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City approves historic mill

Property will be identified for potential site

Powell River’s Historical Museum and Archives could be a cut above the rest now that the City of Powell River has approved a request for an historic sawmill with local roots to be located here.

At the November 20 council meeting, councillors reviewed a recommendation to site the sawmill, which had left the community years ago, on city property. The request had been made by Bert Finnamore, the museum’s heritage manager, at a recent committee of the whole.

Councillor Myrna Leishman said this was the sawmill that was originally located at Mowat Bay and was known as the Anderson sawmill. The sawmill artifacts have been in the possession of the Burnaby museum but that museum now wants to divest itself of the equipment.

“The museum would like to bring this piece of equipment to Powell River,” Leishman said.

In a report to council, Ray Boogaards, director of parks, recreation and culture, recommended the request to locate the Anderson Sawmill collection on city property be approved. He further recommended that he be directed to determine an appropriate city site for the sawmill collection, and that all costs associated with preparing a site for the collection, including possible tree removal, shall be at the cost of the Powell River museum.

Council carried a motion to that effect.

The museum had made a request for a site at Willingdon Beach Park to house the sawmill. In his report to council, Boogaards said in past years, the Willingdon site has not been used to its full potential.

“In the past year it has been used by the BC Bike Race and as a viewing area for the annual fireworks display,” he stated. “In previous years the site was used for outdoor fitness activities and also by a successful logger sports program.”

The space requested by the museum for the sawmill is approximately seven feet wide by up to 100 feet in length.

Boogaards said there are several considerations that must be addressed. They include: the best use for the area requested; liability concerns over the public climbing on the equipment; another space that the department may wish to recommend in the same general area.

Boogaards said in discussions with Finnamore, the space suggested would net the best results for the museum as the equipment would act as a link from the main museum to Powell River Forestry Museum. He said it also would create a presence in the area that will result in greater numbers of visitors to the site.

“It is submitted that the equipment would definitely be a draw to the museums,” according to Boogaards. “However, it is not suggested that the sawmill be placed in the area requested. Staff suggests a different site be offered to the museum. This site is located on the same side of the road as the museum directly beside the parking lot entrance.”

Boogaards stated that city staff discussed the matter internally and with the past organizer for the logger sports. Boogaards said the past organizer of the logger sports suggested that the sport could be re-established on that site.

“The site was designed to accommodate logger sports and it should not be considered for another use until there is no longer a requirement by logger sports,” he said.