Mapping Bowen Online Archival Exhibit
2001: Public Use
The map below shows areas of public and recreational land use (represented by the dots), and rural use (represented by the diagonal lines) interspersed with blocks of residential housing. While Bowen’s land has been used for residences since settlers first began coming to the island in the late 1800’s, the focus on land for public…
Read Morecirca 1970: Various Land Uses
The major themes of land use change on Bowen Island are captured in this image of Snug Cove. The Collins Farm (still present today) provides a link to the early farming and pioneering days, while the old hotel site is marked. Residential and commmerical land use dominate the areas closest to the ferry, and Crippen…
Read Morecirca 1970: Tunstall Bay Subdivision
Although Bluewater was developed in the 1950’s, Tunstall Bay wasn’t subdivided until 1969, when Dee Cee Projects planned residential, condos and commercial lots for the area. Like other neighborhoods on Bowen, the plan was for community amenities (tennis courts, a pool etc.) to be for members only. In the aerial view below, the roads leading…
Read Morecirca 1960: Major Transitions
Four categories of land use are shown here: residential, commercial, industrial and rural. This map highlights the transition from resource extraction/industrial land use that dominated Bowen’s early history to a largely residential/rural island with developed blocks of neighborhoods: Hood Point, Miller’s Landing/Scarbourough/Eaglecliff/Deep Bay/Snug Cove, Mt. Gardner Park, and Bowen Bay/Tunstall Bay/Bluewater, and Cowan’s Point. Here,…
Read More1962: End of the Resort Era
The year 1962 saw a major transition in land use, when the Union Steamship Company put their Snug Point subdivision on the market, thus drawing to a close the booming resort industry. The 17 acres between Snug Cove and Deep Bay, where the dance pavilion, bandstand, tearoom and picnic ground were was sectioned into private…
Read More1950s & 1960s: USSC Land Monopoly
These maps show the extent to which the Union Steamship Company monopolized land on Bowen Island, or at least the side of the island most popular as a tourist destination. 1951: Map of Bowen Island showing Bowen Island Waterworks Ltd, Bowen Estates and Union Steamship Company holdings. 1958: Union Steamships Ltd, showing boundaries.
Read More1950s & 1960s: USSC Resort Monopoly
The resort business was still going strong at the end of the 1940’s, with Evergreen Park Resort as the destination. However, the Union Steamship Company began to restrict access to the hotel and grounds, picnic tables were taken from the picnic grounds, and the dance hall was closed. In 1957, Evergreen Resort closed, although 180…
Read More1950s: Provincial or Regional Parks
The view of the south end of Bowen Island shows Apodaca Park, deeded to the provinical government by JS Matthews in 1954. The 1950’s mark the start of Bowen Island’s land being considered for provincial and regional parks. 1952: South End of Bowen Island. North-east Bowen Island.
Read Morecirca 1950: The Effects of Logging
Forestry has been a relatively continuous use of the land since Bowen Island was first ‘discovered’ by settlers of European descent. Here, the effects on the landscape of logging can clearly be seen. Killarney and Grafton Lakes can be seen, as well as a farm in the bottom right-hand corner of the image. c. 1950:…
Read Morecirca 1950: Neighbourhoods Emerge
The New Wesminster map of Bowen’s legend shows logging roads, as well as power and telephone lines. Distinct neighborhoods of denser lots and residences can be seen at Cowan’s Point, Hood point, Mt. Gardner Park, and mid-island, although notice that Bluewater is in the early stages of subdivision, while Tunstall Bay has not yet been…
Read Morecirca 1950: Development Continues…
The west side of Bowen Island, including Tunstall Bay, Bowen Bay and Bluewater have all been owned by various logging companies (and by Western Explosives) starting from the late 1800’s. In 1938, a transition between industrial and residential land use occured, when the Adams family bought 850 acres at Tunstall Bay, accessible only by boat…
Read Morecirca 1940: USSC Holdings
The aerial photo shows the extent of the Union Steamship Company’s holdings. The physical landscape has some noticeable changes from today’s view – for instance, Snug Cove has not yet been dredged (the sand extends out much further), and the different shades of forest stands indicate recent logging tracts. The Union Steamships Ltd map shows…
Read Morecirca 1940: Deep Bay
This photo shows a crowd of visitors enjoying Deep Bay, with the diving and slide platform on the left. Notice that there are one or two residences in view on the opposite shore, and that the trees on the horizon (at Miller’s Landing) have already been logged. Circa 1940: Mt Strahan Lodge at Deep Bay.
Read Morecirca 1920 – 1940: USSC Expansion
When Union Steamship Company bought the land from Captain Cates, they quickly began adding amenities to the land. In 1922, 7 cottages were built around the hotel, adding to the 28 already standing between the hotel and tennis courts. By this time, there was 180 cottages in forest between Snug Cove and Deep Bay, and…
Read Morecirca 1920: Residential Communities
Distinct communities began to develop early in Bowen’s history; these were early residential plans for Bowen Island’s land. In 1927, a summer community was planned for Hood Point, and the land was purchased from Captain Cates. The plan is for the area is shown below. First, 13 cottages were built, but by the 1930’s, 21…
Read Morecirca 1910: The Resort Era Begins
In 1900, Captain John Cates purchased the old Mannion estate at Deep Bay and began the Hotel Monaco, beginning the frenzied resort era on the island. Three hundred fruit trees were planted north of the lagoon, land was cleared for playgrounds, more cottages and tents, twelve portable houses and a store. The grounds were used…
Read Morecirca 1910: Subdivisions for Campers
In 1912, the land at Scarborough and Eaglecliff was subdivided into quarter acre lots at $125 each, and half acre lots at $200, and in 1915 the land was later used for tents built for campers. 1909: Plan of Lot 1553. 1914: Plan of District Lot 1552
Read Morecirca 1900: Tourists Incoming
The tourism business had an early start on Bowen Island— the close proximity that made it so ideal for resouce extraction made it a close holiday get-away for Vancouver residents. The Howe Sound Hotel at Hood Point (late 1890’s) was the first hotel open to the public on Bowen Island, and was mainly used by…
Read Morecirca 1900: The Arrival of Industry
In Bowen’s early days, the land provided rich resources for individuals and corporations alike. The photographs below at Deep Bay and Tunstall Bay show that the land was an attractive source of resources, as the ocean provided easy access to thick forest stands, and Vancouver’s ports were nearby. Beginning in 1884 when Royal City Planning…
Read MoreLate 1800s: Early Settlement
The maps below show the plots of land that settlers chose to begin their life on the island. The Admirality Chart was used by the Department of BC Lands to plot district lots for settlers. Early arrivals to Bowen Island came to live off the land and make use of Bowen Island’s abundant resources; most…
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