Here are a few of the photos I took during the work party last weekend at Camp Koolaree.  The planning for this job ensured that every tool needed and every bit of material for the job was on site and ready.  All the lumber was donated by Harrop Procter Forest Products last summer and spent the winter carefully stacked near Cabin #6.  Mitchell Supply in Castlegar supplied plywood at a huge discount, and Trowelex Rentals also kicked in with a discount on the rental of a nice quiet Honda generator.  Mo and his hand-picked helpers, Jon and Ric can’t be thanked enough for all they have done.

10:51 Friday, May 31, 2019, With the rotten floorboards removed, the team started cutting out the Brick Shed floor joists.  L-R:  Mike Balahura, Mo Barry, Cheryl Ellis, Ric, and Don Ellis.  Unfortunately, I did not get Ric’s last name.

12:03 Friday, May 31, 2019, With the old flooring and floor joists removed, supports were positioned near the large posts that carry the header beam and the roof structure above.

L-R:  Don, Mo (you can just see his shoulder behind the third post), Cheryl, Bill (bent over), Cody St. Thomas, and Patrick Sanders.  Joining the posts together is a 2 x 12 LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) plank which is stronger than natural wood.  That immensely strong member was then doubled with the addition of planks screwed onto it.  Strong?  You bet it was!

 

12:04 Friday, May 31, 2019  L-R:  Jacob Plett, Mo, Don, and Ric.  Bill is still bent over and partially hidden.  With all three posts tied securely together and reinforced, the whole shebang was eventually jacked up slightly and the bottom of each post cut off with a chainsaw.  I think “Sneakers” Brown ‘85’ would be impressed.

 

12:55 Friday, May 31, 2019  L-R: Jacob Plett, Patrick Sanders, Cody St. Thomas, and John Marko enjoying a well-deserved lunch break.  The young guys and Cheryl did a fantastic job.  Hauling planks, crawling around under the building, and generally doing what the old guys were no longer flexible or trim enough to do made all the difference. 

John not only ran one of the boats but did a great job cleaning up the winter clutter in the kitchen and dining area.

 

16:42 Friday, May 31, 2019, Bill Furey and Mike Balahura observe something happening below them in the Brick Shed “basement”.

 

 

 

11:40 Saturday, June 1, 2019, Ken Brownlie keeps a watchful eye on Daniel Ellis as some of the new floor joists are put into position.  Though difficult to see, the main beam running the length of the building and supporting the posts has gone from the original 5 layer sandwich of 2 x 12 planks to a massive 9 layer unit.  It took a 20-inch drill to bore holes through this beam so it could be bolted together in many places.  It is now incredibly strong and I am sure it could support many, many tons or survive an earthquake.

 

 

14:38 Saturday, June 1, 2019, There’s Bill and Herman Manarin standing proudly behind the super heavy duty workbench they have constructed.

 

 

17:50 Saturday, June 1, 2019, Taking a break before supper L-R:  Mo Barry, Jon Nesmith, Bill Furey, and Ken Brownlie.

 

 

18:54 Saturday, June 1, 2019, Just for something to do after supper, the fellows tried to free up a broken tree that had hung up when they pulled it over with the ratchet straps.  One of these days it’s going to take a little chainsaw work to complete that job.  They have placed lengths of 2 x 4 to protect the tree from the chain which is wrapped around it.

 

 

10:15 Sunday, June 2, 2019, There’s our happy cook, Gordon McTeer.  Besides whipping up some tasty grub for the workers, he even he pitched in to help nail down the new floor.  Behind him, Bill lowers another 1 1/2” x 2” x 10”.  Every plank is secured to each joist with four nails.  3 1/2” perhaps?  It was a noisy environment, to say the least with saws whining through planks, drills and impact drivers clattering away, hammers bashing nails, and outside the mufflerless camp generator roaring its guts out and every few seconds letting out an earsplitting backfire!

 

 

12:00 Sunday, June 2, 2019, Just about time for Ken to climb out of the “basement”.

 

 

12:00 Sunday, June 2, 2019, Ric toenails the ends of two planks to the joist below.  Some planks were only partially nailed at first and later the missing nails were added.  In the background, some of the surplus planks are neatly stacked.  One more full 2 x 10 and one ripped to fit the gap will finish the job and we can take a break for lunch.

 

12:03 Sunday, June 2, 2019, Jon trims the end of a plank to length with his powerful battery powered saw.  Bill, only partially visible, is pounding nails with a 2 1/2 lb club mallet, and standing, way in the back corner, is Ric, probably trying to relax for a minute.  Battery powered tools are incredibly handy.  We always had a couple of spare batteries getting recharged so time wasn’t wasted waiting around.

 

 

12:51 Sunday, June 2, 2019, Mo Barry “The Main Man”  who put this project together, gets the honour of pounding in the “last spike”.

 

 

15:40 Sunday, June 2, 2019, It’s getting late and there’s still clean up to do and bins of tools and other items to take down to the boats and run across the lake.  Mostly hidden behind the pillar is Don Ellis.  He and Mo were tapping in a few more nails to secure the planks that now cover the old posts.

 

Somehow I missed getting photos of a couple of fellows;  Nick and Tim.  Like everyone else, they worked incredibly hard under noisy, dirty, conditions to do their part in helping to see this project done.  As long as the roof keeps the weather out, this new Brick Shed floor should easily last for more than a hundred years. Cleared of junk and with a new workbench and shelving installed, this historic building will be a treat to visit.  The lights in this photo were powered by a generator, but we have received a grant which will allow the installation of solar panels and LED lighting.