What were a Victorian woman, May Wright’s, first few days in Agassiz, British Columbia were like when she arrived in March 1896 with her three brothers? These next two letters she wrote home will make you feel like you are right there with her.

This post is all about those first few days setting up their new home and socializing with their new neighbours and friends. 

Introduction

In these two remarkable letters from March and April 1896, 18-year-old May Wright describes her first impressions of life in Agassiz, British Columbia, after arriving from England with her siblings. From elegant steamboats in Vancouver to muddy roads and make-do meals on a frontier farm, May’s words offer a vivid snapshot of early settler life in rural BC. Through her letters, we gain insight into Victorian domestic routines, pioneer challenges, and social visits among the families who helped shape the Fraser Valley. If you’re interested in British Columbia history, pioneer women, or 19th-century immigration stories, these firsthand accounts bring the past to life in the most personal way.

Notes from the Historian

History of Hazeley Ranch

Before it was Hazeley Ranch, it was called the Farr Ranch. In some newspaper articles, it will be referred to as both. In 1864, Joseph Farr purchased 1,050 acres of land between Cameron Road to the east and Limbert Road to the south in Agassiz, British Columbia. He purchased the land in three phases from the government. A few years later, he sold his ranch to Colonel Alfred St. George Hamersley for $10,000.

Mr. A. St. George Hamersley

Mr. Hamerseley plays a significant role in both the history of Agassiz and in the daily lives of the Wright siblings. Mr. Hamerseley was the first Reeve (local official) in the district when it was incorporated in 1865. Mr. Hamereley came from England with his wife and practiced law and was later elected as a city solicitor in Vancouver.

He was also a pioneer of growing hops and his land was designated the original farming location of hops in the province. Through his work as a local official, he defined the county land boundaries, organized, and obtained grants from the government to have a road through Kent to Harrison Lake.

He also played a significant role in growing hops in the area, and having established multiple farms of hops, had the area designated as the original planting location of the British Columbia Hop Company.

In 1906, he returned to England, where he was elected to parliament. During World War I, he acted as an area commandant in the army in France. He survived the war and lived until the age of 86. His wife, Maude, who is also mentioned in the letters, lived to 104!

The Agassiz Family

The Agassiz family arrived in 1867 and was a pioneer family and the namesake of the town of Agassiz. Their family has a very interesting and enjoyable history that you can read in more detail in the book called “Memories of Pioneer Life in BC” by Florence Goodfellow, the oldest daughter of Lewis and Caroline Agassiz. It can be purchased at the Agassiz Harrison Museum here. I highly recommend the book as it gives a candid and detailed account of the early days of the family.

The sisters Edith and Eleanor “Nellie” are mentioned in May’s letters below. Nellie would go on to marry Captain William Moore and continue to farm in the area with their two children, named Bill and Maude. Edith did not marry and instead remained in Agassiz and was very involved in community events. She was a Brownie leader and a Sunday school teacher.

Letters Home

May’s Letter to Mother- March 29, 1896

Vancouver
British Columbia

March 29th, 1896

My dearest Mother,

I think I am going up to Agassiz to-morrow, the furniture went up yesterday & Jack has gone to-day, if the Americans have not turned out Jack is going to telegraph to me & I am not going until they have gone as there is no room. Mr. Hamersley went up on Thursday & is coming back to-day probably; they are each nice kind people, there are five children, Hugh who is at a military college in Kingston, Ont., Commie who is 17 is at a military college in Kingston, Ontario; Cammie is 15, she is very shy & quiet but nice; Harold is 14; J_y is 7, a very plucky child; & Tommy is 4, a dear fat little boy, who is always in mischief.

