Quadra, which was named after a Spanish naval officer, was a pristine wilderness until
the 1880's when logging and mining interests discovered its riches. It became one of the
few Gulf Islands where mining could be profitable.
The Lucky Jim mine opened in 1903 and for a time it yielded tonnes of
gold and copper ore. A fish-canning plant also flourished in the early
1900's, at its heyday employing between 200-300 workers. It burnt down in 1941 and was
never rebuilt.
By 1904, Quadra had two post offices, a school, hotel, lumber camps,
mills, and a mission. A passenger ferry started in 1949 and a car ferry in 1960.
The first public school on Quadra was built by the Kwagiulth people at
Cape Mudge in 1893, under the guidance of the last hereditary chief of the We Wai Kai band,
chief Billy Assu. He was also responsible for
building up the bandıs fishing fleet, still flourishing today.
Unfortunately the Lucky Jim mine became unlucky in 1925 and also
suffered a fire. The forest fire which resulted was a major disaster. It
was the third of three major fires which devastated the island. Old
growth timber, homes, mines, logging, all disappeared in smoke and
Quadra took a long time to recover, sliding into an economic slump which lasted until
well after the Great Depression.
