Dresden 1957
Toronto, Canada | Film Feature
Documentary, History
Dresden 1957 is the untold story of one of Ontario’s worst tragedies - and the immigrant workers who lost their lives: Through newly discovered records and searing personal accounts, Dresden1957 finally tells this powerful story so that its lessons will not be lost and the victims not forgotten.
Dresden 1957
Toronto, Canada | Film Feature
Documentary, History
1 Campaigns | Ontario, Canada
Green Light
This campaign raised C$78,925 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
128 supporters | followers
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Dresden 1957 is the untold story of one of Ontario’s worst tragedies - and the immigrant workers who lost their lives: Through newly discovered records and searing personal accounts, Dresden1957 finally tells this powerful story so that its lessons will not be lost and the victims not forgotten.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Thank you to everyone who helped us reach our fundraising goal!
You can follow our progress here (under Updates) or on our web site: www.Dresden1957.com.
In 1957, my late father, Keith Philpott, was the site engineer for a construction project in Dresden, Ontario. He was concerned about the stability of the excavation. He shared his concerns with the foreman and the contractor, but no actions were taken. Soon after, there was a cave-in and six workers were killed. My father had just turned 25.
Click the image above to watch "In Their Words."
A few years ago, we found my father's diary, photos, and other materials, providing a day-by-day account of what happened. On August 14, 1957, at 7pm one wall of the 35-foot deep pit gave way, burying the men alive. It took 38 hours to recover all of the bodies. My father was a witness at the inquest and testified at a trial in which the contractor was acquitted.
Above: the excavation on Aug. 8; Right: three of the men on Aug. 13, one day before the cave-in.
While my father played a role in this story, the central characters in the film are the men who died, and their families. They had all recently arrived in Canada as part of the massive post-war migration of people from the Netherlands. The Dresden tragedy left 20 children without fathers and five widows, some of whom could barely speak English.
John Hovius was 13 when his father and brother died in Dresden.
Although there was an inquest, its findings were not communicated to the grieving families. No one even told them there was a trial. After that, silence. I have yet to meet an expert who has even heard of Dresden. Although it was Ontario's worst workplace disaster, the only people who know about it today are those with a personal connection.
Above: Enne and Wiebrigje Hovius with their children; Right: Their eldest son Wilfred, earlier in the summer of 1957.
This film will end the silence around the Dresden tragedy, and salvage an important chapter in our history. It was the time when modern Canada was being built and much of that work was done by immigrants, like these men.
Townspeople tried desperately to save the men, but none of them survived. The first bodies were recovered after midnight.
If we don't tell our stories, they will be lost forever. The story of Dutch post-war immigration to Canada is sobering, but it is only one example and the issues it exposes are still with us. The vulnerability of immigrant workers, the risks they face in the workplace, and the unequal consideration of their rights and humanity, are just as relevant today as they were in 1957.
Eric Philpott interviewing Wayne Hoogsteen
Our progress so far
Joe and I started working on this film in July 2023, including filming 20 interviews, including one shot in Holland. A story like this requires a tremendous amount of research, so I have been busy in searching through libraries and archives. That's where we discovered that there was TV footage of tragedy. Volunteers have stepped forward and helped find valuable records, like the minutes of the Coroner's inquest. After nearly 10 months of work we've taken this project as far as we can on our own resources.
Joseph Crawford filming in the Aylmer Cemetary where five of the men are buried.
Help us make this film
Crowdfunding will allow us to complete production, which means going out with a crew to film interviews and locations, and all of the supporting activities associated with that (planning and scheduling beforehand, collecting and cleaning up the footage we shoot afterwards).
Rhonda King's father was the general manager of the Dresden Utilities Commission.
Stretch goals
There will still be plenty of work left to do after we put down our cameras. Any money we raise above our goal will go towards postproduction, which includes editing, graphics, 3D models of the cave-in site, sound design, music, more editing, and more editing after that. Every dollar helps!
My father, Keith Philpott (left), with Guy Lambkin (Dresden Utilities Commission) on the night of the cave-in.
Our commitment to you
As a supporter of this project, we will keep you informed every step of the way, through until the film is complete. This will include in-person presentations around southwestern Ontario, online presentations, and behind the scenes content and updates that you can view anytime. We aim to complete this film in 2025 and you'll be the first to know when we do!
Besides raising money, this campaign is about building a community around the idea that this story, and stories like it, matter. Thank you for joining us!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production (Ontario)
Costs C$32,000
Includes hiring a small crew (cinematographer & sound recordist) for four weeks of filming interviews and beautiful Ontario locations.
Production (Nova Scotia)
Costs C$3,000
We will take a skeleton crew to Nova Scotia to shoot two key interviews and visit Pier 21, where the families first landed in Canada.
Drone operator & 3D scan
Costs C$6,000
Help us capture aerial shots so we can build a 3D model that recreates the riverbank where the excavation and cave-in happened.
Harddrives & storage
Costs C$10,000
Help! We're drowning in footage! We need more drives to offload camera cards and a big RAID array to edit from.
Food and Travel
Costs C$6,000
We have a lot of ground to cover this summer! Some weeks we'll need places to stay and we'll need to feed our crew every day.
Production Manager
Costs C$10,000
We're looking for an organizational genius to help us with planning, scheduling, film permits and bookkeeping.
Postproduction
Costs C$8,000
This is for our editor, assistant editor, and audio engineer who will clean up and organize all of the footage we shoot this summer.
Archival Research and Licensing
Costs C$3,000
Help us pay for licensing archival footage and imagery.
Share this update!
