On February 8th 2000, at historic Central Hall, the Salt Spring Historical Society presented a panel of elderly local gentleman who made their living as loggers back in the 1930 and 40s. The panel included: John Bennett, Ray Simard, Vic Samson, Bob Akerman, Hank Doerksen and Ivan Mouat. Their talk and playful banter provides insight into what life and work were like on Salt Spring back then, while creating a livelihood from logging, fishing and farming. The Cross-Cut Saw, Axe, Peavey and the Steam Donkey were a few of the venerable tools of their trade. Some loggers specialized in Booming and Horse-Logging, others in Spar-Tree preparation (aka “high rigger-climber"). Bob Akerman told the audience assembled that day, that on his first logging job in 1932, he earned 25 cents an hour. Like Bob, many of the men on the panel were of a generation that has passed away now, but locals, friends and family will recognize them, and remember them fondly as they tell us their stories in their inimitable, often humorous ways. Questions and answers followed the talk, and included the late David Harris (the Honey Man of Fulford) who told a story about his uncle Bob Akerman. The video closes with a montage of archival photographs of logging practices and local people.
With gratitude to the SS Historical Society for organizing the event and to all the gentlemen loggers for sharing their life and times; and reminding us of the importance of history, community and family. Courtesy of the archives of Salt Spring Island filmmaker and musician, Peter Prince: peterprince.ca/
Many of the people present at the event will be known to local Salt Springers. If you know the names of people who spoke or are shown in the video, please identify them in the "Comments" section of the video page. Please share and subscribe. Thank you.