During the summer of 1953, Allan Banfill was 22 years old and employed as an Installer with the Bell Telphone Company of Canada. According to Allan, Bell Telephone officials began searching for volunteers within their organization. They were looking for volunteers but would accept only from a select group that fitted into a certain profile. It was under these circumstances that Allan applied, and was accepted for his skills in what eventually became known as Pine Tree Construction Project Job #2. This project was very "hush hush" and even for civilians, the basic handout was clasified as SECRET. Things were obviously quite secretive in those days - as the last paragraph in the project handout stated "Finally anyone arriving at point of departure for the job under the influence of liquor will be taken off the project and returned to their headquarters immediately. Any forbidden articles such as liquor, guns, cameras etc., found in luggage at the time of departure for the job will be confiscated".
Initially, the selected few knew nothing, and they were told even less. They were apparently being sent to remote locations to install communications lines and networks. They had no indication as to how long project would last or the locations where they would ultimately be working.
Allan and his group left Montreal's Dorval airport on July 13, 1953 - destination Goose Bay, Labrador. He recalls that he only spent a few days in Goose Bay. Allan and his group were then placed on a Canso and they departed Goose Bay for Hopedale - where they worked for a period of some 5 weeks. The work being completed at Hopedale - it was back to Goose Bay for a few days, and then north to Frobisher Bay for about a month and a half. There were three teams in all, and the other two handled the initial installations at Resolution Island, Saglek, Cartwright and St. Anthony.
Allan has kept some of the initial communication and detail (all these years) and he has shared this with us - so we can get some idea as to what took place back in 1953 - at the time when Pinetree Line radar stations at Frobisher Bay, Hopedale and even Goose Bay, were still under construction - and at the best, providing limited facilites and amenities.
The Bell Telephone Company group lived in an area called "Tent City" which was located about a mile from the settlement of Hopedale. This area was strewn with rocks and left a great deal to be desired. There were no trees and very little grass. As was the case in every radar station which was under construction at that time, "Tent City" was serving as a temporary location.
The Bell Telephone employees were not allowed to visit the Hopedale settlement without the prior approval of the camp supervisor. Cameras were prohibited. The photos which are provided below were taken by one of the native girls. She took the photos during an approved visit to the Hopedale settlement. She then gave the roll of film to Allan for processing.
It should be mentioned that, at the time of their arrival in July 1953, the radar station was still under construction. The small number of USAF personnel on site at that time filled supervisory roles related to the construction of buildings and other similar duties. The radar equipment itself, was not to become operational until November 1953. The Bell Telephone Company group was to install communications at locations such as the receiver and transmitter sites.
The Eskimos living in Hopedale were somewhat taller than those living in Frobisher Bay. They lived in wooden buildings all year round and they spoke some English or French."