About This Team
We work collaboratively and our goal is a project that is good for everyone involved: the subjects in this film, our colleagues, and everyone who backs this project.
Writer/directer Eric Philpott draws on years of experience in film and broadcast technology, teaching history in Germany, the US, and Canada, and directing theatre. Editor and consulting producer Joseph Crawford has two decades experience in the industry, including work as an actor, video producer, and editor.
Filmmakers Eric Philpott (above) and Joseph Crawford.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Thank you to everyone who helped us reach our fundraising goal!
You can follow our progress here (under Updates) or on our web site: www.Dresden1957.com.
In 1957, my late father, Keith Philpott, was the site engineer for a construction project in Dresden, Ontario. He was concerned about the stability of the excavation. He shared his concerns with the foreman and the contractor, but no actions were taken. Soon after, there was a cave-in and six workers were killed. My father had just turned 25.
Click the image above to watch "In Their Words."
A few years ago, we found my father's diary, photos, and other materials, providing a day-by-day account of what happened. On August 14, 1957, at 7pm one wall of the 35-foot deep pit gave way, burying the men alive. It took 38 hours to recover all of the bodies. My father was a witness at the inquest and testified at a trial in which the contractor was acquitted.
Above: the excavation on Aug. 8; Right: three of the men on Aug. 13, one day before the cave-in.
While my father played a role in this story, the central characters in the film are the men who died, and their families. They had all recently arrived in Canada as part of the massive post-war migration of people from the Netherlands. The Dresden tragedy left 20 children without fathers and five widows, some of whom could barely speak English.
John Hovius was 13 when his father and brother died in Dresden.
Although there was an inquest, its findings were not communicated to the grieving families. No one even told them there was a trial. After that, silence. I have yet to meet an expert who has even heard of Dresden. Although it was Ontario's worst workplace disaster, the only people who know about it today are those with a personal connection.
Above: Enne and Wiebrigje Hovius with their children; Right: Their eldest son Wilfred, earlier in the summer of 1957.
This film will end the silence around the Dresden tragedy, and salvage an important chapter in our history. It was the time when modern Canada was being built and much of that work was done by immigrants, like these men.
Townspeople tried desperately to save the men, but none of them survived. The first bodies were recovered after midnight.
If we don't tell our stories, they will be lost forever. The story of Dutch post-war immigration to Canada is sobering, but it is only one example and the issues it exposes are still with us. The vulnerability of immigrant workers, the risks they face in the workplace, and the unequal consideration of their rights and humanity, are just as relevant today as they were in 1957.
Eric Philpott interviewing Wayne Hoogsteen
Our progress so far
Joe and I started working on this film in July 2023, including filming 20 interviews, including one shot in Holland. A story like this requires a tremendous amount of research, so I have been busy in searching through libraries and archives. That's where we discovered that there was TV footage of tragedy. Volunteers have stepped forward and helped find valuable records, like the minutes of the Coroner's inquest. After nearly 10 months of work we've taken this project as far as we can on our own resources.
Joseph Crawford filming in the Aylmer Cemetary where five of the men are buried.
Help us make this film
Crowdfunding will allow us to complete production, which means going out with a crew to film interviews and locations, and all of the supporting activities associated with that (planning and scheduling beforehand, collecting and cleaning up the footage we shoot afterwards).
Rhonda King's father was the general manager of the Dresden Utilities Commission.
Stretch goals
There will still be plenty of work left to do after we put down our cameras. Any money we raise above our goal will go towards postproduction, which includes editing, graphics, 3D models of the cave-in site, sound design, music, more editing, and more editing after that. Every dollar helps!
My father, Keith Philpott (left), with Guy Lambkin (Dresden Utilities Commission) on the night of the cave-in.
Our commitment to you
As a supporter of this project, we will keep you informed every step of the way, through until the film is complete. This will include in-person presentations around southwestern Ontario, online presentations, and behind the scenes content and updates that you can view anytime. We aim to complete this film in 2025 and you'll be the first to know when we do!
Besides raising money, this campaign is about building a community around the idea that this story, and stories like it, matter. Thank you for joining us!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production (Ontario)
Costs C$32,000
Includes hiring a small crew (cinematographer & sound recordist) for four weeks of filming interviews and beautiful Ontario locations.
Production (Nova Scotia)
Costs C$3,000
We will take a skeleton crew to Nova Scotia to shoot two key interviews and visit Pier 21, where the families first landed in Canada.
Drone operator & 3D scan
Costs C$6,000
Help us capture aerial shots so we can build a 3D model that recreates the riverbank where the excavation and cave-in happened.
Harddrives & storage
Costs C$10,000
Help! We're drowning in footage! We need more drives to offload camera cards and a big RAID array to edit from.
Food and Travel
Costs C$6,000
We have a lot of ground to cover this summer! Some weeks we'll need places to stay and we'll need to feed our crew every day.
Production Manager
Costs C$10,000
We're looking for an organizational genius to help us with planning, scheduling, film permits and bookkeeping.
Postproduction
Costs C$8,000
This is for our editor, assistant editor, and audio engineer who will clean up and organize all of the footage we shoot this summer.
Archival Research and Licensing
Costs C$3,000
Help us pay for licensing archival footage and imagery.
Share this update!
About This Team
We work collaboratively and our goal is a project that is good for everyone involved: the subjects in this film, our colleagues, and everyone who backs this project.
Writer/directer Eric Philpott draws on years of experience in film and broadcast technology, teaching history in Germany, the US, and Canada, and directing theatre. Editor and consulting producer Joseph Crawford has two decades experience in the industry, including work as an actor, video producer, and editor.
Filmmakers Eric Philpott (above) and Joseph Crawford.