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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14-012: The West Saskatoon or Kilkerran District

The first family to settle in West Saskatoon district in 1912 was the Willis Piper family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Piper, sons Ernest, Bud, and Ray and daughter Helen (Mrs. Harold Brown). Mr. Harry Gibson and Brother Walter came at the same time and both Mr. Harry Gibson and Bud Piper still live on the land that was homesteaded on arrival.

The Piper family came in over the Edson Trail with a covered wagon and two teams of oxen. A few chickens, two cats, and a dog were also brought along and a cow was purchased from Mr. Tremblay on the road.

The Pipers turned the first sod in 1912 with a walking plow and oxen. Potatoes and turnips were planted before beginning the job of cutting logs for their first log cabin — sod roofed with hewed logs for floor and a stone fireplace.

The Gibsons and Pipers planted the first cereal crops in 1914 and some grain was threshed that fall for seed. Hay was cut with a mowing machine and raked by hand.

The West Saskatoon district also claims the first Protestant church services, the first school erected, and the first church building. The first church service was held in the home of Willis Piper by a traveling Anglican minister from Lake Saskatoon [near Grande Prairie]. Later a resident minister arrived to homestead in the district. He built his own log house, which is still standing and lived in by the Jack Harrod family. The Anglican church was built in 1920 and we hope it will be preserved as a historical monument in the district.

The first school class was held in a log cabin owned by Slim Ford on his homestead and taught by Miss Ligertwood who married and remained in the district for several years. The log school was built about 1921 and had for its first teacher Miss Buchanan who later married and still lives in our district (Mrs. Hans Larsen).

The first women’s organization was formed in 1921 as the Women’s Farm Group which later changed to the Women’s Institute in 1928, the first W.I. in the Block.

« 14-011: Sunrise Valley History as Told by Walter Haddow, Pioneer

14-013: An Early History of the West Saskatoon District »

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