Maud Lane (1882-1938)

Our thanks to Dr. Gordon Goldsborough of the Manitoba Historical Society for information relating to Maud (Abbott) Lane.

Maud Lane (nee Abbott ) was born in Ontario and spent her childhood in Emerson, Manitoba. Her father, James John Abbott ( 1839-1914 ) was a photographer. They moved to Taber, Alberta and the family started a photography business there.

Coming to B.C. she and her father lived in Vancouver and in 1910, she married Reginald Lane ( 1879 – 1915 ). They moved to Powell River when he secured a position as postmaster in May 1913. He resigned this position in January 1914 and went to work in the pulp and paper mill. They had one child, Lorna. B.

Maud Lane purchased Rod LeMay’s photographic studio in 1923 and continued the work of documenting the development of the pulp and paper mill and the town that grew up around it. Lane recorded the unprecedented growth of the Powell River Company’s development of the dam at Lois Lake. She also developed a distinct three and four numeric numbering system and she often used a ‘date board’ that has been invaluable for historic purposes.

Lane’s brother, Roy Abbott ( 1884-1944 ) appears to have assisted her in her studio.

She sold her photographic studio to Oswell Stevenson ( 1890 – 1955 ) very shortly before her death in 1938.

A Lane Studio image of Motor Trader's Limited Powell River, BC (i.e. Townsite on Arbutus Ave), 1936. (ID 1967.1.50)

This negative was taken of a photograph by Maud Lane. Long log sent to Kew Gardens in England for a flag pole, 1916. (ID 2008.10.83)