A Little Piece of History

[IronNoggin]

Just down the road a ways, they are tearing down one of the early hotels built here in Port Alberni.
The Arrowview Hotel was built in 1927 of chiefly huge old growth fir.

Here is a brief history of the hotel: https://raincoasthistory.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-brief-history-of-arrowview-hotel-in.html

I decided I needed a piece of that old gal, so chided and bribed my way into an 12 foot section of 2" x 12" main floor joist.

Pulling the nails out of that was something alright! That has to be the densest / hardest piece of timber I've ever run across!
It will be quite the effort to work with I am guessing.
I plan on cutting it down just a tad, and after re-finishing it, mounting it as the new mantelpiece above our living room fireplace.

Be kind of sweet to have that little piece of history preserved and well displayed in our home methinks.

Cheers,
Nog

 

[walleyes]

Yup cool piece for sure. I like stuff like that as well. It would take me a while but I would make something cool out of it.

 

[paguy]

We used to find old growth fir while building logging road, Stuff the old timers cut and bucked but never hauled out.We would cut it for firewood. Man you talk about heat and burn for hours.

 

[Kildonan]

Very cool, Matt. The old Arrowview was in a pretty sad state in the end, eh?

That area was a going concern when I grew up in Port in the 1960’s and 70’s. A booming economy. I don’t remember any poverty or poor families, everybody earned a good living in a community that was an outdoors enthusiasts dream. I had one hell of a childhood there that I’m very thankful for. Such great memories. I hope they rebuild uptown to its once former glory.