John Broderick, a member of the B.C. Old Time Fiddlers Association branch No. 1 in Prince George is never going to give up looking for a home for two giant fiddles.
"I've been working on this for years now," said Broderick. "I started with Colin Kinsley when he was mayor and he said he was interested in helping us, then Dan Rogers was very keen to find a home for the fiddles and now I had a meeting with the new mayor and she told me -- cut and dried -- we don't have a place in the city to put the fiddles. Mayor Green said it's got nothing to do with what the fiddling club does for the City of Prince George, there's just no place for them.
"The fiddles are unique and a great symbol of the BC Old Time Fiddlers," said Mayor Green. "The city has considered, numerous times, where we might be able to locate the fiddles, so they could be showcased and appreciated. Unfortunately, we do not have a permanent space large enough to dedicate to them. "
Right now Broderick is in meetings with the airport authority board to see if there might be room for the fiddles there.
The 16 foot fiddles with 20 foot bows were built by Aurora Industries where Carl Forsberg took on the project in 1977, guiding his special-needs charges to create a pair of giant playable fiddles.
The fiddles weigh 150 pounds each, are built to scale and are made of fir, plywood and laminated fir. The strings are vinyl-coated wire. They were refurbished a few years ago by fiddle makers Jim Borden and his son, Doug. The giant instruments break down and fit into specially-made cases for travel and storage. Right now they are stored at a Old Time Fiddler's country home and it takes half a day to bring them out and get them ready for display.
There was even a failed attempt to get them into the Guinness Book of Records but there's a bigger fiddle in the world. Broderick said he knows about a big steel one in Nova Scotia, but there's more research to be done about whether they could be the biggest playable in the world.
When they were created, the intention was to have them brought out for every parade and contest.
"And we did that for many years," said Beth Bressette, B.C. Old Time Fiddlers Association P.G. branch secretary. "Now it's getting a bit cumbersome to bring out the fiddles because of their size and the work involved. I think the members are getting tired of doing it and we'd just love to have them publicly displayed somewhere."
When the B.C. Old Time Fiddlers Association branch No. 1 takes to the streets during the 84th Elks Shriners May Day Parade Sunday May 12, the fiddles will grace the float, possibly for their last public appearance, Bressette said.
"We've won second place for our float the last two years," said Bressette. "We'll be on there playing our music with the fiddles on the float this year."
The Prince George fiddle contest will be held April 20 to 22, beginning with a concert Friday, April 20, featuring guest artist Peter Dawson with local youth fiddlers opening the show. Saturday, April 21, the contest begins with registration at 9 a.m., preliminaries at 11 a.m. followed by dinner at 5 p.m. About 30 people from B.C. and Alberta compete for $4,000 in prize money given away during the contest.
Then there's a dance and jam session after dinner. Sunday, April 22, there's a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. All events take place at the Blackburn Community Centre, 2451 Blackburn Road South.
