An iconic piece of Ladner history made its final voyage last week.
The Mitchell Bay, built in 1932, was part of Canada’s Second World War “Gumboot Navy,” formed in 1939 to patrol the B.C. coast as the threat of war grew. Recruits used their own fishing boats and modified them by adding guns and other equipment to help keep the shores safe.
The vessel has been a fixture at the Speed’s dock for more than 20 years and is part of the pub’s logo. Last Friday, the historic vessel was towed to its final resting place in Shelter Island to be scrapped.
The vessel was beloved by many, appearing in paintings and on the covers of phone books and magazines as it represented Ladner’s picturesque waterfront.
Tony Frustaci with Sharkey’s Seafood Bar and Grille was on hand to watch the vessel get towed away.
He said his chef took a video of the event, which was posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page and shared on Speed’s Pub’s Facebook page. As of Monday afternoon, the three-minute video had more than 18,000 views.
“This boat has been around for a long time and has been up and down the coast so many times,” said Frustaci. “Speed and another guy owned it and it has been on their dock for so many years. People just really love the boat. It’s a historical send off, for sure. You don’t get 20,000 views on a video like this in Ladner, so it really resonated with a lot of people.”
Several comments posted below the video also spoke of the special meaning and historical connection the vessel had for so many people.
“I see the ghosts of Spence Turner and Alf Leary hovering around there. Good bye old girl. Sad end but at least she’s not left to sink or rot on the beach,” wrote Ian Estabrooks.
Rosemarie Hurst said Ladner Harbour won’t be the same.
“I have many photos of this boat. Too bad they had to scrap it.”
Others called the vessel an icon in the harbour.
“That’s sad. We love Speed’s Pub and the Mitchell Bay was one of my favourite parts,” wrote Jeremy Ferguson. “We come out from Abbotsford for the fish and chips at Speed’s and always took pictures of the Mitchell Bay.”
