Name/Title
Sproat Lake, Vancouver IslandEntry/Object ID
2016.01.04Description
Photograph
This hand-tinted black and white photograph depicts Sproat Lake in central Vancouver Island, B.C. The image shows a tranquil lake though trees with forested shores in the distance. Today, in addition to lakeside homes, the lake has three provincial parks on its shores: Sproat Lake Provincial Park, Taylor Arm Provincial Park, and Fossli Provincial Park. Best known for being a scenic vacation spot, the Fossli park has several petroglyphs.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
Hand-tinted black and white photo on paperSubject Place
Region
Pacific NorthwestContinent
North AmericaContext
Sproat Lake was known as “Kleecoot” (meaning “wide open”) by local First Nations people, the Nuu-chah-nulth. The term Nuu-Chah-Nulth describes fifteen related tribes whose traditional home is on Vancouver Island. In 1864 the lake was renamed by Robert Brown of the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition as Sproat Lake in honour of entrepreneur and colonial official Gilbert Malcolm Sproat.
The lake has also been the home of the last air-worthy Hawaii Martin Mars II type water bomber since its last flight in 2016. Only seven of these enormous planes (over 60 m. wing span) were made by the California Glenn L. Martin Co. for the United States Navy during World War II and they were originally used used as long-distance cargo planes. The Mars bombers were later a big part of fighting forest fires on Vancouver Island. The bombers used Sproat Lake for their runway and to scoop up water to take to forest fire areas. As the largest fixed-wing water bombers in the world, they were able to carry some 27 tons of water. Donated by Port Alberni's Coulson Aviation, the Hawaii water bomber moved to a new home at the B.C. Aviation Museum in Sidney, North Saanich in August 2024. And the only other Martin Mars water bomber in existence, the Philippine Mars, will also leave Sproat Lake for its new home at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tuccson, Arizona in 2024.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
W. N. WellsRole
PhotographerDate made
n.d.Time Period
20th CenturyNotes
PHOTOGRAPHER BIOGRAPHY
Further research is needed.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionLocation
Original mat titled and signed in pencil - retained as liner under new mat (see file notes)
Lower left: Sproat Lake, V.I.
Lower right: W. N. Wells, Victoria, B.C. - confirmDimensions
Dimension Description
Visible imageHeight
23.5 cmWidth
19.1 cmAcquisition
Date
2016Notes
Detail unknown
