History

Bowen’s History

The first mention of Bowen Island was by Spanish explorer Narvaez who was on a 22 day exploration of the Strait of Georgia in July of 1791. Narvaez sailed across the entrance of Howe Sound only charting the outlines of Passage Island, the Pasley Island Group and Bowen Island, which his commander, Lieutenant Eliza named “Isla De Apodaca”. Captain George Vancouver makes no mention of Bowen Island though he entered the Sound the following year. It was Captain George Henry Richards whom in 1860 named the island after Rear Admiral James Bowen.

Bowen Island was originally inhabited by the Squamish Indians who used it as their hunting and fishing grounds. Early settlers say the Indians had some shake dwellings and a smoke house in Snug Cove. Bowen was also apparently a neutral meeting ground for the Squamish and other Indians, as well as a stopping place on the way up or down the coast. The first preemption of land by a white settler was in 1874 by William Eaton, who claimed 160 acres south of Killarney Lake.

Bowen Island has seen its share of industries over the years; from brick making in Deep Bay (bricks used to build Vancouver City Hall), logging and dynamite
manufacturing in Tunstall Bay to copper mining at various locations. The one mainstay over the years however has been the tourist industry.

As early as the 1880’s there were already tourists coming to camp at the tent camps, rent boats and ride the merry-go-round at Picnic Grounds. The tent camps were sites on Snug Point. These consisted of a wooden platform on supports above the ground and a canvas tent. The kitchen was constructed of wood so that mattresses, furniture and the stove could be stored there over the winter. The tent was taken down and stored at home in Vancouver. The sites were leased on a yearly basis. Land rental was $10 per year, rising to $250 in 1960.

The Cates family cuts a large figure in Vancouver’s marine history and in that of Bowen Island as well. It was the colourful Captain Jack Cates who first opened up Bowen Island as a resort for the day excursionist. He started by purchasing the 320 acre Mannion estate on Bowen’s Deep Bay in 1900. Next, he brought new partners into his Terminal Steamship Company Ltd. Third, he began to enlarge and improve his fleet.

Terminal’s flagship was the new 300 passenger Britannia built in 1902 at the False Creek Shipyard of George Cates. The ship was christened by Jack’s sister, Lillian Cates, who was to become manager of the Terminal Hotel. Step by step, the Terminal fleet grew to include the Belcarra, the Baramba, the Bowena and the Ballena. As time went on, Cates bought 520 additional acres, opened a new Terminal Hotel, added a farm and general store, picnic grounds and a dance pavilion. The resort featured charming wooden bridges and pathways designed by Mr. Koga, the Japanese foreman and built by his maintenance crew.

After some twenty years, Cates sold his thriving resort and company to the long established Union Steamship Company. They started making runs with “Lady Alexandra”, “Lady Cecilia” and “Lady Cynthia”. The new owners made immediate changes to the Terminal Resort. They built a store, one hundred and fifty summer cottages were either renovated or newly built, new trails were built and six well equipped picnic grounds were established to handle the growing business. In addition, the hotel featured a lawn bowling green and championship clay tennis courts.

In 1921 the Sannie Transportation Company (a subsidiary of the Union Steamship Company) began operating three steam launches between Horseshoe Bay and Bowen. After thirty-five years the service was withdrawn, making the advent of the Black Ball Ferry Line possible. This service provided the first car ferry to Bowen on May 7th 1957 and was eventually superseded by the B.C. Ferry Corporation.

In 1956, Union Steamships transformed what was known as “the people’s playground” into exclusive Evergreen Park Resort but after only a year closed its doors. With the easing of the economy and the availability of gas, people could travel further and Bowen’s popularity gradually diminished. The hotel was demolished in 1962 and many cottages were sold and removed. A few of the “Steamship Cottages” still remain and are rented out year round. In the late 1970s, a swell of community fervor saved the 1924 store from demolition. Innovative fund-raising and leadership by the Bowen Island Park and Store Use Society resulted in the derelict building being handsomely restored, the Greater Vancouver Regional District purchasing the Union Steamship property, and in 1984, the dedication of Crippen Regional Park, a 600 acre day use park.