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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 8, 2010 18:19:14 GMT -8
For the past few days in my neighbourhood, a heavy-duty pickup truck has been parked, and catches my eye each time that I see it.
The company name on the truck is "Cardena Construction". The truck is painted in Union Steamship red, with black down the centre of the cab.
A red & black truck, owned by a company called Cardena. Coincidence? Or is the company owner a steamship fan?
ps: I just went outside to take a picture, but the truck wasn't there.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 9, 2010 15:21:17 GMT -8
For the past few days in my neighbourhood, a heavy-duty pickup truck has been parked, and catches my eye each time that I see it. The company name on the truck is "Cardena Construction". The truck is painted in Union Steamship red, with black down the centre of the cab. A red & black truck, owned by a company called Cardena. Coincidence? Or is the company owner a steamship fan? ps: I just went outside to take a picture, but the truck wasn't there. Hope you hadn't been finishing off the last of the Queen of Richmond Bilgetank Ale when you saw this truck. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 11, 2010 12:05:56 GMT -8
Here is the truck in Union Steamship colours. - I goofed on the company name. It's actually "Cardena Forest Products Ltd.", and they are based in Port McNeill.  |
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Post by lmtengs on Sept 11, 2010 13:24:50 GMT -8
I'd say that the truck just had it's hood damaged sometime in the past, and when they had it replaced, they were just too lazy to paint it burgundy. Just like how you will often see old white pickups with one red door or something like that. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 19, 2010 17:37:22 GMT -8
Regarding the Cardena truck with Union Steamship colours: I got a message today from the Cardena Forest Products company re my inquiry. They confirm the connection of the company name to the Union SteamShip. The owner is 5th generation logger, and his family members had traveled on the union ships over the years. ----------- They also point out that they are not "lazy", as was poorly suggested in the above quote in this thread. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned (or ignored) about one's choice of words. But social graces are another matter that should be taught in the home, not on the internet, ha ha. ------------ I'm just happy to learn that the connection that I made in my mind was actually reality........for once. ;D So to Cardena Forest Products of Port McNeill, thanks for helping to keep that Union Steamship history alive in your choice of company name and colours. It's a connection that is likely oblivious to most of the people on the coast, these days, but I think it's pretty cool. - and sorry for that one comment by one of our members.  |
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on Sept 19, 2010 20:23:16 GMT -8
our neighbour here in Tsawwassen, used to be the late Gearld Rushton, who wrote two histories of Union steam, Wistle up the inlet etc, and one of my artworks I did for him was Cardena at sechelt dock, I think my brother may have scanned it and the Catala one as well, and he may have those works in his photobucket and or flickr site. I have quite a bit of material on the Union which wetcoast has or will have soon. When I worked my second career here in Delta for the Planner, I wrote several road name reports for new subdivisions which were ereily similar to that Nanaimo area lagoon subdivison you featured yesterday, a couple of the names were from the Union Steam in this Delta one. mr.dot.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 19, 2010 20:44:17 GMT -8
our neighbour here in Tsawwassen, used to be the late Gearld Rushton, who wrote two histories of Union steam, Wistle up the inlet etc, and one of my artworks I did for him was Cardena at sechelt dock. Gerald Rushton's book "Whistle up the inlet" is in my collection, and I really enjoyed reading it. You must have enjoyed "talking ship" with Mr. Rushton when he was your neighbour. I'm currently reading Art Twigg's book "Union Steamships Remembered". Mr. Twigg passed-away a few years ago, but had worked as a purser on the Union Ships for many years, and I think he had retired to Campbell River. I'm very grateful to authors like Mr. Rushton & Mr. Twigg for preserving that part of our coastal history. |
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on Sept 19, 2010 21:05:45 GMT -8
two of the people featured in Mr Twigg's book went to church here in Tsawwassen, and went to the memorial service at St. David's with me, for Mr Rushton. I have all of the Union histories and my brother has most of my extensive Union and CN/GTP, and CPR coastal collection, hopefully he will be granted the time to go thru all this! Lately I have been more mindful of my mortality. I will sign off and go for my nap! mr.dot.
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on Sept 20, 2010 10:14:50 GMT -8
further on our times with Gearld Rushton, my father and I sat here with him and he remembered times up on the Nass river with the Union boats, Venture, and later Cardena and Catala. He has written notes in our copies of his books, and had several visits with my dad and several church bethern, Ken & Lorie Thompson, who were crew members on Chelosen, Coquitlam, etc. A fine old man, he was! mr.dot.
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Post by plansea on Sept 26, 2010 10:01:57 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 26, 2010 12:48:56 GMT -8
Thanks for telling us about this. I enjoyed browsing around your bookshelf. Is James Delgado a forum member? |
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Post by plansea on Sept 26, 2010 13:21:20 GMT -8
You may remember him as Executive Director the Vancouver Maritime Museum and from the Sea Hunters TV show.
I do not know if he is a member here or not.
