‘Frozen Solid’: The Wright Siblings’ First Winter in Canada, 1896

In the winter of 1896, the Wright siblings, new settlers living at Hazeley Ranch in Agassiz, British Columbia, experienced their first true Canadian winter, and it was far colder than anything they had known in England.

Their letters home vividly describe frozen rivers, dangerous travel conditions, and record-low temperatures that left more than 150 travelers stranded along the Fraser River corridor. These firsthand accounts offer a rare glimpse into pioneer life in the Fraser Valley, capturing what winter in Canada was really like at the end of the nineteenth century.

This post is all about winter in Canada in 1896: crossing frozen waters, keeping warm, and snow blockade that left over 150 people stranded.

Winter in Canada vs. England

Canada is famous today for its long, cold winters—but in 1896, the Wright siblings had no idea what they were about to face. Newly arrived from England, they wrote home trying to describe just how harsh a Canadian winter felt compared to what their family was used to.

At the Hazeley Ranch in Agassiz, British Columbia, historical weather records show average daily temperatures between –12.8°C and –3.4°C in November 1896. No wonder the Wrights were struggling to adapt to life in Canada!

By comparison, England’s average daily temperature in November 1896 was a much milder 6.9°C. The difference was dramatic and their letters capture that shock perfectly.

Hazeley

Agassiz, B.C.

November 22^nd, 1896

My dearest mother,

I expect that my last letter will not reach you before this one, as till last night there have been no trains for eight days; there has been a bad slide and a washout between here and North Bend, & a wash out between here and Vancouver. Eighteen people have been staying at the Bella Vista at the expense of the C.P.R.; two trains have been at North Bend & one at Kamloops, three went through here last night & two today, besides freights and a cork train.

The snow has come much earlier than expected, it has been very cold, hard frosts all the time, as far as I know it has not been down to zero, but it is like Manitoba weather, I suppose it won’t last though.

Last Monday I worked in Agassiz, there had no been much snow there, but the road between here & the track was very bad. I had lunch with the Agassiz’s & then walked in to see Mrs. Jemmett.

On Tuesday there was to have been an entertainment at the Oddfellows Hall given by a travelling company; so the two boys went to dinner with the Agassiz’s to go with them. Mr. George & I had tea at home & drove up afterwards, the roads were dreadful, in many places there was a good deal of water over them just covered with ice, which let us through. We weren’t able to go faster than a walk anywhere except a few yards.

When we got in we found the company had not arrived, so we went to see Mrs. Inkman. She had quite a party there of people who like ourselves had come to the entertainment. Mr. Date, Mr. Lenman, Miss Probert and two Miss. Allan’s. We played a game, had two dances, & then came home. The company came up on Thursday, there was a train as Agassiz from Vancouver that day, but the leading lady is ill so the performance has not come off yet.

On Friday afternoon, Mr. George drove me up to the Springs to call on Mrs. Farwell. We drove in a sleigh, it was much better than our last drive, but still the ice let us through in places, we came back by the station to get some meat, it was bitterly cold. Today I walked in to church, Cecil rode, & has not come back yet. He had lunch with the Agassiz’s & went back there for dinner; Harold never will go to church, well that is not quite correct as he has been three times since we came to the country.

The boys are so aggravating sometimes, I find it very hard to keep my temper with them, they will sit up so late at night, & they will get up so late in the morning, I don’t think Harold has been up before nine for weeks, I do wish Harold could get something else to do, I don’t believe he & Cecil will be able to run a place together, they are forever bickering & Harold is so horribly lazy, he won’t do a stroke of work he can get out of doing any way.

If only he could get into a store or something. Another train has just gone through, I wish Cecil would come home, he has got the mail, & there must be a good deal.

Mr. George went to the station last night & got the pail from the first through train. Please thank Father for my money which came by it.

I am tired to-night, it is —- in snow & I have been pretty busy lately. Will you give Mrs. Herman congratulations from me about her baby, & my love to Miss Herman if she is still there.

It is not far off a year since we left home, how time does fly.

Very much love,

Your affectionate daughter,

May Wright.

November 29, 1896

My dearest Mother,

The trains are nearly right again now, those from the east are not on time yet but they come through the right day; we have had a very cold spell for a long time now, really cold. Cecil says you would not believe it if we told you how cold, if I leave any water in a saucer in the stove at night it is frozen. Actually solid in the morning. The water wash in when I get up is frozen until after breakfast with the windows shut; I wear my fur cap for driving & I pull it down like I did in Manitoba. Everyone says this weather can’t last, but it has every appearance of doing so, We all drove up to the station on Monday evening, to see if the entertainment was coming off but it didn’t & now the company have gone way.

On Wednesday evening, Mr. George & I went to the Farwell’s at the Springs we had most exciting times getting there. First not far this side of Mr. Gibson’s there is a grade with deep ditches full of water on both sides, or the middle of its grade there was a wagon stuck, there was no way of getting round except by going on the ice on one of the ditches Mr. George said he thought the ice would bear but I had better get out in case it wouldn’t so he started to lead Maggie across the ice & in the middle it gave away and she went in up to her neck well Mr. George got her out & unhitched her & then managed to turn the rig but we could get past the wagon.

