-
12 -
critical
flood days Capt. Cec. May flew in from Edmonton with emergency equipment,
and two technicians, Walker and Dalman, from the Whitehorse station.
By the time FH got back on the job everything was back to normal
except for evidence everywhere of the high water which left heaved
and buckled floors and linoleum, warped insulating boards on the
walls; and chairs, desks and tables and doors much the worse for
their three days of soaking up the waters of the swollen Yukon.
On
Oct. 7th 1944 Low was posted to Edmonton and Signm. Dennis Eluted
replaced him a week later.
1945
came in with very little fanfare other than the usual new-years
festivities, but turned out to be one of those years noted for momentous
and historical events and happenings before going out with a veritable
blast of trumpets, hullabaloo and rejoicing in its wake - not all
of which was occasioned by V-E and V-J, for before the end of the
year, we moved into a brand new station with every modern convenience,
plus modern remotely controlled transmitters and receivers.
A
detachment of 18 R.C.Es in charge of Capt. Rod Saunders arrived
July 4th 1945, and a few days later commenced work on the site for
the new and attractive, modern building which now occupies a prominent
corner in Dawson's business section formerly occupied by the Yukonia
Hotel and the "M & M" Saloon (of early days fame)
which were razed by fire May 22nd 1940.
Tons
of ashes, charred lumber and tangled debris of all kinds had to
be removed before foundation work could be attempted; then more
time than anticipated was necessary to sink piling into frozen earth
down to bedrock, or perpetually frozen gravel, but after this arduous
and complicated preliminary foundation work was completed the remainder
proceeded quite rapidly. While this town work was in progress another
crew was engaged clearing a large area of bush and trees for the
remote aerial array and the small building for the equipment, in
the hills some two miles east of the town site.
Theoretically
we had little or nothing to do with this new construction work,
but we soon found ourselves very much in demand for information,
transportation by Jeep (which had been restored to us) and even
advice and general attention and mentor to all and sundry connected
with the new work. Needless to say our routine was quite hectic
and demanding at times, and for at least five months we could safely
say there was never a dull moment.
Air
Force personnel, specialists in pole-line and telephone construction
work, came in on last boat of the navigation season, Oct. 8th and
by end of November completed the setting up and rigging of the pole
line carrying the 26 pair lead covered control cable from town office
to remote station. Sgt. Walter Thomas, of Signals, came in about
the same time and attended to the stringing of the necessary power
line and installing transformers.