His book "Waterfront" the Illustrated Maritime Story of Greater Vancouver is a good read and has lots of interesting pictures
I have several hundred more books of mine to enter. I keep stopping and reading them again, so it is a slow process to get them entered:)
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 1, 2010 20:33:11 GMT -8
If you walk through the Bowen Island neighbourhood between the ferry-dock and the causeway, you find a couple of street-corners that are both doubly-awesome for people who know their USSC history:   |
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Post by mrdot on Oct 1, 2010 21:36:30 GMT -8
as you propably know, Bowen island, as Newcastle island off Nanaimo, were formerlly company resort/vacation islands of considerable importance in the histories of the CPR and Union steamships. to many of todays generation they would have no clue of their former past, for example I vividly remember family getaways to Newcastle Island in my youth, back in the 1950,s. Another reasion I feel badly for how the early Dogwood years of my former ferry days have been effectively flushed by the present political regeme. mrdot.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 2, 2010 12:32:12 GMT -8
As I found out when I visited Bowen Island on Oct.1, 2010, there are 2 different types of Union SteamShip Company history on Bowen Island. - Neil explained the same thing to me, earlier. 1) The actual property sites itself (wharf, company store, cottages, Sandy Beach, trails), located on the north side of Government Rd ( the main road leaving the ferry berth). 2) The property attached to the legal name "Union Steamship Company", located on the south side of Government Rd. - this is the present day Union Steamship Marina, including their gift-shop, promenade & lawn and Doc Morgan's pub. - These are properties that aren't really associated with the Union Company's history, it's just that the name is attached to these properties now. - It's similar to how the operation of a ship called "MV Frances Barkley" is done by a company called Lady Rose. Or how the current band featuring Axl Rose can still be called Guns 'n Roses. ....you get the idea. ====================== Here's a location map to help you see the 2 areas of the Snug Cove neighbourhood:  South-side marina photos: The marina company logo. - 1889 is the date that the Union Steamship Company started (not the date that this marina opened ;D).  The gift-shop building, with Doc Morgan's pub behind it.  Views from the Lady Alexandra promenade:   ps: The marina shop did sell me these 2 postcards, depicting earlier times across the street:  |
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on Oct 2, 2010 13:15:33 GMT -8
probably the boat most associated with old Bowen was Lady Alex. which is illustrated in that idilic poster you have posted in that selection. It is a pity we never presered her but we still have a chance to hold on to Lady Rose! mrdot.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 2, 2010 14:22:42 GMT -8
Union Steamship historic views, from my trip to Bowen Island on Oct.1, 2010. From the north side of Government Rd, where the real history is: - The Union wharf. Still in use today. - Houses on Cardena Rd. are in the background.  - in the background of the above pictures are some nice shops (that sell ice cream & tacos), and where you can find 4 historical picture collages. Here's an excerpt about the start of this resort area by Capt. Cates, which was 20 years before Union came on the scene.  And now, to see the sights, here is a walking-tour of Cardena Road: - at the corner of Cardena & Government is the old Union Steamship Company store, now the Bowen public library:   Just a bit up Cardena on the left are some old Union cottages (I think these are from USSC, because they look old). - this is at the foot of the Maple & Alder Grove trails, right beside the cemetery.  Further up Cardena Rd. is the for-sale "CNIB Lodge". - I think that the lodge building is "post-Union", but the property was part of the USSC resort. There are braille-camps and other CNIB activities still ongoing here.  ....and a picnic shelter on the lodge property. Originally, I thought this might be from the USSC era, but it's likely a later addition by the CNIB.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2010 20:44:03 GMT -8
Hi, I am doing research on some photographs which came to me as a small number of glass negatives. in the box was a photograph of this ship which I believe to be a Union Steamship. there is also an image of the deck, probably from the same ship. if anyone could tell me a little more about this ship, and have any idea where the photograph may have been taken, it would help a lot with my research. i have a few images of a town as well which i assume is where the ship is docked if anyone thinks it might help. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2010 20:44:50 GMT -8
the deck... Attachments:
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 22, 2010 21:05:27 GMT -8
Hi, I am doing research on some photographs which came to me as a small number of glass negatives. in the box was a photograph of this ship which I believe to be a Union Steamship. there is also an image of the deck, probably from the same ship. if anyone could tell me a little more about this ship, and have any idea where the photograph may have been taken, it would help a lot with my research. i have a few images of a town as well which i assume is where the ship is docked if anyone thinks it might help. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Oh, so you can't quote the attached images........drats. (that's just referring to the way you posted your photo, no one else can quote it. not your fault, it's just the way the system is set up). This one is the ship Venture. She served for Union Steamships between 1911-1946. She was built in 1910 in Scotland for another company named "Boscowitz", which was taken over by Union in 1911. She served mainly on the nothern fish-cannery routes, and she was purpose-built for that. (this info is from the fine book "Union Steamships Remembered" by Art Twigg). |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 22, 2010 21:08:41 GMT -8
Because the passengers appear to be oriental, I'm guessing that this ship was also on a route to the norther fish canneries. It very well might be the Venture, but no way to tell that. |
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on Oct 22, 2010 21:10:24 GMT -8
yes indeed this is one of the pioneer Union ships the ss Venture was one of the early primer line ships of the 1920's and later years and was a northern workhorse. I think one of my drawings were done for mr. Rushton. I will have to see if I can dig it out. mrdot.
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Post by mrdot on Oct 22, 2010 21:34:54 GMT -8
a little bit more on this forecastle deck shot, this is very emblimatic of the past when the native workforce would have very different deck conditions than the elete society of that day and very much harkens to the conditions that existed for many of the working class of yesteryear! flugel reminded me of this gulf that existed on the old CPR coast service, but these conditions prevailed everwhere in these early years. It definitly was a different world in first class. mrdot.
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 22, 2010 21:44:33 GMT -8
Because the passengers appear to be oriental, I'm guessing that this ship was also on a route to the norther fish canneries. It very well might be the Venture, but no way to tell that. Those photos do indeed both appear to be of the venture. I compared locations of rigging and masts and came to this conclusion. Also, I am quite sure that those passengers are actually aboriginal, not of oriental descent as you've suggested. Look closer at the facial features of the people that you presumed were oriental. Of course the crew in behind are Caucasian. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2010 14:14:51 GMT -8
thanks for all of that information, it helps a lot! are there any listings of the ports the venture might have regularly stopped at, it would be nice to try and sort out where this is since i have some images of houses and the town i would like to try and figure out the location of.
thanks!
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