Long before the Thulin brothers laid eyes upon their future home, the natural harbour
of Lund was used by the Coast Salish peoples as a winter campground. The areas abundant
food sources and sheltered shores made it a desirable location. According to former
Chief Bill Mitchell, Frederick even learned a little Salish, "but the man who taught him
had a stutter so he sounded a little funny when he spoke".
Frederick was 13 and a farm worker in Sweden when his elder brother Charles emigrated to the
United States. After a few false starts, Charles went to Pendrell Sound, B.C. and began
handlogging and it was here in 1889 that 16 year old Frederick joined him. They logged until
December of that year, and then moved to what is now called Lund, naming it after the city of
Lund in Sweden. The brothers apparently chose that name because it was easy to remember and
easy to spell! |
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The original Lund Hotel, built between 1890 and 1892. Fred Thulin is standing
at left behind the horse, while Charles is on right, holding out the wing of an eagle. |
First off they built a wharf, using timber that they had logged from the land behind them.
Even then there was a certain amount of traffic as fishermen were constantly back and forth and
logging company tugs would stop every three or four weeks to leave mail and supplies for their
workers who would come down from the bush. Next they piped water from the creek to the wharf for
sale to the tugboats. The brothers made their own mail bags and by 1892, had established a post
office, only the second one North of Vancouver. Life became easier when steamships began
offering scheduled passenger service, delivering mail and supplies to coastal communities. Prior to
this service, people had to row to Vancouver. A store soon followed, and more buildings were
added, as business continually increased. |
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A view of Lund in 1905 showing from left to right, the wharf buildings, the
Malaspina Hotel, the orchard, the original hotel and homes. |
Two years later, the Thulins obtained the first hotel license north of Vancouver,
adding a second hotel, the Malaspina, in 1895, which also housed the store and the Post Office.
Logging began again in 1896, this time with teams of oxen, as the brothers cleared and drained
the virgin land to convert it to farm land. The brothers also tried their hand at building boats,
making their first steamboat during 1900, after which two more tugs, scows and several
gas boats were made. In 1901, they operated a floating store at the mouth of the Powell River,
where the future town would be, and built a second store at the Sliammon Reserve.
By 1905, business had increased to such an extent that they needed to expand yet again.
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From left to right, a home, the renovated Malaspina Hotel and the original Lund
Hotel in amongst an extensive orchard. This photo is dated to circa 1915, prior to the great fire.
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This expansion was built around the Malaspina, while business was still carried on.
A 1918 forest fire demolished the first little hotel, along with several other
buildings. Luckily the Malaspina was untouched and still stands as the Lund Hotel
today.
Eventually, Charles moved to what is now Campbell River, in 1927, amicably dissolving
their partnership. Frederick took over the operations, becoming head Post Master as
well as Justice of the Peace. Charles died in Campbell River in 1932. Frederick passed
away in 1935, leaving his two sons to run the business. |
