Great new book with rare DAR photos: Heckman's CP

[Dan Conlin]

There is a new book out with rare photos by Joseph Heckman, a photographer and civil engineer for the CPR just before WW I: Heckman's Canadian Pacific: A Photographic Journey by Ralph Beaumount. The book has lovely high quality shots of the CPR when steam was king. There are seven fine DAR photos: Yarmouth Station, Weymouth Bridge, Digby Station, the Annapolis Royal Frogmore Station, a very unusual view of the original Annapolis Royal Station down by the docks, the South Maitland Station and the Avon River Bridge. The book is not cheap at $60 but irrestible to me and otherwise an excellent choice for your Christmas wish list: http://cvrco.com/bookdistributing2015.htm

Interestingly Heckman was assigned by the CPR to fully document the DAR in 1910 as the CPR considered its acquisition of the line. Heckman seems to have taken a precisely dated photo of every bridge and station, 119 in all. The original photos are in albums at the CPR archives at Windsor Station in Montreal. How I'd love to go see them! However the CPR archives are in limbo. They have laid off all their archival staff and seem unclear of what to do with their massive documentary and photographic collection so it is very hard to get access.
Hope they end up in good hands.

Dan

[stem]

Thanks for the good word about the book Looks like one that will have to go on the shelf here.

That's not good news on the CPR archives. You would think the company with all the $$ they make would at least keep their history well managed. After all their history IS Canada's history as well.