Powell River Townsite
The naming of a community
By Bud Gilham
The BC Day long weekend will mark a unique celebration here in Powell River. It will be Powell River’s 100 birthday. I realize that I have called Powell River home for over half of those hundred years.
Growing up in Powell River, it has always been Powell River to me. The difference depended on to whom you were speaking. Here, we locals still refer to the original villages, that is: The Townsite, Cranberry, Wildwood, and Westview. In addition there is Stillwater and of course Lund. If anyone from outside Powell River asked you where you were from, you said Powell River.
The first geographic location to be given the name, Powell, was Powell Lake and the actual river, Powell River. This happened in 1881 when Doctor Israel Powell, the then Superintendent of Indian Affairs for B.C., sailed near the site of our future town on the British ship, The Rocket. At that time, the lake and river were in their natural state, no dam across the river. There is no record of Dr. Powell actually setting foot on our shore.
In the early 1900’s there were two companies here. One was the Canadian Industrial Company, which owned what we call lot 450, near the present day recreation center and hospital. The other company was the British Columbia and Pacific Coast Power Company; they owned the rites to Powell Lake. These two companies were merged to become the Powell River Paper Company. However, there was no Town of Powell River yet.
Powell River was what we refer to as the Townsite. The other areas were independent villages, Cranberry being the wealthiest at that time. Both Lund and Stillwater were large communities, which appeared on Government maps of the day. How did all these villages and outlying communities settle on the name Powell River?
It is a fact that Powell River is a mill town and our wealth and growth was very dependant on the forestry industry. The Townsite grew up from this industry; The Powell River Paper Company reincorporated and became, The Powell River Company in 1911. Nevertheless, each independent village had its own council and infrastructure including village employees. If you were not born and raised here, you perhaps do not understand the fierce pride each of these villages had. People tell me they are tired of hearing about Cranberry this, and Cranberry that. Sorry, but the village of Cranberry was the wealthiest and largest village here at one time, not the Townsite, not Westview or Wildwood, which was a close second.
These independent villages, with their fierce pride, there must have been some strong debate and maybe rioting. No, there was not. It came down to government money and a tax base for community growth. The movement began in the Townsite, with the Board of Trade. This merchants association realized that there could be no organized growth if each village remained independent; a unified tax base was needed. In addition, there were the financial benefits of being a Municipality vs. a village. The Powell River District Amalgamation Investigation Committee formed in 1954-1955. There were many meetings and not much debate really, except over the concept of jobs. For example the village workers of Cranberry and the other villages, would be keeping their jobs. They would now become municipal workers for the new municipality of Powell River. No debate over the name, just tax rates and job security. One interesting note is the name was The Corporation of The District of Powell River, not The Municipality of Powell River.
Powell River grew up in a different era, not just a date on the historical continuum. Powell River the town, and Powell River the company, were almost one. The Powell River company was involved in the community, wanting to see it grow and develop. The name Powell River was a chosen, as it had been part of our history since the beginning. In many ways, the name was chosen to show respect and thanks to the original Powell River company, which merged with MacMillan Bloedel in 1959. There was the unspoken agreement that The Powell River Company wanted the formation of a municipality, for their impending merger with MacMillan Bloedel. The original company owners were part of our development and growth, not profiteering lumber barons. What of Doctor Israel Powell? They say our town was named after him, just as Powell Street in Vancouver was.
Powell River got its name the same way you and I got our family names, born into it. The name Powell was here before the first track of railroad or sod of earth turned over for the construction of a Dam. The fierce pride of the earlier villages was like the siblings, each posturing to gain favour and show credibility to the parents. However, in the end, family mattered. Powell River was born into its name through circumstance and history. Powell River grew up in that era of strong community values and hard work. Powell River is both our home and our family.
