photograph
Artwork
Accession Number
2019.013Description
Commercial photograph on card of the R. Dunsmuir & Sons wharves at Departure Bay. In the foreground are small wooden buildings; mid ground is wharves, the sidewheeler Ancon tied to one of them and two sailing ships anchored; background is a strip of land surrounded by ocean.Narrative
This photograph depicts the R. Dunsmuir & Sons Wellington Collieries loading facility and wharves at Departure Bay, near Nanaimo, BC. The presence of sheds, cottages, and possible office buildings in the foreground makes it a unique and important record of the infrastructure that supported the shipping of Dunsmuir coal to San Francisco and elsewhere.
The side-wheeler steamer Ancon is seen tied-up, presumably loading coal. From 1875-1889 the vessel was owned by the Pacific Coast Steamship Company and routinely served the west coast from California to Alaska. Details about the vessel can be seen here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancon_(1867_ship)
(last accessed May 20, 2020).
The general layout of the Departure Bay facility is illustrated in the “Wellington Estate” map produced in 1883 by Robert Swanson, PEng, Dept of Railways (Nanaimo Archives) (detail of Dunsmuir Dep Bay house and coal-loading facility).
A piece of coal in The Castle Society's Education Collection (E.004) was collected from the beach which is part of the southern man-made wharf-piling support structure made of stones that is directly beneath the railway line shown in this photograph.
History of Use
unknownDate
circa 1885Dimensions
13.5 x 21.5 cmArtwork Title
Alaska, Colombia River, and Northern ScenerySubject/Image
Departure Bay WharvesMedium
PhotographicSupport
Paper, Photographic paper; CardstockInscription
Verso: 48- At Nanaimo B.C.Country of Origin
United StatesRelated person/business/organization
Bertram C. Towne (artist)Related Associations
Wellington Colliery (depicts)Departure Bay (depicts)
