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Some forty million years ago the earth's shifting tectonic
plates were thrusting Mayne Island out of the sea.
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Helen Point
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5000 years ago Helen Point Peninsula contains the
oldest recorded human settlement remains in the Southern
Gulf Islands. (estimated at 5,000 years).
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3000BC Native people were fishing in Active Pass, around Helen
Point as long ago as 3000 BC.
18 Century Spanish explorers visited in the late eighteenth century,
giving Spanish names to Galiano, Juan de Fuca Strait, and the
San Juan Islands.
In 1794 Captain George Vancouver camped on Georgina Point where
his crew left a coin and a knife found over a century later by
early settlers.
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 (thanks to the B.C. Archives)
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In the 1850's, Captain George Richards of the Royal
Navy began surveying the area aboard H.M.S. Plumper. He
named our island after his lieutenant, Richard Charles Mayne,
and he named the pass between Mayne and Galiano after his
ship but changed his mind when he learned that the American
survey ship U.S.S. Active had been the first steam vessel
to navigate the pass.
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in 1859 The earliest homesteaders registered land claims in the
Miners Bay area in 1859. Miners Bay owes its name to the adventurers
bound for the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1858, the halfway stop between
Vancouver Island and the mouth of the Fraser River.
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1878 Paperwork regarding the Mayne Island Wharf from
the Dept. of Public Works, B.C. Government (BC Archives)
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Miner's Bay Dock
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Agricultural Hall
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During the late 1800s Mayne Island was both the commercial
and social centre of the Gulf Islands. The port at Miners
Bay was always busy due to the steady stream of marine traffic
travelling through Active Pass. The historic village at
Miners Bay is still the commercial centre of the island,
with the annual Fall Fair still being held at the old Agricultural
Hall like so many years before.
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Marie Elliot's 1984 book "Mayne Island & The Outer Gulf Islands,
A History" (page 27), mentions that the first community hall in
the outer islands was erected in Miner's Bay, "circa 1899 -- the
precise date is uncertain". (This book can be obtained through
Miner's Bay Books - 250 539-3112)
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Fall 1883 Annie Monk teaches school on Mayne Island
(BC Archives)
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Old Schoolhouse
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(thanks to B.C.Archives)
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June 1885. The light's first keeper was Henry "Scotty"
Georgeson who lit up the light for the first time in June
1885. Within two months he wrote his superior asking for
a fog horn. A bell was later installed, followed by a fog
horn. Scotty's son, George, later became his assistant
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Lighthouse c1880 (thanks to B.C.Archives)
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1887 Canon Paddon founded the Church of St. Mary
Magdalene.
left: Font made from stones brought
up from the beach. (thanks to B.C. Archives)
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Farm c1950 |
in the 1890's Working farms began
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1892 Springwater Lodge,established in 1892 is situated
at the head of Miners Bay Wharf in Active Pass, on Mayne
Island. The Springwater Lodge is the oldest continuously
operated hotel in British Columbia.
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Springwater Lodge
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Built in 1892, The Springwater was originally a private home.
At the head of the Government Wharf in Miners Bay, the owner began
to offer rooms for lodgers by 1895. It started out as a boarding
house for miners, thus the name of the community in which it is
located. Later it was turned into a hotel and renamed Grandview
Lodge.
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in 1896 the Plumper Pass Lockup was built to cool
off those whose tempers were not soothed by either the church
or the saloon. The gaol is now a small museum.The Mayne
Museum is a small building. It displays the rich history
of Mayne Island. Located at Fernhill and Minty Roads in
Miner's Bay Village (beside the thrift store).
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c1890 Apple orchards flourished before the turn of the century
and the Mayne Island King Apple was among the first planted in
B.C.
Miner's Bay c190- |
c1900 Canadian Pacific Railway Ferries originally
stopped at Miner's Bay in Active Pass, dating back to the
early 1900s. (photo thanks to B.C.Archives)
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1900? The Agricultural Hall is the focal-point for island society
90 years ago, and is still today. Today, many plays and showings
of art are held there.
191? - Richard Hall, the Tomato King, on his return from World
War I, built a greenhouse so large the horse drawn cultivators
could be driven through it and the loading of his produce disrupted
the schedules of the island steamers leaving Mayne. Japanese settlers
followed his example and the greenhouse tomato business flourished
until the start of World War II when the Japanese were forced
to move away from the coast to other parts of Canada.
The Mayne Mast |
Many years ago, Mayne Island was home to a active,
successful Japanese community until World War II, when they
were taken away to war camps in the interior of B.C. for
fear of espionage. They played a very important role in
our colorful history. (See
the Japanese Gardens)
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The Mayne Mast (located on Village Bay Road near the Mayne Street
Mall) was once a Japanese farmhouse owned by Kumozo Nagata. He
also grew hothouse tomatoes in the Campbell Bay area and founded
the cooperative "Active Pass Grower's Association" which grew
and packed "Island Brand Tomatoes and Cucumbers",a large, successful
tomato growing company once situated on Georgina Point Road..
More
information about the Mast and the Japanese Community on Mayne
Island.
