The Third and Right Hand Section of The Chemainus Thirty-Three Metre Collage painted by Paul Marcano
On the right, Engine No. 21 of the V. L. & M. Company rolls off another load into the Chemainus log dump. The year is 1899. The locomotive, a 2-8-0, has already seen two decades of work having been built for the Pennsylvania Railroad as Engine No. 248 in 1879 (CN 433). The early history of the Chemainus area is inextricably tied to its forests and the industries associated with it. Chemainus, or more specifically the bay around which the town grew, was home to natural features which made it attractive to the forest industry. The sawmill, which opened in 1862, was operated by a powerful stream with a potent waterfall. The late 1880s heralded the arrival of the railroad and the town slowly grew for the next thirty years. In the early 1920s the population was estimated at 600 with the inhabitants being of Chinese, Japanese and Salish Indian origin. By the late 1970s the mill was antiquated and the industry was suffering exceptionally difficult times. Some thought the town was finished. At this same time, the town was awarded a grant from a provincial redevelopment fund. Community leaders, led by a new, young mayor (Graham Bruce), were searching for ideas on the best way to utilize the funds. Karl Schutz, a social entrepreneur, was asked to contribute suggestions and ultimately to coordinate the murals revitalization project. Beginning in 1982 and continuing still today a total of 36 murals have been commissioned. All of them portray the history of Chemainus. To simply describe the outdoor gallery as a collection of murals would be misleading. Chemainus has bared its soul by exhibiting its history on its buildings. The Chemainus of today has a population of approximately 5,000 and includes a 274 seat theatre for the performing arts, thriving cafes, gift stores, galleries, antique stores and unique boutiques. Though people come to see the murals, they return again and again to shop and experience the small town’s atmosphere. The look of the town has changed… from
Size: 5620px × 3733px
Location: Chemanus, Vancouver Island. British Columbia. Canada.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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