ronsdale