They are all coming up to Mr. H ____’s house for the summer, which will be nice. Miss Agassiz’s were down here for two days last week, staying at the Manor House. Miss Nellie & Miss Edith are nice girls. Edith is nice looking, big & fat, they came here to spend an evening, they dress nicely & are very ladylike. We went to call on Sister Francis the other day, she talked a great deal about immigration. I forgot whether I told you that we saw in one of the C.P.R newspapers published on the train; a notice of Mr. Richmond’s death. I walked down with Jack to see him off, the same Pullman was on the train that we came in. I suppose it has to stay in Vancouver to be cleaned.

Mr. Hamersley took me over to the “Empress of India” this afternoon, it is a most lovely boat & so comfortable, all the stewards & cooks are Chinamen, & they are never allowed ashore, they have to stay on the boat the fortnight it is in dock; the cabins are so large with sofas & chairs in them, & the deck is beautiful.

On Friday evening we went to a sacred concert at Christ Church, it was fairly good, but there is very little reverence in the Canadian character, everyone talked about their own affairs as if it had been an ordinary concert hall. I went to the 11 o’clock service there this morning, it is a very lone church; I went at 8 to St. James, the service there is very nice; I want to go this evening, if it fits in with the family arrangements. The children are all at Sunday school so the house is very quiet now.

The weather has been very nice here, it poured all yesterday morning, but except for that it has been fine & warm. They hope to have a very big regatta here in August, the world’s championship in sculling, it would be a lovely place for it. Mrs. Hamersley is a New Zealander, she used to know Bishop Selwyn & Bishop Abraham very well. I heard from Archie yesterday that the trails were far worse when they went back to Brandon. Mrs. L___ fell down several times & cut herself badly, there are some disadvantages in Manitoba life. 

With much love,

Your affectionate daughter.

May Wright.

May’s Letter to Mother- April 6, 1896

Agassiz
British Columbia

April 6th, 1896

My dearest Mother,

I came here on Tuesday, Cecil met me with the wagon, it was nearly seven o’clock by the time we got here. I had to get to work at once & get supper for ourselves, our hired man, Allie, & C____. The boys had got the beds up  & a few things unpacked, Mr. George an English bachelor who lives about three miles away has been here all day helping them & worked very hard, of course everything was in a frightful state of confusion & ___, but that was to be expected. On Wednesday we unpacked the household then & on Thursday & Friday we had a Chinaman (he is one of our nearest neightbours) named Choi, to clean up, he scrubbed all the rooms & veranda, & then tidied up outside where there were quantities of old tins, boards, etc left by the last people lying about; I have heard since that Choi was very floored that the new people sent for him to help settle in.

We have had the partition taken down between the sitting room & little room next to it and new rooms & a door made in the further new room where we thought & it is my room; Cecil & Harold have got the other new room, & Jack has got the little room opening into the sitting room. The room opening into the kitchen we are going to use for a store room, Jack has put up shelves on two sides of it. We have got a nice oilcloth for the sitting room. C____ helped Jack to put it down on Friday; we have got bookshelves on the right hand side of the door, by the boys room door; we have put up the curtains & nearly all the pictures; the curtains are just about right, well off the floor. Our hired man is an American & a very quiet sort of fellow, he is only in the home for meals, & sleeps over at Mr. Hamersley’s other house with C____; Cecil & he are ploughing every day now.

Mr. & Mrs. Baher came to call a few days ago, they live about a mile away but are leaving in a week or two; not very interesting people, only small farmers. Yesterday Mrs. Burhett came to see me, she lives about five minutes walk from here, she seems a very nice young woman.

This morning, Jack, Cecil, & I _____ in the canyon to church in the mud was very bad and about half way we went over a big rut & Cecil was thrown right in the mud. He was not in the least hurt, but too dirty to go on; so he walked back & we went on; we got there after they began its services, which began at 10 with a celebration after that there was a pause about a quarter of an hour & then morning services; we saw all the Agassiz family, the girls want to come & call as soon as I am ready for them & I told them I should be please to see them any day now. Mrs. Jemmitt & her sister, Miss. Woods seem nice, they are also coming over this week. It is time for me to go & cook the supper.

With much love.

Your affectionate daughter,

May Wright.

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