About Me

Hey everyone, my name is Dave and this is my site about the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway (P.A.D.& W). I thought I’d take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself.

Holding telegraph pole cross beam, Little North Lake, May 2012.

I’m a forty-something guy from Thunder Bay, Ontario who has been researching the history of this small railway since 1994. I first became interested in the PD or Pee Dee Railway (as it’s commonly called) way back in the fall of 1990, but I really did not begin any formal research on it until four years later. Since then I’ve been hooked, and my plans are to write a book at some point in the future. In the meantime, I’m currently finishing up a book on the Pigeon River Lumber Company, and have several other writing projects in the works. The site is an opportunity to showcase some of the research that I’ve done on area railways and related industries, as well as to keep everyone updated on my efforts via the blog, which I occasionally hijack for some personal or history related stuff.

When I’m not surfing the net for information, posting pictures and video or tromping through the bush on field work (aka railway archaeology), I moonlight as a history teacher and instructional leader at St. Patrick High School. I absolutely love my job, and feel very privileged that I’ve been able to do this for the past 22 years. When I’m not in the classroom enlightening young minds (hopefully!), I can be found at certain times of the year on the football field. I’ve coached our junior football team for the past 20 years, 17 of them as head coach. It gives me an opportunity to help kids outside the classroom and interact with them in a different medium. I’m also a former Army reservist, having served time with the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment (38 CBG, 3 Canadian Division) back in the early 1990s.

My other hobbies include hiking and photography/videography, as well as being a pretty ardent Dallas Cowboys fan. I’m married and have two great boys.