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The centennial well is a centennial celebration monument.
Located on Horton Bay Road just past Fernhill Road.
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The New Ag Hall Sign
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~ photo by Brian Haller
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A brief history of the horseshoe:
Jimmy Drysdale was Mayne Island's blacksmith in the early
20th century, whose valuable talents were also called to
Saturna & Galiano. His blacksmith shop still stands
on Hardscrabble Farm and in the late 20th century became
director Philp Borsos studio, for his shooting here of the
Disney film Yellow Dog. The Borsos family still own the
farm.
Jimmy Drysdale finished his trade before WW11 and the
horseshoe in the new Ag Hall sign somehow clipclopped its
way to the old Heck farmstead, now Richard and Maggie Brown's
Windover Farm. There in the mid seventies Ron Pither was
helping Wilbert Deacon clean out an old farm implement shed,
and as luck would have it he received the horseshoe and
its lore, adding it to an old shovel and pitchfork collection.
Now 30 years later they've been recycled into our own local
sign language.
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| The following people are to be thanked for the new sign:
Michael Sharp from Puddle Lane Blacksmith Shop on
Galiano Island for forging a magnificent frame. Shea
Morgan from Galiano Island for his input on the agricultural
theme. Ron Pither from Varalaya Farm here on Mayne
for donating the horseshoe, shovel, and pitchfork. Don
Grant from "Out of the Woods" for the design
and painting of the wooden sign. Richard Brown from
JJM Road Maintenance for the placement of the sign. The
Mayne Island Farmers Market for their financial contribution.
And finally the Agricultural Society for their financial
contribution, patience and good wishes.
Don McDougall
Deacon Vale Farm |
Kadonaga
Bay
Background
This project was taken on by Jeanine Dodds on behalf of
the Mayne Island Community. The idea came from Mildred Emmett's
oral history (available at the Mayne Island Library) where
she stated that it was unfortunate no place names existed
to recognize the early Japanese settlers. Together they
chose the bay on the South side and the particular name.
Kadonaga will now show on all new official maps.
Origin Notes and History
Adopted 24 April 2007 on 92B/14, as proposed
by trustee Jeanine Dodds, Islands Trust, on behalf of the
community of Mayne Island, and endorsed by Mayne Island
Conservancy Society, Association of Mayne Island Boaters,
Gulf Islands Branch of the BC Historical Federation and
various property owners in the immediate vicinity.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence
to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office
Sometimes called "Eddy's Bay" by members of the
Eddy family, who own property here. Called "Arbutus
Bay" in 1973 by property owner and developer Paula
Buchholz, whose self-titled company Arbutus Bay Estates
Ltd subdivided parcels here, and continues to maintain guest/rental
cottages. Neither name is in use by the general public on
Mayne Island according to trustee Jeanine Dodds, although
"Arbutus Bay" and "Arbutus Bay Estates"
is marketed by principle P. Buchholz.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from
BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office
Kadonaga Bay recalls Goan Kadonaga, the first Japanese
settler to arrive on Mayne Island, as well as symbolizing
and recognizing the settlement history of all the Japanese
settlers who made important contributions to the economic
and social fabric of the island community before their removal
in World War II.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from
BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office
"Gontaro (Goan) Kadonaga was the first Japanese settler
on Mayne Island, arriving in 1903. He had purchased the
160-acre property named St. Johns Point on the eastern tip
of Mayne Island from James C. Campbell some three years
previous to this time. Goan's brother, Kinzo, had arrived
at the same time. Another Japanese family, the Sasaki's,
had no sons and when Kenzo married into the Sasaki family
he took their name as his. In 1921, Goan (or perhaps Goan
and Kinzo) divided his/their property into 2 lots, giving
the northern section to Goan's eldest son Toru and the southern
section to Kinzo's eldest son Kwanichi. Mayne Island was
a unique community prior to World War II. Many Japanese
families had settled here [and] approximately one third
of its population were of Japanese descent. Some relied
on fishing and there was a fish saltery at Dinner Bay. Other
families farmed, raising chickens and growing tomatoes under
some 8 acres of glass in various locations on the island.
Much of the economic activity occuring on Mayne Island at
this time was attributed to the hard working and respected
Japanese families. On Tuesday April 21, 1942, the CPR steamer
Princess Mary came for the 50 Japanese men, women and children
who waited on the Miners Bay wharf. Most of the Mayne Island
residents were in attendance to shake hands and wish them
well. It was a sad time for all.... The descendants of [the
Kadonaga and Sasaki families] continue to visit their original
farms [and a family gravesite] with the support of the current
owners...." (June 2006 letter from trustee Jeanine
Dodds, Islands Trust, file V.1.38). Also on file: schematic
diagram of 16 properties purchased by early Japanese settlers,
chronology of settlement provided by Roger Sasaki, and an
artist's rendering of the Kadonaga homestead, published
in Canadian Geographic Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003, p.94.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from
BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office
More
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The above information was found in a variety
of places.
Please
Us if you find any inaccuracies or
if you have information which can be added to this page.
Thanks to Lynne Nagata for information she
provided.
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