By Dorthea CalverleyIn spite of themselves, the fur-trade companies were responsible for the earliest settlements along the Peace River. Almost the first was one near the confluence of the Smoky and Peace Rivers. It became known as the Shaftesbury settlement, so named by an Anglican Missionary, John Gough Brick. The area became knows as Shaftesbury… Read More

By Mr. Bert Bowes Dec. 16, 1930The real history of Fort St. John starts in 1805 as a fur trading post on the North Pine River. After one or two moves to other locations, the last site of Fort St. John on the river below the town was chosen in 1870. It is a very… Read More

By Dorthea H. CalverleyAgriculture in the Peace River Country began in 1908 when Hector Tremblay settled near the Pouce Coupe River and cultivated about ten acres of land. The first year he planted wheat and oats for feed for his own packhorses. Mrs. Esme Tuck had the first flower garden in the Pouce Coupe district… Read More

Mr. Wilkie Smith, now of Armstrong, BC was an early settler along the Pine River in the general area of present Chetwynd. This village now has the only grain elevator, but the whole area began with ranching enterprises. Mr. Smith gave us the following account of the beginnings, and the people who pioneered the transition… Read More

By William WankaTupper Creek, B.C. 12th July, 1944 Mr. H. Giles, Dawson Creek, B.C. Dear Mr. Giles, As promised I am sending you enclosed my report on the Tupper Settlement for 1943 together with the Operational Report which gives more details about the work of our Company. For your understanding I should like to point… Read More

TATE CREEK BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President: John Baudisch Vice Pres: Alois Seitner Treasurer: Karl Dittrich Secretary: Valentin Dittrich Director: Alois Mollik Auditors: Frank Kuenzl, Franz Zapf REPORT of the Board of Directors to the Annual Meeting held on March 17th, 1949. Today it is exactly one year since our institute was formed and we take… Read More

Verbatim transcript of interview with Mrs. Schoen, conducted by Alfred Seidl. (A) “Mrs. Schoen, could you tell us under what circumstances you arrived at Tomslake?” (S) “Oh, we just had to leave Czechoslovakia because we were against Hitler. So we immigrated to Denmark where we stayed for a half a year, in Odensea. From there… Read More

(Complete report for 1943, For more details see Operational Report for 1943, dated November 30th, 1943)1. NUMBER OF SETTLERS IN COLONY: There has been but little change in the number of settlers in 1943. None of the settlers took permanent employment in industry. There have also been no more voluntary enlistments for the Armed Service,… Read More

 Shipping of HOGS and CATTLE during 1943 HOGS   Grade Head % A 618 36.8 B-1 649 38.6 C 2 – B 2 112 6.6 Others 231 13.7 Hogs 1610 95.7 Sows 72 4.3 Total 1662 100.0   1610 hogs, dressed weight, 253, 425 lbs. – average 157 lbs. 72 Sows, dressed weight, 25, 951 lbs…. Read More

In a large circular valley with low hills gently raising on all sides is the Gundy Ranch, the haven of refuge for nearly six hundred Sudetens. The settlement is reached by rail via Northern Alberta Railways at Tupper or by the main highway from Edmonton to Fort St. John. It is just inside the British… Read More