Located along the shoreline of Bearskin Bay in Skidegate Inlet, The Village of Queen Charlotte was founded when the North American Timber Holding Company began to build a sawmill there in early 1908.
This early sawmill ran from 1908 until 1912 and was put into operation again towards the latter part of the First World War to saw clear spruce for aeroplane lumber, it then shut down when that market closed.
The operation of the sawmill and mining possibilities drew settlers to the community and by August of 1909 a hospital had been opened to serve the community. Three general stores, a drug and clothing store, two hotels, a pool hall, a boarding house, a barbershop and the newspaper were all operational within a year.
The first school classes were held in The Village of Queen Charlotte in September 1909 in a room above the pool hall, and at the beginning of October the new Methodist Church building was opened. Several of the buildings from these early times are still in use today.
This thriving community was and continues to be the administrative center for the Islands. |
