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Magoffin, Samuel S.
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Garden, Rockhaven construction, Speedwell Pluto, swimming

Item is an amateur film which captures shots of Margaret Magoffin among unidentified others walking through a large garden, including shots of flowers, water features, arches, peacocks, and pigeons. This is followed by footage of a group of men and women (including Sam and Margaret Magoffin) swimming and lounging in an outdoor swimming pool.

Also contained in the film is what appears to be footage of the development of the Magoffin's "Rockhaven" home at 3612 Marine Drive in West Vancouver (likely around 1929); along with shots of the property's vantage point of the Burrard Inlet, footage of laborers digging earth and forming stone retaining walls is captured. This is followed by shots of unfinished foundations of one of Rockhaven's structures and a steam shovel excavator.

Also contained in the film are shots of Rockhaven after completion: footage of flowers growing around the grounds are captured, along with the newly completed retaining wall above the large outdoor pool. This is followed by more shots of flowers interspersed with several shots of a Golden Retriever believed to be the famed Speedwell Pluto; shots of the waves against the property's shore; two Golden Retrievers in the grass yard by the water; glimpses of the Rockhaven house's exterior; and Margaret's mother, Mrs. Boalt, standing by the house.

The film closes with shots of a group posing for the camera, including Sam Magoffin, Margaret Magoffin, Mr. and Mrs. Boalt, a golden retriever, and the group swimming in Rockhaven's outdoor swimming pool.

Magoffin, Samuel S.

Railway trestle embankment construction

Item consists of a motion picture film which chronologically documents the construction of an embankment built to support a set of wooden railway trestles. The embankment was constructed by S.S. Magoffin and Company Railway Contractors for Canadian National Railways in what appears to be an area near Mt. Robson.

Progress on the construction is seen over time. Special attention throughout is paid to the machinery, which includes a 70 tonne Bucyrus steam shovel on caterpillar tracks, with substantial footage of scooping and dumping earth and other parts in action, and a small steam locomotive pushing rail carts. There are many shots of the workmen, the surrounding environment, and the work camp, as well as footage of workers recovering from storm damage including rockslides on tracks, flooding, and a steam shovel knocked over and buried in dirt, badly damaged.

Magoffin, Samuel S.

Samuel S. Magoffin fonds

  • AM1614
  • Fonds
  • 1925-1932

Fonds consists of ten films created by Samuel S. Magoffin in the 1920s and 1930s and two films created by George W. Goold in the 1960s. Subject matter of the Magoffin films includes the earth-moving activities of Magoffin’s company S.S. Magoffin & Co. Limited Railway Contractors during contracts with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in Prince Rupert, and along the harbour in North Vancouver. Films also include footage of downtown Prince Rupert; family, friends, and social activities; Vancouver area scenery and attractions, including Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge, a parade downtown, a military parade and medals ceremony at Victory Square, and a rodeo at Hastings Park; Vancouver Fire Department vehicles; the Victoria, B.C. inner harbour; a dog show; a trip to Cuba; the 1930 Portland Rose Festival parade; the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles; as well as footage of the Magoffins’ home “Rockhaven,” its construction, and their golden retrievers. Goold family films consist of one film showing a childrens' performance and individuals exiting a church after a christening, and one film containing footage of a family trip to eastern Canada, including a visit to Expo '67 in Montreal, and various tourist attractions in South Dakota and Wyoming.

Magoffin, Samuel S.