Exploring the Forgotten Legacy of McMillan & Bloedel Bone Yards on Vancouver Island

In the misty valleys and rugged coastlines of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, lie the remnants of a once-mighty industrial empire—McMillan & Bloedel (commonly abbreviated as M&B). These bone yards, scattered across the Alberni Valley and beyond, are not merely scrap heaps of rusting machinery. They are silent witnesses to a century of logging innovation, economic transformation, and the gritty labor that shaped Canada’s forestry frontier. This article delves into the elusive M&B bone yards, exploring their historical significance, technical artifacts, and the cultural memory they evoke.

The Rise of McMillan & Bloedel

McMillan & Bloedel was formed in 1951 through the merger of three major forestry companies: H.R. MacMillan Export Company, Bloedel, Stewart and Welch, and Powell River Company. By the 1960s, M&B had become one of the largest forestry firms in North America, operating vast tracts of timberland and pioneering mechanized logging techniques.

Their operations on Vancouver Island were particularly extensive, with Port Alberni serving as a hub for logging, milling, and equipment maintenance. The company’s influence extended into every aspect of forestry—from tree felling and yarding to transportation and export. As technology evolved, so did their machinery, leaving behind a trail of obsolete but historically rich equipment.

What Is a Bone Yard?

In industrial parlance, a “bone yard” refers to a site where decommissioned equipment is stored, often for parts salvage, historical preservation, or eventual scrapping. In the context of M&B, these bone yards were repositories of logging relics—yarders, skidders, loaders, and trucks—many of which were custom-built or heavily modified for the unique terrain of Vancouver Island.

Terminology Notes

• Yarder: A machine used to haul logs from the cutting site to a landing area, often using cables and winches.
• Skidder: A vehicle designed to drag logs from the forest to a loading site.
• Loader: Equipment used to lift and place logs onto trucks or railcars.
• Cat: Short for Caterpillar, often used generically to refer to tracked machines like bulldozers.

The Alberni Valley Bone Yards

Rumors and local lore speak of several M&B bone yards hidden in the Alberni Valley, including sites near Great Central Lake, Beaver Creek, and the outskirts of Port Alberni. These locations are said to contain:

• Rusting yarders with cable drums still intact
• Skidders with massive tires deflated but still imposing
• Log loaders with hydraulic arms frozen mid-motion
• Abandoned bunkhouses and tool sheds with faded signage

While many of these sites are overgrown and inaccessible, they remain points of fascination for equipment historians, local explorers, and former loggers.

Anecdotes from the Field

One retired logger, known locally as “Red” MacPherson, recalls stumbling upon an old M&B bone yard while hunting near Nahmint Lake in the early 1990s. He described rows of cable yarders lined up like sentinels, their steel frames echoing the clang of long-forgotten shifts. “It was like walking into a museum without walls,” he said. “You could almost hear the engines and smell the grease.”

Another story involves a group of forestry students from the University of British Columbia who conducted an informal survey of abandoned equipment in the Alberni region. They documented over 40 distinct machines, some dating back to the 1950s, and noted the presence of experimental prototypes not found in any catalog.

Preservation vs. Decay

The fate of these bone yards is uncertain. Some have been reclaimed by nature, with moss and alder trees enveloping the steel carcasses. Others have been scavenged for parts or cleared for development. A few pieces have made their way into museums, such as the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan, which houses a restored M&B yarder and several archival photographs.

Efforts to preserve these sites face logistical and legal challenges. Many are located on private or Crown land, and environmental regulations complicate the removal or restoration of heavy equipment. Nonetheless, grassroots interest persists, with local historians and enthusiasts advocating for documentation and selective preservation.

Cultural Impact and Folklore

The bone yards have inspired a niche genre of folklore among Vancouver Island residents. Tales of haunted machines, ghostly loggers, and treasure maps hidden in toolboxes circulate among campfire circles and online forums. While often exaggerated, these stories reflect a deep emotional connection to the region’s industrial past.

One popular legend tells of a “phantom yarder” that allegedly moves positions overnight in a remote clearing near Sproat Lake. Skeptics attribute this to shifting soil and erosion, but believers insist it’s the spirit of a long-dead operator still trying to finish his shift.

Modern Echoes: Logging Today

While M&B no longer exists as an independent entity—it was acquired by Weyerhaeuser in 1999—the legacy of its equipment and practices lives on. Modern logging firms on Vancouver Island still use techniques refined by M&B engineers, and many current operators trained on machines that originated in those bone yards.

Technological advances have transformed the industry, with GPS-guided harvesters, drone mapping, and environmental monitoring now standard. Yet the old machines remain symbols of a time when logging was as much art as science, requiring intuition, grit, and mechanical ingenuity.

Lessons from the Bone Yards

The story of McMillan & Bloedel’s bone yards is more than a tale of rust and ruin. It’s a reflection of industrial evolution, regional identity, and the human stories embedded in machinery. These sites challenge us to consider:

• How do we preserve industrial heritage without romanticizing environmental degradation?
• What can obsolete technology teach us about innovation and adaptation?
• How do we honor the labor and lives that powered these machines?

Conclusion: A Legacy Worth Remembering

As Vancouver Island continues to evolve, the bone yards of McMillan & Bloedel offer a poignant reminder of its industrial roots. Whether explored by historians, photographed by artists, or remembered by former workers, these sites deserve recognition not just as relics, but as chapters in a larger story of transformation, resilience, and ingenuity. Their silence speaks volumes—and for those who listen, the echoes are unforgettable.