MINERS’ BAY LODGE THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS – 1987 & 2010

The Wunker family took over the BAY VIEW HOTEL in 1938. To celebrate the 50th season of Miners’ Bay Lodge, a record of the first fifty years was produced and given to guest families in 1987. Additional copies were available for purchase.
A commemorative booklet was first suggested by MBL guest, Don Wheaton, who was in the printing business, and offered to produce it. The project grew and the end result was a 52 page, 8.5 x 11 inch document, printed by Harmony Printing Limited of 123 Eastside Drive, Toronto.
As editor, the undersigned solicited photos and memories from my extended family, and from a number of prominent and long time multi-generational guest families.
I decided to include the story of our family before 1938, and to put MBL into the historic context of its location. The work was dedicated to my grandparents, the “Founders” of MBL, William H. Wunker, and Erna V. C. Wunker.
Almost 160 photographs and images were included, as well as descriptive captions. Narrative that provided background and context was included to link the twelve sections into a total review of the MBL experience.
Appreciation of those who assisted in providing materials was included in an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS page at the end of the publication.
While many guests in 1987 were concerned about the future of MBL, few realized the subtle inference of the title. I deliberately referred to the first 50 years as a hint that there was more to come.
Negotiations had been underway to honour Bill and Anna’s, and Bob and Mary’s desire to retire. At the end of the MBL 1988 season, Russ and Dottie, John and Marsha Taylor, and Randy and Gail Wunker took over MBL.
Over the years, the 50 year document was well received, but by 2009, many new MBL guests were unaware of the publication, as the extra copies that had been produced for sale, had been exhausted.
I decided to re-issue it. To reduce costs, the “colour” aspect of the cover and page headings were omitted, and the new product was basically black and white photocopy of the original publication.
An Introduction to the new edition, as well as an updated list of long time Guests, was added on the inside of the cover pages. The 2010 edition was printed by Warren Nelms, of Quick Print, 430 Garnet St. , Henderson, NC 27536.
By 2018, few copies of the second edition remained available for purchase. Coincidentally , a small supply of the first edition have recently come to light, and some lucky purchasers again have the opportunity to obtain this historic document from the MBL Gift Shop.


Russ Wunker.
September 2019