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Pioneers - W. D. Smith
Bill
Smith, better known as “Smithy”, was the local Manager of the
Northern B.C. Power Co. from 1932 until 1942.
The International Power
Co. Ltd. originally supplied the electric power from a plant utilizing
water from the Silverado slide. During the 1931-32 winter a snow slide
forgot to turn, in it’s normal route, and destroyed the power plant.
The power source became the Barney Gulch hydro plant or the Dunwell Mill
diesel plant. Shortly after the Silverado plant was destroyed the
International Power was purchased by the Power Corporation of Canada and
it’s subsidiary, the Northern BC Power Co with headquarters in Prince
Rupert, took over the operation. Smithy was appointed Manager of the
Stewart operation.
Smithy looked after the power plants operations and
was the lineman who ensured the power lines delivered the electricity to
the customers in both Stewart and Hyder.
In the early days of radio
Smithy spent many hours checking electrical transmission lines and
transformer to see that did not cause radio interference.
During the
cold winter he found time to flood the area at Barney Gulch power plant
to make a skating rink for the kids and he provided free electricity to
light the area so the parents could skate in the evenings.
Smithy, a veteran and Legion member, was instrumental
in seeing those major functions such as Victoria Day, July 1st, and
other functions ran smoothly. He can often be seen in picture as the
escort of the local May Queen.
He could also be counted on to add his
singing voice to the entertainment. Smithy was one of those local
personalities who could be counted on to make the community a fun place
to live.
Smithy left Stewart for Prince Rupert during the war
and continued to work for the Northern B.C. Power Company. Soon after
his arrival in Prince Rupert he married Kay. Later he took up politics
and was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Victoria.
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