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mɛtokomɛn/ Lang Bay​​​ 


mɛtokomɛn (Metokomen)
Meaning Unknown
Lang Bay is a community that has held many names, and throughout its history, these names have been shared with the creek that runs through the community. The first name for the area comes from the Tla’amin Nation who have called Lang Creek Metokomen for centuries. Although the meaning of the word has been lost over time, Metokomen remains a significant location in the histories and culture of both the Tla’amin and Sechelt Nations due to the creek’s salmon runs. Adjacent to the community of Lang Bay is a small Reserve belonging to the Sechelt Nation where Tom Timothy, a former chief of the Tla’amin Nation, is known to have lived.

When settlers arrived in the area around 1894, they began to call it Wolfsohn Bay/Creek after Johann Wolfsohn, a German diplomat who settled in Vancouver. The name did not stick however, and during the first World War residents voiced their displeasure at the community’s German name and voted to change it. They called it Lang Bay after Thomas, Harry, and Fred Lang, three brothers who grew up in the area and were overseas in France at the time.

Lang Bay’s first settlers were men who came to work in the logging industry. Between 1894 and 1922, a succession of companies that operated out of Lang Bay. These companies were:
​
  • Moodyville Sawmill
  • Hastings Mill Trading Company
  • Vancouver & Timber Trading Company
  • Haslam Lake Timber
  • Lamb Lumber Company
  • Straits Lumber Company
  • Brooks and Bidlake Cedar Company
  • Brooks, Bidlake, and Whittall Company

Many of these companies also employed a significant number of Chinese labourers who worked at separate camps, most of whom were paid approximately forty percent less than the average company employee.

Many employees brought their families with them and lived in small cottages around the shoreline. At the height of the logging industry at Lang Bay, ships carrying supplies, goods, and people arrived at the wharf almost daily.

In 1911 first school opened and operated from 1911 to 1920 when the community decided a bigger building was necessary. The new schoolhouse had capacity for up to thirty students, but by 1937, there were no longer enough children in Lang Bay for the community to have its own school and children attended the Stillwater school from this point onwards. The empty school was purchased by the residents and became a community hall. Today, the building continues to serve this purpose.

In the year 1922, Lang Bay residents faced many difficulties. The year prior, there was a major windstorm, which knocked down many trees and caused widespread destruction. The community had not yet recovered from this when a fire broke out and consumed the community, and only two homes and the new schoolhouse were spared. The fire is recorded as being so brutal that it forced residents into the ocean where they could escape the flames, and that the fire was so hot that driftwood burned as it rose and fell with the tide. When Brooks, Bidlake and Whittall ceased its operations at Lang Bay, the population of the area slowly began to decline. With nowhere to work or live, many families moved on to settle elsewhere.

By 1927, Lang Bay was connected to Powell River via road, which gave residents further opportunities for work, leisure, and socializing.
In the summer of 1973, the Malaspina Country Fair coincided with the opening of the Lang Bay speedway, and stock car races were held. The track was located off Dixon Road. The races were enormously popular, and over the years, racers and fans from all over the province visited the Lang Bay Speedway. After nearly a decade of racing, the speedway closed in the early 1980s.
Picture
Logging at Wolfsohn (Lang) Bay, c. 1910 (ID 2012.85.8)
Picture
Thomas James Lang, Henry George Lang, and Frederick John Lang in military attire, 1917. (ID 2011.68.1)
Picture
The passenger ship Lady Evelyn at the Lang Bay wharf. (ID PC000114)
Picture
Lang Bay School shortly after the fire of 1922. (ID PH001888)
Picture
Powell River News, July 1973
Picture
Fans watching stock car racing at Lang Bay Speedway, 1973. (ID ND023680)
Logging at Wolfson Bay, c. 1910 (ID 2012.85.8)
Logging at Wolfsohn Bay, c. 1910. (ID 2012.85.9)
Logging in the Lang Bay area. Mr. Stoddart driving, 1920. (ID PH004335)
large logging truck loaded with huge logs at the Lang Bay store, c. 1950. (ID PH002722)
May Day celebration at Lang Bay, c.1950.
Lang Bay May Day, children maypole dancing, 1951. (ID ND023042)
Lang Bay May Queen celebration, 1951. (ID ND023042)
Lang Bay May Queen celebration, 1951. (ID ND021608)
Lang Bay May Queen celebration, 1951. (ID ND023042)
May Day celebrations at Lang Bay, 1952. (ID ND023245)
Racing at Lang Bay Speedway, c. 1975.
Bill Brunditt presents first place trophy for a race at Lang Bay to Ted Maxwell, 1977. (ID ND012079)
Stock Car racing at the Lang Bay speedway, c. 1975. (ID 2002.3.12051)
Picture
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday
10 am to 3 pm

Closed Statutory Holidays
Contact Us
604-485-2222
info@qathetmuseum.ca
​4790 Marine Avenue, Powell River BC

© 2023 qathet Museum & Archives
​Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of material on this website. Dates and times are subject to change. 
Territorial Acknowledgement 
The qathet Museum & Archives is located on the traditional territories of the Tla’amin Nation. The Museum is committed to collaborating with all Indigenous peoples of this province including the Tla'amin Nation. We acknowledge the harms of the past, are committed to improving relationships in the spirit of reconciliation, and we extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live and learn on this territory. ​Emote!
  • Exhibits
    • Current Exhibits
    • Forestry Building
    • Virtual Exhibits >
      • Riveting Women
      • Symphonies of the Sunshine Coast
      • Capturing Mountains
      • Story of Cedar
      • Powell River Firsts
      • Rod LeMay Collection
  • Collections
    • Objects
    • Archives >
      • Research Requests
      • Indexes & Finding Aids
      • Archival Descriptions
      • Powell River Digester
      • Phone Books & Directories
      • Good Citizen
      • Record of Military Service
    • Local History Books
  • Programs
    • Public Programs Calendar >
      • Little Wonders
      • Spring Speaker Series
      • Fall Speaker Series
      • Mini-Curators
      • Papermaking
      • Summer Camps
      • Museum In the Park
      • Archaeology Day
    • School Programs >
      • Exhibit Visits
      • Outreach Kits
      • Portal to the Past
      • Educator's Survey
    • Virtual Programs >
      • Virtual Portal To the Past
      • A Taste of qathet's History
      • The Crafty Corner
      • Dive Into the Archives
    • Tours
    • Memoirs
  • Learn
    • Indigenous History
    • Place Names
    • Forestry History
    • Memories of the Mill
    • Community History
    • Blast from the Past
    • The Coast Memoirs
    • Heritage Stops
    • Blog
  • Support
    • Gift Shop
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Careers
  • About
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Name Change
    • Our Mandate
    • News & Reports
    • Staff & Board
    • Contact Us