He said he wouldn’t give it up if I wasn’t afraid to go on, so we turned back & went along the mountain road, when we got half way, we came to a tree fallen across the road, so Mr. George tried to move it but couldn’t again I had to get out & he made Maggie pull the rig over it. Coming back we thought he wouldn’t t— any risks so we left the rig at Mr. Gibson’s & led Maggie home by an old trail there is which we thought would not be good enough to drive over.

On Monday next, Mr. George is going serve a dinner party at the hotel, I believe only ourselves & Dr. & Mrs. Farwell & Miss Jameson (Mrs. Farwell’s cousin). To- morrow Mrs. Farwell & Miss. Jameson are coming to lunch with us. The songs arrived for Harold to-day. The ___ songs are very nice but the coming songs are not what I meant; I wanted one of their regular comic song books with the popular song in it, “The Tin Gee Gee” “Her Golden Hair” “Down the Road” “Jack Jones” of course there are great mixtures in all the books. Dorothy asks me to make a list of the photographs I have of hers. I really can’t find it is difficult to describe them. One I haven’t got is the one of the insides of the Church decorate. You won’t forget about a photograph of Dorothy some time will you.

With much love,

Your affectionate daughter,

May Wright.

Be sure & tell me all about the Wood’s next visit & how you like them, I am sure you will like Nellie. I wish she could be with you for some dam—, I should like her to have a good time and get to know the people at home.

Hazeley,
Agassiz,
Nov 29^th, 1896

My dear Father,

We have had an opera troup here for the last 10 days, every day they have promised to preform the next till the day before yesterday when they all went away in a freight train without giving a performance at all. It turned out that they all quarreled so badly that they had to go home.

Mrs. Farrell and a girlfriend of her’s came out to have lunch with us to-day, and George has asked them and us to go have dinner with him at the hotel tomorrough night, we are going. We go the new magazine “The Lady’s Realm” to-day and we all it very much, but we should like to have the “ballmitton” instead of “Atalanta” which we do not care for much. I am stuck for anything to say so I must quit (here in the mayel — and you would think you were in Canada again) but I intend to try and be better about writing. Good night with heaps of love,

From

Harold

Snow Causes Train Delays

About 1:30 o’clock this morning a train came in bringing a number of delayed passengers who have been detained up the tine for several days. Amongst them were Messers R.G. Tatlow, A.G. Thynne, F.S. Barnard, Drs Turnstall, Dachesney, and W. Farrell. Having seen no prospect of getting down for several days, the arrivals last night walked across the slide to Spuzzum where the train was sent up from here to mee them. Messers. Tatlow and Thynne were the “pioneers” in this tramp, they having left North Bend on Thursday morning. The track was then clear for 10 miles west of North Bend and they were conveyed to the slide on a rotary plough.

Then they started on their tramp of some 18 to 20 miles. They state it was over the roughest road they had ever travelled. The snow in several places is about three feet deep and has frozen solid, but the worst difficulties were the slides, crossing which was far from pleasant, as the Fraser was below and a false step would probably send one into its icy waters. Alpine climbing was almost child’s play to this trip.

At Spuzzum they expected to find a train waiting, but as some 25 more had decided to set out the following day (Friday) they had to wait there for them. By this time good progress had been made in clearning the track, and they had only to walk 10 miles.

They state that the C.P.R. officials are doing everything possible to get the track clear, and it is hoped to get a train through to-night or to-morrow. Superintendent Marpole and Assistant Super Intendent Downe are on the spot and have large gangs of men at work.

The rotary plow is doing good work though the snow has frozen almost as solid as a rock. There are at the present time some 150 people “stranded” at North Bend, while many more are staying over at Kamloops. The people are staying in the train at North Bend are being boarded at the C.P.R. hotel. All who arrive last night speak in terms of praise at the treatment they are receiving at the hands of C.P.R. officials, who are doing everything possible to make people comfortable.

No mails were brought down by this train owing to the lengthy transfer. Amongst the passengers detained at North Bend is Mr. Justice King, of the Behring Sea Commission, who has his wife and family with him and is thus obliged to wait till the train gets through.

Daily News Advertiser
Saturday, Nov 21, 1896 – Page 8

The Fraser River

The Fraser River, British Columbia’s longest river, flows directly past Agassiz and has shaped life in the Fraser Valley for thousands of years. In 1896, when the Wright siblings were writing their letters from Hazeley Ranch, the river was a vital transportation corridor, a source of food and trade for Indigenous communities, and a powerful natural force that influenced farming, settlement, and daily life.

Its seasonal flooding, shifting channels, and icy winter conditions were constant reminders of how closely early settlers lived with the rhythms of the land. Including the Fraser River in the Wrights’ story helps bring their 1896 experiences—and the landscape that shaped them—to life.

Below are two historical photographs taken of the Fraser River near Agassiz in 1929, captured during a rare period when the river was completely frozen.

Explore More Pioneer Letters and Stories

If you enjoyed these letters from June and July 1896, you might also like:

• Letters from Hazeley Ranch: Daily Life in 1896 Agassiz and Harrison Lake
• Harold Wright’s July 1896 Letter: A Drowning in the Prairie
• Life on a Pioneer Farm: The Wright Family’s First Planting Season in Canada

These firsthand settler letters offer a rare look at daily life in 1890s British Columbia, from gold mining rumors to cattle ranching, hospital work, and the realities of farming on the frontier

This post was all about what winter in Canada was like for the Wright siblings in 1896.

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