DON’T MISS THIS – It is with great pleasure that we invite all community volunteers, as well as any organization that has volunteer members, to attend the Mill Bay Community League’s annual Community Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation Barbeque. This is the Mill Bay Community League’s special thank you to all. (For planning purposes, please RSVP […]
Continue readingAttention MBMHS Members – The MBMHS is collecting Country Grocer Receipts
Please give us your Country Grocer Receipts and help us accumulate $5000.00 worth. Country Grocer will give ($50) or 1% to the MBMHS when we turn in the receipts. Give the receipts to Karlie Weber (250 743-9196) or to any of our directors or phone the MBMHS at 250 743-0144. Thank you so much for […]
Continue readingFor a $15 donation to the Bamberton Historical Society
Bamberton History Hardcover Book. Features archive photos and stories spanning 100 years (1912 to 2012). Available for a $15 donation to the Bamberton Historical Society plus mailing. (dalexander2@shaw.ca)
Continue readingThe History of the Malahat Highway
The History of the Malahat Highway DVD (45 minutes) plus 4 mini movies ‘One Man’s Dream, the History of the Malahat Highway A hilarious story of Major James McFarlane who singlehandedly surveyed the route and whose persistence got the road built. What makes the story so fascinating is Major McFarlane was basically a drunken Irishman […]
Continue readingThe New Heritage Museum
The New Heritage Museum – Mill Bay – Malahat Historical Society, Bamberton Historical Society and Cobble Hill Historical Societies would like to thank everyone who attended the preview opening of the new Heritage Museum on Oct. 20. If you missed it the Heritage Museum is open every Sunday 12:00-3:00 pm from Oct. 21 to Nov. 25. Join us […]
Continue readingMemories
An era has passed and Bamberton is no more, but although the buildings may be gone the memories will live on forever. Here are some additional memories from some past Bamberton residents: Does anyone remember the BAMBERTON BLAZERS hockey team? (Joe Chance) Rebricking the kilns was an experience. I can remember it was so hot […]
Continue readingVillage Life (1912-1982)
At the beginning of the plant’s construction workers lived in tents while the higher level personal were housed in small wooden buildings built further up on the hillside. When the plant reopened in the 1920s the company town began to grow. Because of its relative isolation it was a close-knit community. The nearest road was […]
Continue readingDust to Bust (1970-1982)
After the prosperity and optimism of the 60s the 70s brought a downward turn and Bamberton’s demise began. Beale’s Quarry on Texada Island had been for sale and the logical buyer was Ocean Cement. But the company’s managers felt the price was too high and decided to sit tight. However, the Lafarge Co. of Paris […]
Continue readingPutting a Mountain Through a Sieve: The Cement Manufacturing Process
In the early days the limestone was quarried at the Bamberton site, but later when the Cobble Hill quarry was purchased the quarried limestone was transported to the plant by trucks, where it was dumped into the “Glory Hole”. It was fed into the primary crusher and withdrawn as required by remotely controlled feeders and […]
Continue readingProsperity
“Bamberton’s boom years were just beginning in the early 50s and the future looked rosy. The wages were increased and I remember I was making $1.45 hour.” (Andy Bigg) Bamberton’s expansion included new kilns, crushers and dry mills, all bigger and more efficient than ever before. In 1953 the Texada Island quarry operation was discontinued […]
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