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.
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.
Through the Juan De fuca Strait, then up the Strait of Georgia. Finally we spotted the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Almost home. Apparently the Port Moody dock was crowded so the captain elected to dock in the Burrard Inlet. The docks were at the foot of Main street (Skid Road). I’m not sure if they’re still there.
Ron and I joined a few of the crew in the beer parlour that was at the bottom of Main Street and usually frequented by the various ocean sailing crews and guys who worked the tugboats as well as anyone who happened to work in the area.
The city hadn’t changed but we had. I think we had kind of grown up. We were no longer kids.We had no problem ordering and drinking beer although we were 17 and 18. (the minimum age was 21)
Except of course Midge. She wasn’t into loyalty much and told me that she’d taken up with a neighbour.
We stayed great friends for the rest of her life. She was Dick Dunne’s girlfriend for a while. I introduced her to my new girlfriend, Jo, and they hit it off. (Enough for the two of them to travel to England). I chased Jo, married her , then bought an old car and toured Europe with them (another story).
Many years later I tried to contact her and learned she’d committed suicide.
That’s enough! I’m having trouble with WordPress. Sometimes I see the picture and sometimes I don’t. I’ve learned that other people are having the same problem.
Here’s the contact, the more they hear complaints the better;
It looks like I’m going to have to quit WordPress. It’s been a fun 16 years but they want a lot of money to fix my problems. I’ll keep on trying but if I disappear I’ll try to put photos on Facebook. So…become my Facebook Friend.
A semi-practical use for my 10,000 historical photos
