William Joseph Davies (1867-1925) was born in West Flamborough, Ontario, and came to Vancouver to work as a tailor. In 1887, he preempted thirty-three acres at Snug Cove, on Bowen Island, where he planted an orchard, shipped fruit to Vancouver, and hunted deer and grouse for the city market. He established the general store at Snug Cove, which was in operation until 1925. He was postmaster for many years, harbourmaster, and a local school trustee. He and his wife, Florence, had 13 children. Their eldest son, William Arthur Edward (Ed) Davies, worked on ferry launches for the Sannie Transportation Company, drove taxis, and was harbourmaster. Another son, Lyle, also worked on the Sannies.
The fonds consists of records of the Davies family, including correspondence, mail contracts and postmaster records, and other business records of William J. Davies, including licences and ledgers of Davies and Company and a cashbook (1909-1911) for Davies Store; correspondence, bills and receipts of William Arthur Edward Davies, including a record book of his taxi service and cashbook of the Bowen Park Store; photographs accumulated by Herbert Lyle Davies depicting members of the Davies family and friends on Bowen Island, and scenes of various aspects of early island life, including logging and ferry service; and, postcards and ephemera of various family members.
Finding aid available.