South Peace Historical Society

    • Home
    • About / Contact Us
    • About Dorthea Horton
    • About This Collection
    • Bibliography
    • Brief History of the Peace
    • Credits
    • South Peace Historical Society Archives (External Link)
  • 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

  •  

10-016: First Teacher at Kelly Lake

By Dorthea Horton Calverley
The Kelly Lake Settlement was until very recently one of the most isolated parts of British Columbia. Not that it was so far from Dawson Creek or Pouce Coupe as the crow flies, but because it had no access by road. In the winter, travel by sleigh was possible, but by wagon after break-up, the only possible outlet was Hythe in Alberta.

A letter from Mr. Gerry Andrews, now retired at Victoria tells a little of the first school. Mr. Andrews was formerly the Director of the B.C. Surveys and Mapping Branch.

I initiated the Kelly Lake School, south of Tupper, in 1923, and stayed on there till the summer of 1925. Pouce Coupe village was our nearest outpost of civilization. I remember Frank Haskins store and George Hart was the liquor vendor. He built the hotel during that time. There was also the government agent and a detachment of the B.C. Provincial Police. The people at Kelly Lake were mostly Metis — Belcourts, Callious, Gauthiers, Gladues, LaTente, Payette, etc., and one of Scotch-Metis family, Milton Campbell. There were a few others whose names slip my memory. The women and children spoke only Cree, so my first task was to teach enough English to get started with the “Three R’s.” When I left, the children there had the reputation among itinerant fur buyers of speaking the best English in the country — better than their counterparts in surrounding settlements. The reason was mainly that they were not exposed to the slang and language corruption prevalent in white communities.

Old Justin E. (“Mac”) McIntyre of McLeod Lake was a longtime pal since 1924 when we restocked with grub at his store after packing horses over the Pine Pass from Kelly Lake and Tupper.

When at Kelly Lake, I batched with Jim S. Young, who bought furs and ran a store there. Jim was also on the pack horse trip referred to above. He later settled at Rose Prairie and married the first District Nurse up there. In 1950 he helped us hire saddle horses and a guide from a band of Indians camped at the Beatton River crossing, northeast of Peterson’s store. On this occasion, I remember the old Indian Chief there was called “Pouce Coupe”. Jim Young was highly regarded by the Indians and Metis, and I doubt if we could have got anywhere without his interceding on our behalf. He had his 87th birthday this month, and is still on the farm at Rose Prairie.

Note — for more information about Kelly Lake and Mr. Andrews’ time there as a teacher, see this book: Andrews, G.S. Metis Outpost. Victoria, B.C. [self-published], 1985.

« 10-015: New Teacher in Charlie Lake (1929)

10-017: Annie Bray Retires After 28 Year’s Service »

© 2023 South Peace Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.