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November 1995 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Page? FEATURE PRESENTATION REPORT Reported by Anne Vernon Bowen Island Days Dorothy Lawson and Lois Meyers-Carter (who also writes for the Bowen Island newspaper) took the floor together and expressed their love of the Island and the delight they experience in living there. Lois explained that after years of local effort, sufficient funds were raised to enable the Islanders to build a Museum and Archives cottage. This now contains artifacts, maps, and photographs of interest, some of which they brought to show at the meeting. In 1872, the island was recorded as “a fine place for logging”. Shortly afterwards, the first recorded pre-emption took place, Joseph Manning built his house, fruit farming began and dairy cattle were imported. A post mistress, who had to row out to passing boats to fetch the Island’s mail, was appointed and a small shelved cupboard in the locd shop served as the Post Office. Other families came and settled â€" some farmed, others worked in the mines. It was when the mines were busy that Chinese and Japanese labourers arrived. In the late 1800s, people began to spend camping holidays on the Island. Whole tent cities sprang up during the warm school holiday months. These summer people sailed, fished, swam and generally relaxed. In the 1930s, the Ujiion Steamship Line, which had served Bow^ tliiect from Vancouver, began to encourage resort traffic up and down the West Coast and When introducing our speakers, Ian Macdonald told us that during Heritage Week, he and several members of the Society travelled over to Bowen Island to join in their celebrations. This resulted in two charming Bowen Island historians sharing their knowledge of Bowen Island with us at our September General Meeting. even more people came to Bowen for day trips. Moonlight picnics were all the rage then. When members of the audience were asked how many had taken part and had courted on Bowen Island, a forest of hands shot up â€" much to everyone’s amusement. One sad memory â€" Bowen had a bomb factory which utilised vast quantities of explosive powders. Misunderstandings about safety regulations occurred and there were several explosions resulting in a number of deaths. One worker taking a smoking break “safely” away from the vicinity of the factory did not realise his clothing was saturated with gunpowder and added to the casualty list. A 1940s video, showing a group of youngsters on a summer day, brought back memories of a more relaxed time when children were free to wander and play almost anywhere in safety! The video also showed us the Lady Alexandra coming in to the quay, people fishing and strolling around, the yacht basin, a lawn bowling match, and the lovely rose garden of the hotel where dances were held. A different era altogether from present times. Today Bowen flourishes. There is a rising population with many young families as well as old-time Islanders returning when they retire. All in all, Bowen Island is still considered a fine place to live.