Fonds - Nanaimo Foundry fonds

The Nanaimo Foundry, at the corner of Comox Road and Arena Street, was established by Thomas and Nathaniel Dobeson in 1888. In 1889, Nathaniel sold his part of the business to Thomas who had already been a successful engineer in England. Originally, the foundry catered to the marine industry but quickly diversified into mining, logging and railway work. Thomas Dobeson patented, among other items, his own line of fire hydrants and the "Dobeson Carwheel", a wheel for coal mine cars with a built-in oiling device. Marine work included the design and production of marine engines and the conversion of sailing vessels to steamboats. In 1904, Dobeson died. By that time, the foundry was producing "donkeys", engines equipped with drums and cables which pulled logs out of the woods. Dobeson's sons, Joseph and Osmand, inherited the business and, over the years, it was owned by a succession of private interests including Ken Alexander and the Victoria Machinery Depot. The present buildings date from 1913 and include a machine shop which was built during World War 2. During the war, the foundry operated around the clock, building engine and marine parts for the military. In 1999, the Foundry moved to larger, more modern premises near Chemainus. At the time of the move, the Foundry, including a machine shop and fabricating works, catered mainly to pulp mills and the forestry industry and employed about 30 people. The site was purchased by the Nanaimo Port Authority in the 1980s and leased to the Foundry. The site was subsequently acquired by the Snenymuxw First Nations. In June 2005, a demolition permit was approved for all sections of the Foundry except the oldest identified section. The remainder of the building was demolished in January 2007.