Yellowknife (Feb 14/03) - What is it? You may have asked that question while walking down Franklin Ave. towards Old Town recently.

On a lot adjacent to the Islamic Centre there are some interesting artifacts that stand out because of their archaic contrast to modern society.

"Most of them are military vehicles from the Second World War," said Walt Humphries. He told the vehicles' stories in October in his Yellowknifer column, Tales From The Dump.

The crane, back hoe, flatbed, Walter Snowfighter truck and airtrack drill were acquired after a tax sale in the fall.

They were then moved to a lot owned by Rick Meyers.

Meyers, who lives in Norman Wells, could not be contacted - he winters in Guatemala.

He and Humphries are members of the Spirit Yellowknife association, which tries to preserve local heritage.

"I think it's important,' said Humphries.

"It's really disappointing when you go to a town and the history is not displayed."

Spirit Yellowknife has contributed to a number of historical information sites in Yellowknife.

The mining display near the airport and the diamond drill behind city hall are two of the group's projects.

The site will be fixed up and plaques describing their history will be added to all the machinery this summer, said Humphries.

"These are the vehicles that would have been here in the 1940s," said Humphries.

"Some of these vehicles were used around town to build Yellowknife."