The
history of Fort Fraser is linked to the history of the Hudson Bay Company
and their explorers. Fur trade was their mission; survival was the challenge.
August 1806 caught Simon Fraser and his crew with no food in Stuart Lake.
He was desperate to find a new source of food and fur. Simon Fraser knew
of Fraser Lake (named after him by John Stuart). He arrived to the lake
early September 1806 to the vicinity of Matleh (today Nadleh Whut'en Indian
Reserve).
He established a trading post called Fraser Lake Post and referred in that way for several years. The post was closed and reestablished several times during its firsts years. It was situated at the East End of Fraser Lake about a mile from its outlet (today Beaumont Provincial Park). In 1815, Harmon wrote: "we have surrounded a piece of ground with palisades, for a garden, in which we have planted a few potatoes, sowed onion, carrot, beet and parsnip seeds, and a little barley. I have, also, planted a very little Indian corn, without the expectation that it will come to maturity..."
1824
Hudson Bay Company, Harmon's records called Fraser Lake Post "Fort" for
the first time and mention the need to erect a new Fort.
Fort
Fraser became one of the most valuable posts in New Caledonia during 1829.
At that time the Fort had a bastion, Men's houses, gardens and a store
for fur. A census taken during 1844-1845 recorded the native population
in the Fraser Lake post was of 258 people.
During 1865, the Collins Overland Telegraph was laid in British Columbia. The route was laid through Fort Fraser. The Fort lodged Surveyor George Mercer Dawson, while he prepared part of his surveying study titled "The Geological Survey of Canada 1876-77".
The Fort had poor trading seasons and it was closed on several occasions. A school was built during December 1888 expecting the arrival of Father Morice. It is also known that all the Indians attended a religious service in the Church on Christmas Eve during 1889.To read a description of The Fort by Father Morice, click here.
New buildings were built and by July 1891 the post included a dwelling house, a store and warehouse, and a stable. In September 1900, the Hudson Bay Company records also mentioned a log root house.
The
Fraser Lake post was closed during the outfit 1914-1915. Several factors
contributed to its closure: the completion of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
in 1914, the diminishing fur trade, the drop in fur prices caused by World
War I. At the time the Fort was closed, it was located near the Nadleh
Indian Reserve. William Bunting was the last clerk for the Hudson Bay Company.
Mr. Bunting's descendants still live in our community.
On April 7th, 1914, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was completed at Fort
Fraser, B.C., almost 4000 miles of railway which is now part of the Canadian
National Railway. The "Sun" reported that "no ceremony, and but a small
demonstration marked the second greatest chapter in Canadian railway history-the
connection of the second transcontinental belt of steel." The Last Spike
was driven by Peter Titiryn, construction foreman for the "west crew."
During the celebration of the Golden Spike in 1964, Jim Morris of Quenel,
one of the only two people present who actually witnessed the original
Last Spike, said "he was amused at the repeated efforts needed to drive
today's spike home remembering that in the old days a "skookum" man could
drive home a railway spike in two blows."
During 1998, Fort Fraser's Last Spike Site was recognized by the government
as a Heritage Site adding historical value to the community and one more
reason its residents can be proud of where they live.
The original site where the Fort was established was pre-empted by George W. Proctor. Captain E.G. Beaumont acquired the land after and donated it to the province for recreation, Beaumont Provincial Park was open on July 13, 1962. Captain Beaumont attended the ceremony.
During 1912, the Dominion Stock & Bond Corporation Ltd from Vancouver
started the commercialization of a new town site located 3.5 km east of
the original Fort. Fort Fraser was advertised as "the Hub of British Columbia
on the Grand Trunk Pacific" because it had ideal conditions for city making.
The plans were very attractive for future settlers.Click here
to see a sample advertisement.
Fort Fraser town site grew enough to have a Government Agent, a Hotel,
a brick factory, a sawmill, a ferry to cross the Nechako River, a Bank,
a school, etc. A couple of buildings in town have special meaning for its
residents. The United Church and the Lutheran Church, both buildings were
built during 1926 and 1928.
Fort Fraser has several community events that blend people from several communities. Nautley and Fraser Lake residents attend several social events organized in Fort Fraser. The Fort Fraser Fall Fair is one of the oldest agricultural fairs in British Columbia. The first Fall Fair was held in 1928.
Today, Fort Fraser is a well-serviced community. It hosts many businesses from stores, logging operations, restaurants, and professional services. The Fort Fraser Elementary School is an important factor in Fort Fraser's life.