Museum traces a century of forestry, from handsaws to bans

Visitors follow a timeline that begins around 1912 and covers the World Wars, post-war growth, changes in equipment, reforestation, and modern forestry practices.

Curator Sophia Bucior said the exhibit shows how tools and machines changed over time and what those changes meant for the people who used them.

“We’ve got a big handsaw. It’s about two metres long,” Bucior said. “Two guys operated it, going back and forth. It took a long time. It took a lot of hard work.”

Bucior explained that the handsaw was followed by a chainsaw once used by the Prince George fire department.

The exhibit also addresses the industry’s impact on the environment. For example, the beehive burner, which still stands in the museum’s park, is featured.

“The beehive burner was used to burn waste wood from sawmills. Really terrible for the environment,” Bucior said. “At the time, it was what they thought was the best new thing. They ended up being banned in the ’90s because they were so terrible for the environment.”

Bucior said the exhibit links the photos inside the gallery with the actual equipment displayed outside.

“You’ll see pictures of these things all the time,” she said. “But then you’re able to come out into the park and actually be hands-on, and walk around, and get inside some of these things.”

Bucior said visitors can climb into trains, walk through the beehive burner, and see an arch logging truck up close. The exhibit also includes a video of a land-clearing machine from the 1920s, showing what clear-cutting looked like in the industry’s early days.

Executive director Christos Vardacostas said the site highlights the region’s industrial heritage and the close connection between railway and forestry. He added that many artifacts come from the site or from communities throughout the region.

He mentioned that the museum attracts visitors from well beyond Northern B.C.

“There are a lot of people all over the world who come here and simply learn that there is a museum here,” Vardacostas said. “It’s amazing how many people stop here from all over the world.”

Vardacostas said the museum holds a large collection.

“We have over 60 pieces of rolling stock and 20 heritage buildings on the site, and people come from all over the world,” he said. “I don’t think anybody passes by Prince George, particularly if they’re on wheels, and doesn’t stop here.”

The exhibit is now open. Bucior said it will continue until about mid-October, when the museum switches to its Halloween event.

Bucior said the museum is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this fall. Later, the hours will change to five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday.

The exhibit welcomes residents, visitors, forestry professionals, and educators to discover one of the province’s founding industries.

by Dave Branco

Museum traces a century of forestry, from handsaws to bans

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