| Surprisingly, little is known of the man who left us with a fascinating glimpse of the frontier era on northern Vancouver Island. Born in England in 1879, Henry Twidle was filled with an artistic passion for photography from childhood. He came to British Columbia as a young man, arriving at the turn of the century. He settled in the thriving city of Vancouver where he may have worked with a professional photographer. |
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In 1905, Twidle was hired as a timekeeper by the B.C. Mills Timber & Trade Company, and he moved with his wife Agnes to one of the company’s large operation sites at Rock Bay. Henry turned his camera lens to the rugged activities surrounding him. He became a familiar figure in logging camps, often traveling in his small gas boat (the “Illini”) to record images of coastal pioneers at work. His photographs depict rough logging scenes of the early 20th century and capture the reality of pioneer life with striking detail. When the Lucky Jim Mining Company was established near Granite Bay on Quadra Island, it brought business and settlers to the area. Moving to Granite Bay, Henry and Agnes took over operation of the hotel and general store. Henry also ran the post office and became a stipendiary magistrate. The Twidles lived at Granite Bay for nearly 40 years. Agnes died in 1951 and Henry in 1956.
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| Tragically, only a portion of the photographs taken by Henry Twidle still exist. Vandals entered his home shortly after his death and destroyed much of his work. Fortunately, however, some of his photographs are preserved in the Campbell River Museum Archives. Though sadly diminished, Twidle’s legacy is one of inestimable historical value: the images reflect a bygone era, providing a poignant visual account of logging scenes, remote settlements and coastal life during the early 20th century. |
