Breaking New Ground—Stories from Defence Construction Breaking_new_ground | Page 20

There were quite a number of men on the job who were
skilled in the use of dynamite. One of them, “Dynamite
Joe,” the powder man for the sewer and water contrac-
tor, was delegated the task of blowing the dam. Unfortu-
nately, he carried out the job after fortifying himself with
a bottle of wine—the result being that he only blew out
half the dam. By the next day the industrious beavers
had carried out full repairs and had strengthened and
widened their construction. “Dynamite Joe” was out, so
a chap who had been a hard rock miner took over. He
was set on making sure that the dam went, and sent
out a box of 60-per cent powder. He did produce a big
bang with lots of water and wood flying around, but the
only effect on the dam was to blow a hole in the middle.
Again, the beavers repaired it.
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By this time, we were getting short of water and were
rather dirty, so quick action was needed. Lands and
Forest people were called in. They trapped half a
dozen beavers, destroyed the lodges and then flew
the animals out to a lake north of the Sioux to let them
go. Once the beavers were out of the way, Rocky
Thompson, who found time in between prospecting
activities to be the U.S. Air Force Foreman of Works on
the site, went up and blew out the whole dam. We were
a little wet for a day or two until the level of the lake
went down, but the resulting supply lasted for the thirty
years that the station was open.
John Blackie officially joined DCL in 1954 after working
with the Corporation as a CMHC staffer. He was for
many years the project supervisor at CFB Winnipeg and
points north. He retired from this position in 1983.
BREAKING NEW GROUND
DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION CANADA