HERITAGE WATERFRONT EVENT

Then head over to the waterfront for a day of fun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 614 and 616 Oyster Bay Drive. Visit the Locomotive Shop, the First Aid Shed and the Ladysmith Maritime Society’s Heritage Boat Restoration Shop. Check out the SFN Displays. Visit the Heritage Railyard. Ride a rail hand pump car. The Ladysmith Kinsmen will have hot dogs and refreshments available.

One of the highlights of the event is the century-old restored box car that is being transformed into a “Discovery Box Car”  with activities and interactive displays. 

By Shirley Blackstaff

If it wasn’t enough to refurbish Ladysmith’s steam Locomotive #11 and track and the rare Humdirgen off-loader, which was designed and built in the Machine Shop, Ladysmith & District Historical Society’s (LDHS) volunteers tackled the box car located at the original Comox Logging & Railway Company site.

Alex Garvin, one of the Industrial Heritage Preservation volunteers, fondly known as the “wood butcher” and who has taken the lead on all of our woodwork projects, got his measuring tape out and started figuring out what wood was needed. Canadian Bavarian Millwork and Lumber donated the specialty-cut boards.

Also, we were fortunate to be able to purchase some original-style bolts and receive some donations of other supplies.

All of our crew (Alex Garvin, Bob Taylor, Alex Stuart, Arne Bogwald, Bill Drysdale, Floyd South, Harry Blackstaff, Henry Schneider, Mike Kennedy, Jim Williams, Ed Heyes and Quentin Goodbody) helped with the various aspect of restoration: gathering the materials, scraping, sanding, undercoat painting, welding, making repairs, cutting boards to fit, hammering them into place, bolting on boards, washing off graffiti and cleaning the interior.

Before the weather got too rainy and damp, along with the help of other volunteers, Alex Stuart got the box car sanded and applied undercoat paint. The final coat of box car red will be sprayed on in the summer.

The interior of the boxcar is being transformed into a “Discovery Box Car”  on February 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the BC Heritage event festivities at the waterfront.

Saturday, February 22, is a full day of activities. It kicks off with a free historic downtown Ladysmith walking tour by Rob Johnson. Meet at the Metal Collage at 11 a.m (corner of First Ave. and Gatacre). Tour ends at the Ladysmith Museum at noon. Light refreshments served, courtesy of Ladysmith Downtown Business Association.

Then head over to the waterfront for a day of fun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 614 and 616 Oyster Bay Drive. Visit the Locomotive Shop, the First Aid Shed and the Ladysmith Maritime Society’s Heritage Boat Restoration Shop. Check out the SFN Displays. Visit the Heritage Railyard. Ride a rail hand pump car. The Ladysmith Kinsmen will have hot dogs and refreshments available.

One of the highlights of the event is the century-old restored box car that is being transformed into a “Discovery Box Car”  with activities and interactive displays.

These events are brought to you thanks to the support of the Town of Ladysmith, Province of B.C., Ladysmith Maritime Society, Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, TAKE 5 and the Chronicle.