Interviewed by Ruby Stevenson and Dorthea Calverley INTERVIEWER: When did you come to the country, Mr. Mounsey? GEORGE MOUNSEY: I came in July 1919, as a “soldier settler” directly to Sunset Prairie. [Veterans of World War I had incentives to take up land.] After we left Beaverlodge, which was up on the hill then (where… Read More

Interviewed by Lee J. Phillips, 1973 Cross-posted: 15-004: Arnold Munch Mr. Munch is sixty-seven years old [in 1973] and was born at Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. He left home in 1931 in a covered wagon and accompanied by another family by the name of Hofstrand. Some of these folks are still at Montney, B.C. They started on… Read More

We reached Spirit River by train from Edmonton on February 19, 1926. Having come from the prairies in southwestern North Dakota with two small children, a five-day trip by rail. My son was five years old and daughter two years old, they were very tired from the long journey. My first impressions of surroundings were… Read More

Having crossed the ocean from Liverpool to Quebec aboard the S.S. Melita, and after a long train ride from Quebec City to Edmonton, we boarded the Edmonton-Dunvegan and British Columbia train for Grande Prairie. According to [memory] we got on the train on Monday morning in Edmonton and arrived in Grande Prairie on Thursday, after… Read More

[Slightly condensed from an interview withMr. Ray Newby. The interviewer was Dorthea Calverley]Cross-posted: 03-039: Story of a Freighter on the Peace and Pine Rivers Ray Newby —Lonnie Clay did some freighting up the Peace River. They said the Edson Trail or Whiteman Trail came to the Peace River somewhere way down stream. Some of the… Read More

Interviewed by D. Calverley, December 1977 Interviewer: During these last few weeks of 1977, there has been the usual talk about Christmas spirits or holiday spirits and it seems appropriate to go back to the time when Dawson Creek was called — what was it Mr. Newby? Ray Newby: It was noted for its Christmas… Read More

Interviewed by Lee Phillips, Chetwynd, 1973 INTERVIEWER: Your age, Mrs. Nicholson? MRS. NICHOLSON: I was 80 in November. INTERVIEWER: And where were you born? MRS. NICHOLSON: In Saskatchewan. INTERVIEWER: And when did you arrive in this area? MRS. NICHOLSON: In the spring of 1934, just about this time, I think – March. INTERVIEWER: Were you… Read More

I am a newcomer to the Peace River country as I came in 1961. My husband was here from ‘28 to ‘32 and worked on the railroad to Dawson Creek. These were difficult times as you all know. So like many others upon leaving, he vowed to return when he had money to carry on…. Read More

Told by Mrs. Bud Piper MRS. BUD PIPER: I’m telling this story for my husband, Bud Piper. His family came to the Peace River Country in the spring of 1912, shortly after the Miller family had arrived and settled in Rolla. We came from New Mexico, traveling by train to Edson, then purchased four large… Read More

Typed January, 1975 from a recorded interview I have been a minister for many years in the United Church of Canada. I have been asked to bring to you some recollections of what it was like to be a student missionary in the Peace River area of British Columbia in the 1930’s. The place to… Read More