A SPECIAL FEATURE ON GEORGE GRANT

 

George Donald Grant engineer from 1935-1965. TWO MOMENTOUS AND MEMORABLE STORIES IN THE LIFE OF GEORGE GRANT, LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND FORMER EMPLOYEE OF HILLCREST LUMBER COMPANY SAHTLAM AND MESACHIE LAKE.

 

He was hired by Carlton Stone owner of Hillcrest Lumber in 1935 from Comox Logging Company to operate the Climax # 9 in their logging operations out at Sahtlam (the original Hillcrest mill site). The Climax #9 is presently on display at the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan B.C. As logging operations increased it became evident that the 9 Spot was inadequate and upon George Grant's suggestion, and in consultation with Carlton Stone, the Climax # 10 was purchased ( financed by Sue Lem Bing, the Chinese Foreman). This locomotive was operated by George Grant at Sahtlam and Mesachie Lake until his retirement in 1965.

 

THE GREAT FOREST FIRE ~1944. There were two notable happenings during George Grant's employment. The first was a major forest fire which commenced at noon near the end of July 1944 when the last logs of the day were being taken out. There had been no significant rain since June 30th. The fire was caused by friction when one log was being hauled to a Spar Tree. Workmen saw the blaze start and rushed to extinguish it. But slash in the area exploded into flames and the blaze was out of control immediately! Heroic efforts by workers saved a Skidder from destruction. George recounted the story of the workers being covered with water soaked sacks ( water being provided by the Locomotive Engine) while they painstakingly severed the thick cables securing the Skidder (no power tools in those days). The Skidder was then brought to safety by the Locomotive and George Grant Engineer and his Crew.

 

The Firefighters succeeded that same night to get the fire under control with the use of water and the formation of a Firebreak with one old Army Bulldozer but not before the loss of 150 acres, 3,000,000 board feet of fallen and bucked timber, and two Donkey Engines. The HEROES OF THE DAY who contained the blaze and put it out were the Mill workers of the closed mill, the loggers and the train crew (all employees of Hillcrest Lumber Company!). George's son Don (aged 14) and his daughter Zelda (aged 5) recalled the crimson red sky to the west of the Mesachie Lake Town site and the resounding noise of EXPLODING GAS BARRELS.

 

The sight of COMPLETELY ROUND GAS BARRELS that had not exploded following the fire will be remembered vividly by them forever! Don recalls his father George getting home in the middle of the night with eyes burning from the excessive smoke. Eye drops were procured from the First Aid room which George's wife Bernice instilled in both eyes throughout the night to ease the inflammation! Don also recalls that his father rarely spoke of this experience as it was so traumatic for him and we're sure for everyone involved! We believe that all who shared this time felt extremely fortunate that the wind which had been fanning the blaze died down by nightfall and that the fire, which could have been catastrophic, was history!