1977-Larry Smith
Part of the preparation for paving was installing culverts.(It’s a lot easier to dig and finish a cross ditch if there’s no paving in the way.)
Category Archives: Work
Trash
1977
We cleared the sides of the road then dumped the refuse up the mountain.
The Crew
1976
Sometime in 1973 or 1974 George Cowie came up my driveway and banged on the door of the cabin we were living in at the time. He offered me a job on the highways. He complained that of all the guys of the right age only a few were Canadian.
I said “yes”. Something hidden in the back of my mind was the thought that my money was not going to last forever. Larry Smith had been hired a few days earlier and we were detailed to get the road ready for paving.
A few days after the hiring I got a phone call. It was to warn me that my job was only temporary and that I would be laid off every fall. The caller was apologetic and didn’t realize that was this was exactly what I wanted.
Foundry Work
In the early 60’s I gave a ride to a school chum. Told him I was going to University and was looking for part time work. He told me his dad owned a foundry and was looking for workers. I applied and got the job. It was Byrd Foundry on 4th ave, just west of Main. An Aluminum Foundry it was surprisingly very modern (I was later to find out that most if not all Foundries in Vancouver were right out of the 19 century) It had as much automation as you could put in such a place with hoists and facilities that made the worksite clean and fresh.
There was definitely some resentment among a few of the workers. The fact that I was a friend of the owner’s son and had some privileges that weren’t common but on the whole I was accepted and learned about how to work. (Even if I wasn’t)
After the owner died the shop decided to go union which didn’t work and the place was sold. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my job there as the guys who spearheaded the union were the same who resented me. I did find work in another foundry. An Iron foundry down on Fraser street. 19th century, I’ll tell you about it another time.