By Dorthea CalverleyUntil local roads were improved in the early 1950’s to allow school buses to bring children to a central school, the caboose was a familiar sight in front of any place of business in winter. All stores had hitching rails. As long as you fed the living “engine” it would pull the vehicle… Read More

By Dorthea Calverley Again and again in stories of northern travel, one reads of a “dugout canoe”. Only in favoured areas were there either birch trees or spruce trees of sufficient size close enough to a navigable stream to make the traditional bark canoes. But everywhere in the whole country there were huge cottonwood trees on… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyThe first fur-traders’ craft to poke their bows into the Peace River waters were the Northwesters’ “north canoes”. Until Peter Pond induced the Indians to trade with him instead of making the long trip to Hudson’s Bay, the men of the Honorable Company had little need for long-distance travel. Even then, it was… Read More

 By George Robinson In 1915 there were two boats or scows on the Smoky River plying between Peace River Crossing and Bezanson hauling freight, settlers effects and the like. One of these was operated by a man known as “Whitey”. I never did hear him called by any other name but probably his name was White…. Read More

 By Dorthea Calverley The queen of the river craft began as an independent vessel. The “D.A.Thomas” was Baron Rhondda’s name before he became an English peer, while he was still a Welsh mining and munitions magnate in the World War I period. The Welsh capitalist had great plans for the Peace River country, especially the coalfields… Read More

 By Dorthea CalverleyIn this land of rivers, every trail sooner or later must cross a stream. That crossing shaped the life of the community. In the spring and autumn when ice was thawing or forming and unable to support weight, any community beyond the river had no connection with the rest of the world. The… Read More

By Dorthea Calverley Before World War II, crossing of nearly all rivers west of Peace River Town was dependent on a ferry. Except in winter when you could drive over the ice, these unromantic craft were the only means of getting out by team or car. There were three types, the basket ferry, the cable ferry… Read More

[Slightly condensed from an interview withMr. Ray Newby. The interviewer was Dorthea Calverley] 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 old prospectors tried to travel the Peace River but a lot of… Read More

James McFarlane, Grande Prairie Settler, Says Short Route is not Practical for Heavy Loads of Settlers’ Effects – is Too Hilly- Long Route Preferable“My advice to both the settlers in the Grande Prairie country who intend coming up this winter and those prospective settlers who have decided to throw in their lot with us in… Read More

By Dorthea H. Calverley  The canoe routes brought Indians and traders to the trading posts. When the Indians obtained horses the natives followed many of their old ideas — the men rode, the women walked. The Crees probably taught the Beavers to use a travois to carry teepee, children and gear, as well as meat… Read More