Bedwell River facts for kids
The Bedwell River is a river located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It flows into Bedwell Sound, which is an inlet of the ocean found northeast of Meares Island and the town of Tofino.
How the River Got Its Name
This river was first called the Bear River by Captain Richards. However, its name was officially changed to Bedwell River. This new name connected it to Bedwell Sound, which is nearby. Even with the official change, some local people still used the old name.
In 1913, there was a plan to change the name again to Denbigh River. This was meant to honor Rudolph Feilding, 9th Earl of Denbigh. He was in charge of the Ptarmigan Mine on Big Interior Mountain. But this name change never happened. Instead, the name Bedwell River was officially chosen by the Canadian government a few months later. The provincial government in British Columbia adopted the name about ten years after that.
First Nations People and the River
The local First Nations people, the Nuu-chah-nulth, have their own name for the river. In their language, it is called Oinimitis. This name is also used for the Oinimitis Trail, a path in the area. Near the mouth of the river, there is a place called Oinimitis Indian Reserve No. 4.
Gold Rush and Mining History
In 1865, people called prospectors found gold in the Bedwell River area. Soon, many people came to try their luck at placer mining. This is a type of mining where people search for gold in riverbeds. They use water to separate the gold from sand and gravel.
However, the river valley had many large rocks. This made it hard to find enough gold to make a profit. Most of the miners quickly became unhappy and left within a few weeks. Only a few Chinese miners stayed behind. They kept the mining trail in good condition until the mid-1880s. It is said that when one of these miners suddenly died, the remaining 15 miners became worried and left the area together.
In 1899, a small town called Port Hughes was planned at the river's mouth. It was meant to be the main center for about 60 mines in the region. A 14-room hotel was built there that same year. Moses McGregor was the first and last postmaster, working from 1900 to 1901. The town was named after Captain Hughes, who was the captain of a steamboat that traveled along the coast. However, the residents soon left, and the hotel closed down. By 1913, when the Ptarmigan Mine set up a camp at the river mouth, no one was living in Port Hughes anymore.
Higher up the river, the valley splits into two branches. You Creek forms the right branch. A prospector named Joe Drinkwater was the first to explore this creek. Later, You Creek became a way for miners to reach several mining claims.
