Denis Horwill 1943

Prior to 1944 there was no road access in either direction from Pacific or Doreen on either side of the river.

During the 1930's, construction was commenced up river to the east from Terrace. However, work was sporadic, mostly as a make work project and by 1941 the road had only been completed to St. Croix Creek, which is east of Usk.

In 1941 a location survey was initiated to lay out a route on the south side of the
Skeena River for the extension of the road to connect with existing roads to the east, which at this time terminated at Kitwanga.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THIS SURVEY AND PEOPLE INVOLVED

A location survey crew consisting of 14 men was assembled at Pacific in late April 1941 under the direction of Mr. Robert Kierns, a civil engineer from Victoria. The crew was made up of the following: -

Transit man - Alan Rutherford
Levels
Drafting
Chainmen - Ray Cunliffe, Phil Hetherington and Denis Horwill
Rod men - Eric Tycho and Don Smith
Axe men - Maurice Barnes and Nils Lundberg
Cook - Bill Timms
Boatman - Bill Flewin

The first camp was set up at Pacific on the railway side of the river. The crew lived in tents, four per tent, with the exception of Robert Kierns who lived in the office-drafting tent and Bill Timms who lived in the cook-dining tent.

Each day, Bill Flewin took the crew across the river on a 30' converted trawler. This trawler had been brought up from Prince Rupert by rail. Initially the boat was unable to navigate up and down river due to insufficient water, necessitating in a long walk through the bush to the survey line and little time being spent on surveying.

By mid May the river had risen enough to enable travel up and down river although upstream travel was very slow.

By the end of June, the survey was completed to Little Oliver Creek. Creeks that required bridging, dense bush and mosquitoes were the main obstacles. The camp was then relocated to MacDonald's Landing on the highway side of the river.

Surveying continued until September and at this time had reached a point just east of "Hells-Bells" Creek. Incidentally "Hell's Bell's" Creek was named by Robert Kierns who, while scouting ahead of the survey for the best route, was going along the hillside a considerable distance above the present highway location. On coming to the creek, he found it was in a deep, rocky canyon, prompting him to remark "Hells-Bells", thus the creek was so named.

We were mainly a crew of kids, mostly sixteen and seventeen year olds. Despite the insects, fording creeks and bear encounters, it was like being at scout camp.

I think the highlight was when we were coming down river in the boat one day and in front of the camp, came upon a bear swimming the river. The bear made for shore, scrambled up the bank, past Bill Timms, who was standing in front of the cook tent, and in its fright, ran though the open tent door and right through the back wall. Thereafter, the tent had a back entrance too.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY

Following Pearl Harbour, in December 1941, highway construction was greatly accelerated in this area.

Early in 1942, Arnott Construction of Penticton was awarded a contract to build the section of road from St. Croix Creek to just east of Little Oliver Creek.

After bulldozing a rough road and building a temporary bridge across Legate Creek, a construction camp was built about a km east of the creek, opposite Pacific. Some of the people I can recall at the camp were: -

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Greer - Cook and Bull cook
Mr. & Mrs. Hugo Johnson - Cat operator and Cooks helper
Marvin Curtis - Cat operator
Tom Pinchbeck - Mechanic
Ed Buck - Foreman
Rupert Vaughn - Resident Engineer
Eric Tycho and Denis Horwill- Rod men

Highway clearing, grading and graveling were completed in early 1943, along with bridges crossing Legate and Little Oliver creeks.

A second contract was awarded for the section from Cedarvale to Little Oliver Creek with this camp being set up at Coyote Creek.

I understand the highway was completed through to Prince Rupert from the east in early 1944. I left in December 1942 and am therefore unaware of the details.

The highway was officially opened in Terrace September 1944.

Click on the picture to see a larger version of the highway survey that Denis created.

Back to Stories Index

Home