A Parksville man is bringing his documentary, The Bridge, about the construction of the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge in the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver to the Parksville Community Centre on July 26.
Nearly 60 years ago, Peter Hall was given the task of filming the building of the bridge.
“I was working at the bridge at the time in the early 50s and the public relations fellow said we are to make a film of the building of the bridge,” Hall said.
Related: Parksville man wants footage of Second Narrows Bridge turned into documentary
Hall, who was an engineer, said he was the right man for the job because he was involved in a camera club.
On June 17, 1958, the bridge collapsed sending 79 men into the surging waters of the Second Narrows, killing 19.
“I started filming in 1957 and I took it right through to opening day,” Hall said. “I didn’t get the actual collapse, but I got the aftermath. I was there 10 or 15 minutes after it happened.”
"The Bridge" Parksville Community Centre July 26 from George Orr on Vimeo.
Hall said he was on his way to the bridge when it collapsed.
He kept the extensive footage of the bridge construction in his office for close to 59 years.
“I ended up with 3,000 feet of 16 mm colour film,” he said.
After several media outlets got wind of his collection, the word was out.
“My director in Vancouver saw (The NEWS’) piece and he phoned me and asked me what I had,” Hall said. “I told him 3,000 feet of 16 mm film and he didn’t believe me. That’s what all journalists are hoping for; a hidden treasure. He thought he had a hidden treasure.”
From there, Hall and George Orr, former CBC journalist and film maker, put all the footage together to create the full documentary.
The film was shown in Vancouver in June and July at the Van City Theatre, to which it received much success.
“We had nine showings… five of them sold out and the other four did very well,” Hall said.
“It’s been quite a success.”
There will only be one showing in Parksville on Thursday, July 26 at 3:15 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online at secondnarrowsbridge.com or at the door.