It was September 16th of the year 1868, and a long hot Summer day in the gold rush town of Barkerville. According to the story passed from one generation to the next, that afternoon saw a man make an unwanted move on a woman at the back of Adler and Berry’s New Fashion Saloon. A…… Continue reading Fire!
Tag: Barkerville
The Canadian Weather Stick
Growing up in Canada, we didn’t have televisions or radios. News came by way of dogsled. The only way to know the weather was to stick your head outside. If you got wet then it was a sure sign it was raining. The people up in Barkerville were far more advanced though. There was no…… Continue reading The Canadian Weather Stick
Barkerville Post Office
Because the old Gold Rush town of Barkerville was so remote, its residents struggled to keep correspondence up with loved ones back home. Initially letters were sent with friends traveling between Victoria and nearby Quesnel. It wasn’t very reliable, and I imagine it didn’t help with feelings of homesickness. It wasn’t until several years later,…… Continue reading Barkerville Post Office
Wells Barkerville Cemetery
Mine cave-ins, accidents, assaults, disease and old age. Life in a gold rush camp was difficult. Many of those who passed were buried in one of the areas four cemeteries. The first internment at the Wells Barkerville Cemetery was carried out by John “Cariboo” Cameron, who buried his employee Peter Gibson in 1863. Mr. Gibson…… Continue reading Wells Barkerville Cemetery
Dr. Hugh Watt
Dr. Wyatt, great-grandson of James Watt (he patented the steam engine) moved to Barkerville with his wife in 1882 where they set up house. Dr. Watt was a surgeon at the Royal Cariboo Hospital and also ran a private practice in an office attached to his house. Imagine being injured and needing this man to…… Continue reading Dr. Hugh Watt
Nicol Hotel Museum
Not unlike modern times, the buildings and properties of Barkerville were regularly bought and sold taking on different forms. The history of a single building can often make you dizzy with its twists and turns. A prime example of this would be the Nicol Hotel Museum. What was once a dry goods store owned by…… Continue reading Nicol Hotel Museum
Fashionable Haircutting, Gold Rush Style
Before visiting Barkerville, I naively thought the town was full of hairy unsavoury types who worked all day and drank all night. Hygiene and keeping up appearances never crossed my mind. So it was interesting to learn about the town’s barbershop owned by Mr. Wellington Delaney Moses.Let’s take a closer look at the sign..Sorry it’s…… Continue reading Fashionable Haircutting, Gold Rush Style
Wake Up Jake
Dining options in Barkerville are limited, but James and I enjoyed our lunch of simple home-style comfort food at Wake Up Jake.What’s in a name?Fun fact: Wake Up Jake was named after Jake Franklin, one of the owners who reportedly fell asleep regularly at a table in the restaurant. As someone who naps through their…… Continue reading Wake Up Jake
Wilf Thomson’s Cabin
Today let’s take a quick peek into a cabin built way back in the 1890’s. It was home to several people before ultimately being purchased by Wilf Thomson in 1931.Mr. Thomson was an active prospector until he died in 1979. Upon his passing, for the first time since 1862, Barkerville was left without a full…… Continue reading Wilf Thomson’s Cabin
Columbian Ground Squirrels
Here’s my newest favourite creature – the Columbian Ground Squirrel. They look like the squirrels I’m used to seeing here in Vancouver, just bigger. Much bigger.Columbian Ground Squirrels have been known to hibernate for up to 220 days (!), waking every few weeks to eat some of the food they’d previously stockpiled – as well…… Continue reading Columbian Ground Squirrels
John Bibby’s Tin Shop
Because Barkerville is so remote (even today the nearest city is over an hour’s drive away), much of the necessary supplies were produced onsite. A real community was built by craftsmen looking for a way to create a living for themselves while providing the products and services the citizens would need for their daily lives.…… Continue reading John Bibby’s Tin Shop
A Place to Lay Your Head
At its peak during the mid 1860’s, the town of Barkerville was home to approximately 5000 people. Much of its population was in town temporarily, hoping to get rich quick before leaving with pockets full of gold. This created the need for rooming houses, where miners could rest their achy bodies at the end each…… Continue reading A Place to Lay Your Head
Rust
The historic gold rush town of Barkerville consists of a main road and a secondary road. It’s on that secondary road that James and I noticed a collection of old pieces of machinery lying out in the elements.While we have no idea of what they are, I appreciate their worn appearance and thought they’d make…… Continue reading Rust
Thursday Doors – Barkerville
This week, let’s take a look at the entrance to St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in Barkerville. It’s easily one of the most recognizable buildings in the historic gold rush town. Built in 1868, the church is largely original and complete with its pews hand carved from local spruce trees. Owned by the Diocese of Cariboo…… Continue reading Thursday Doors – Barkerville
Cameron & Ames Blacksmith Shop
Barkerville’s blacksmiths were vital to the old gold rush town, making both household and mining supplies as well as horseshoes. Here’s an example of what would have been in operation during the time of the gold rush. Speaking of horseshoes, we decided to take a ride in the stage coach around the historic town. It…… Continue reading Cameron & Ames Blacksmith Shop
