Digby Island is west of present day Prince Rupert, British Columbia. In those early days Prince Rupert itself was very small, awaiting a boom the Grand Trunk Pacific railroad construction promised. Outside communications for the area was then only by coastal steamer or, once the rail road arrived, by landline telegraph. The construction of the wireless station would provide more reliable communications to the southern major population centers and a great measure of safety to maritime traffic.
Digby had an amusing communications problem. They were on an island, and the town of Prince Rupert was slowly building across the water. There was no connection between the two. The telegraph company put in a cable to rectify the situation. So if someone wanted to send a wireless message from Prince Rupert they had two charges to pay, the telegraph and the wireless costs. This led to some resentment amongst the citizens.
Google Earth location here.
Some station photos in chronological order
If you are looking for the Royal Canadian Navy's communication facilities in Prince Rupert during World War 2, then head over to Jerry Proc's excellent site.
Digby had an amusing communications problem. They were on an island, and the town of Prince Rupert was slowly building across the water. There was no connection between the two. The telegraph company put in a cable to rectify the situation. So if someone wanted to send a wireless message from Prince Rupert they had two charges to pay, the telegraph and the wireless costs. This led to some resentment amongst the citizens.
Google Earth location here.
Some station photos in chronological order
If you are looking for the Royal Canadian Navy's communication facilities in Prince Rupert during World War 2, then head over to Jerry Proc's excellent site.
1908 In October the Victoria Colonist reports Col. Anderson and Hughes are checking out a location for the proposed wireless station. Initially the station was to be placed about a mile out of town, but eventually Parizeau Point on Digby Island, just to the west of town was chosen.
1909 Landline copper wire telegraph from Prince Rupert to Victoria is not reliable. Circuit goes to Prince George, then south to Ashcroft where it connected to the Canadian Pacific Railroad telegraph. Being several hundred miles long it is subject to long interruptions from fallen trees etc. A more satisfactory link is expected with the wireless.
1910 In March a 1500 foot telephone and telegraph cable is being laid between the station and Prince Rupert. Times paper May 6, 1910 reports E.J.Haughton inspecting the nearly completed station. Victoria Daily Times May 23, 1910--Haugton announces the station is open for business. Two kilowatt transmitter reaches down to Triangle Island and up to Ketchikan Alaska. Call sign PGD. Station is 160 feet above sea level. Tramway to water has a slope of over 40 degrees in spots. Dewhurst is an operator. Cameron arrives to relieve C. Bardbury. Station will not compete for business with the land line telegraph office in Prince Rupert. With a 2038 mile hop, the station spoke with SS Marama heading for Australia.
1911 Census lists James Harker and Reg Harris as operators. In December a tender was let to build a house for the operators. Assumption is the old building contained, as did some of the other stations, the electric generator, living quarters and operating room.
1912 New engine and store house completed.
1913 Call sign changed to VAJ in accordance with the Berlin Conference. Lofty Harris arrives in June. DeWinter is OIC.
Jim Harker and Harold Tee worked 12 hours on, 12 hours off for 3 months at some period on this station. Harker figures his pay was 28 cents an hour during this slog. Dominion Government accounts report this station is almost self supporting; message handling revenue almost equalling station operational costs. McDonald leaves to join the CGS Quadra.
1914 Operator Bowerman arrives up from Alert Bay Wireless and stays until the fall of1917. Lofty departs in February. Tender issued for a "Double Dwelling House" by the Naval Service.
1915 Winter, D. Ward and Harris reported as being on station by Henderson's 1915 directory.
1909 Landline copper wire telegraph from Prince Rupert to Victoria is not reliable. Circuit goes to Prince George, then south to Ashcroft where it connected to the Canadian Pacific Railroad telegraph. Being several hundred miles long it is subject to long interruptions from fallen trees etc. A more satisfactory link is expected with the wireless.
1910 In March a 1500 foot telephone and telegraph cable is being laid between the station and Prince Rupert. Times paper May 6, 1910 reports E.J.Haughton inspecting the nearly completed station. Victoria Daily Times May 23, 1910--Haugton announces the station is open for business. Two kilowatt transmitter reaches down to Triangle Island and up to Ketchikan Alaska. Call sign PGD. Station is 160 feet above sea level. Tramway to water has a slope of over 40 degrees in spots. Dewhurst is an operator. Cameron arrives to relieve C. Bardbury. Station will not compete for business with the land line telegraph office in Prince Rupert. With a 2038 mile hop, the station spoke with SS Marama heading for Australia.
