Union Bay was first established as " Union Wharf " back in 1887 . The community was developed as a port for the thriving coal mines at Union to the Northwest ( later reincorporated as Cumberland ) . Originally the Union Coal Co. had intended to ship coal out from Royston to the north of what is currently Union Bay , but Robert Dunsmuir bought out the company . Dunsmuir 's sons decided that a port at Royston would be too shallow for their needs . The deep water near Hart Creek ( in present-day Union Bay ) was perfect for the deep sea vessels that would ship the superior quality coal across the globe . A large wharf nearly 600 ft ( 200 m ) long was constructed , along with a rail network connecting the mines to the port in 1887-1888 . Many of the masted freighters of the early days were so large that they had to be escorted by tug up Baynes Sound between Denman Island and Vancouver Island . The most famous of these ships was the '' Pamir '' . Several structures were built on the colliery 's lands including a shipping wharf , a coal washer , machine shops , and coke ovens . The community of Union Bay developed to support all of this industry and even had a small Chinatown . Workers from India were brought in to build the wharf . They lived in the big boarding house at the head of the bay . Scottish bricklayers arrived with a boatload of bricks from their homeland and assembled the coke ovens which were worked by the Japanese . There were five Japanese families . They had homes on the north side of Washer Creek . Chinese labourers laid the railway between Union Bay and Cumberland and then became trimmers on the coal ships where they would work 12-hour shifts . About 100 Chinese men lived in jerry-built shacks where the community hall is today . To service and repair the mines and port facilities there were shops to overhaul the locomotives , to fabricate coal cars , and others which housed the foundry , boilermakers and blacksmiths . Two hotels were built to accommodate travelers , the Nelson and Wilson . They featured beer parlours for loggers and sailors . Fire destroyed both hotels . Several stores served the town , including Fraser & Bishop 's large general store with an extravagant facade . One night in March 1913 the general store was robbed by Henry Wagner , the " Flying Dutchman " as he was called . On this particular night two police officers , Constables Westaway and Ross , walked in on the pirate and his partner . A gunfight ensued during which Westaway was fatally wounded . Ross , however , managed to tackle Wagner and apprehend him after a long and bloody fight . Wagner was quickly hanged in Nanaimo . Of the original buildings four are left : school ( built 1915 ) , church ( 1906 ) , post office ( 1913 ) , and gaolhouse ( 1901 ) . Together they form " Heritage Row " . The Union Bay Historical Society restored and now maintains the gaolhouse and the post office . The post office has the distinction of being the only wooden post office erected before WW1 still in service in Canada . During the two world wars Union Bay was a very active port because ships often coaled up there before crossing the Pacific . The last sailing ship to carry coal was the Pamir , in 1946 . Freighters and barges continued to call until the coal industry slowly faded around the 1950s . Many of the structures , including the coal wharf , were torn down by the early 1960s . In 1946 , a magnitude 7.3 earthquake demolished chimneys of houses in Union Bay
magnitude 7.3 earthquake
1946 Vancouver Island earthquake
Union Bay, British Columbia