South Peace Historical Society

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  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

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15-019: History of Bear Flat

The Bear Flat settlement at the mouth of Cache Creek, fifteen miles above Fort St. John, started in 1912 by the first squatter. George Freer and family came in 1914 by way of Peace River, in a caboose. In those days flour was ten dollars and sugar thirty dollars per hundred pounds.

The chief industry in those early days was trapping, as there was little market for farm produce. As the fur became scarce the settlers took to more extensive farming operations and stock raising and now there are some good-sized farms under cultivation and some sizable herds in the district. A large shipment of cattle was sent out this year from the herds of the Freers, Robinsons, Westergaards, Hills and Martells. Some excellent grain crops were also produced this year.

During the past two years the district has settled up fast and now the best of the available land is taken. The crying need of the district is for better transportation facilities. The only road to outside points at present is a trail made by the settlers. With the expected road extensions and the development on the land, this district will be one of the best in the Peace River Block in the near future.

 

« 15-018: The Story of Taylor’s Flat to 1957

15-020: Narrative of the Bear Canyon District »

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