1911 Census lists James Harker and Reg Harris as operators. In December a tender was let to build a house for the operators. Assumption is the old building contained, as did some of the other stations, the electric generator, living quarters and operating room.
1912 New engine and store house completed.
1913 Call sign changed to VAJ in accordance with the Berlin Conference. Lofty Harris arrives in June. DeWinter is OIC.
Jim Harker and Harold Tee worked 12 hours on, 12 hours off for 3 months at some period on this station. Harker figures his pay was 28 cents an hour during this slog. Dominion Government accounts report this station is almost self supporting; message handling revenue almost equalling station operational costs. McDonald leaves to join the CGS Quadra.
1914 Operator Bowerman arrives up from Alert Bay Wireless and stays until the fall of1917. Lofty departs in February. Tender issued for a "Double Dwelling House" by the Naval Service.
1915 Winter, D. Ward and Harris reported as being on station by Henderson's 1915 directory.
1917 Syd Elliott was an operator sometime during WW 1. Remembers having to dismantle the station and hide the equipment due to a suspected raid by hostile forces. Raid never materialized so he had to dig it all up again, wishing he hadn't hidden it so well.
1923 Operator Sid Jones moves up from Alert Bay to relieve a vacationing Sid Jackson.
1924 In January a 4 kilowatt four tube continuous wave transmitter is shipped to the station. The age of the spark transmitter is coming to a close.
1928 Digby works the Australian ship "Aorangi" 50 miles out of Sydney, a 7250 mile reach. (7:35 AM Feb 3)
1929-30 Annual Report: The new operating house was completed in May, 1929. A furnace was put in and the building was completely wired for electric lights. A 1,600 watt transmitter was installed and was equipped with a mechanical remote control switch for changing wavelengths.
A Matthews generating unit with starting battery was installed as an emergency stand-by in case of power failure and connected for use on the1,600 watt transmitter.
A short wave transmitter and a 100 watt radiophone set were installed complete with the necessary machines and receivers.
A new ground system consisting of buried copper plates was constructed.
The transformer substation was moved from its former location to a new position beside the tramway tracks and a power line was run down to the shore to connect to the submarine cable supplying power to the Marine depot on the opposite side of Casey bay.
1936 Modulated CW frequenciesin kHz: 400, 500
Radiophone frequency in kHz: 1630
1937 R.G.Emmerson, OIC, moves out to Cape Lazo.
1967 Marine station consolidated with airport's aeradio station. MF/HF/VHF capability.
1981 Marine radio station moved to Seal Cove base.
1984 Marine traffic control added to the station's duties. VHF only.
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1923 Operator Sid Jones moves up from Alert Bay to relieve a vacationing Sid Jackson.
1924 In January a 4 kilowatt four tube continuous wave transmitter is shipped to the station. The age of the spark transmitter is coming to a close.
1928 Digby works the Australian ship "Aorangi" 50 miles out of Sydney, a 7250 mile reach. (7:35 AM Feb 3)
1929-30 Annual Report: The new operating house was completed in May, 1929. A furnace was put in and the building was completely wired for electric lights. A 1,600 watt transmitter was installed and was equipped with a mechanical remote control switch for changing wavelengths.
A Matthews generating unit with starting battery was installed as an emergency stand-by in case of power failure and connected for use on the1,600 watt transmitter.
A short wave transmitter and a 100 watt radiophone set were installed complete with the necessary machines and receivers.
A new ground system consisting of buried copper plates was constructed.
The transformer substation was moved from its former location to a new position beside the tramway tracks and a power line was run down to the shore to connect to the submarine cable supplying power to the Marine depot on the opposite side of Casey bay.
1936 Modulated CW frequenciesin kHz: 400, 500
Radiophone frequency in kHz: 1630
1937 R.G.Emmerson, OIC, moves out to Cape Lazo.
1967 Marine station consolidated with airport's aeradio station. MF/HF/VHF capability.
1981 Marine radio station moved to Seal Cove base.
1984 Marine traffic control added to the station's duties. VHF only.
Digby Island
PDG/VAJ