The Origins of Eagle Bay Hall and Eagle Bay Day
By Karen Loerke
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Eagle Bay Hall in 2025, Karen will be sharing historical stories about the community with the Scoop.
If Eagle Bay Church is the soul of Eagle Bay, then the Hall can be considered the heartbeat of the community. It is a welcoming space that has brought people together and has played an integral role in shaping the character and energy of the area. As Eagle Bay Hall celebrates its 75th anniversary, it boasts of a vibrant history.
In 1949, the old schoolhouse in Eagle Bay was sold to Mr. Colthurst of Kamloops for $750. This sale prompted the citizens of Eagle Bay to begin building a new hall. A Push Committee, led by Joseph Turgeon, John Law, Frank Hislop, Frank Leslie, and Bill Whitehead, drafted bylaws and created a Societies Act Constitution outlining the name and objectives of the society. The Eagle Bay Hall Society Certificate of Incorporation was signed on November 21, 1950. The first Annual General Meeting was attended by 34 people, each joining for $1.00. Directors were elected, and Major Patrick Howden was appointed the first Chairman.
Georgina Coates, who donated land for the hall with her husband Charles. (Photo courtesy of Eagle Bay Hall)
Local citizens Georgina and Charles Coates generously donated an acre of their land “as a place where young people can gather.” They were originally from England but made Eagle Bay their home. Charles was a local artist, and Georgina was a nurse; both are buried in the Eagle Bay Cemetery. Mr. Coates also served on the Hall’s executive as the first Vice-Chair alongside Major Howden.
From 1951 to 1959, the residents of Eagle Bay collaborated to build the Hall through sweat equity. Bill Whitehead supplied the timber, while George Whitehead offered the use of his mill. Mr. Nelson cut and hauled 1,000 feet of lumber to the Hall. The first project was to fence the lot and erect frames for the foundation. Members decided that the second Saturday of each month would be a workday at the Hall. By 1957, the ceiling, doors, and floors had been completed, and after much discussion, it was decided to use fir for the flooring.
An Entertainment Committee comprising women from Eagle Bay organized box socials, dances, and sales of handmade goods to raise funds for the Hall. Meanwhile, the men contributed their skills and time to its construction.
On Sunday, July 22, 1951, Major Howden hosted the first Eagle Bay Day, featuring a sale of work, swimming, diving, games, and a community gathering, which resulted in a profit of $382.40 for the Hall. The second Eagle Bay Day was held on July 27, 1952, at the beach in front of the property of Hans Whitehead. In 1955, the community expressed disappointment over the absence of Eagle Bay Day, leading to a recommendation for an annual event with a fixed date, marking the start of this eagerly anticipated occasion. Eagle Bay Day was eventually moved to the Hall once it was completed.
Eagle Bay held its inaugural dance in the one-room Community Hall on October 11, 1958, and the first Annual General Meeting at Eagle Bay Hall was on April 22, 1959. During this meeting, members discussed purchasing a piano to support music for dances and special events. Mrs. Galligan provided the funds for the piano, and the Eagle Bay Society reimbursed her quarterly over two years. The piano cost $300, and dances became crucial fundraising events at the Hall, featuring live bands such as the Enderby Swingsters and the Sun Valley Ramblers.
In a rural community like Eagle Bay, the Hall has played a vital role as a gathering place for socializing and entertainment. Despite the lack of modern amenities such as water, electricity, and heat, residents continued to utilize the building and enjoy various activities. It is worth pondering what life would be like today without modern luxuries like television, lights and heat and whether we would still find as much entertainment as the pioneering families enjoyed.
Eagle Bay Day at Major Howden’s, August 1954 (photo contributed)
