Residents of Cranberry, so far, have had a positive reaction to a new feature installed at Lindsay Park (Cranberry Lake) on Thursday, September 28, according to Dave Florence, president of the Forestry Heritage Society.
The Anderson sawmill project began long ago, first with the Burnaby Heritage Museum in 2014, returning the steam donkey and other materials that came from Anderson sawmill that operated on Powell Lake from 1932 to 1960. Cranberry Lake and Lindsay Park also had mills running in the area from 1914 to about 1960.
“The park in Cranberry seemed like a logical place for it,” said Florence. “The neighbours and the community seem really positive about it. There are not many steam donkeys in as good of condition as this one.”
Florence said the decision was made to install the steam donkey first, because it seemed like the most impressive artifact from the mill and fairly straightforward to set up. He said it took about a year of planning and finally, last week, the Anderson sawmill steam donkey appeared at Lindsay Park, thanks to the work and collaboration of qathet Museum and Archives, City of Powell River Parks, Recreation and Culture, Forestry Heritage Society and Powell River Community Forest.
The steam donkey on display was a major source of steam power for the Anderson sawmill and was made by the Vancouver Engineering Works in 1918. Andy and Clara Anderson worked together operating the sawmill at Block Bay on Powell Lake from 1932 to 1960.
“We hope to install other items from material that was returned,” said Florence. “But we have no announcements yet, and there is a lot of work to be done first.”
To see archival photos of the Anderson sawmill, go to qathet.prfhs.org.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
