In 1916, William McRae made the decision to combine his passion for flying with his duty as a soldier. He leaves his family’s farm in Agassiz, British Columbia, and travelled to Vancouver to begin his miliary training. These letters from William McRae, a Royal Flying Corps pilot from…
A handwritten account of a Mount Cheam hike isn’t something you expect to find on official government letterhead, but that’s exactly what I came across in the archive at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum. At first it seemed to be a simple story of a hike of Mount Cheam, however,…
Family tension was high as not everyone was pulling their own weight to make their farm run smoothly. The Wright letters from Agassiz April 1897 show us what life was like for those settling in the Fraser Valley. This post examines a series of letters written in April…
It is winter after the New Year for the Wright family in Agassiz, British Columbia. Continuing their story from New Year in Canada, 1897, these letters show how daily routines, winter labour, and community life resumed as January turned into February. This post explores This post explores how…
For the Wright siblings, New Year’s in Canada in 1897 meant new beginnings with the neighbours and friends, farming adjustment to make it through the winter, and hopes for their future in Canada This post explores how the Wright family experienced their first New Year’s season in Canada…
This post is all about the Wright siblings first Christmas in Canada in 1896 and how they brought their English traditions to their small community. The Wright’s First Christmas in Canada Christmas in Canada in 1896 looked very different for the Wright siblings than what they had known…
In May’s letters from December 1896, she shares how settlers in Agassiz, British Columbia gathered for the Odd Fellows Ball: an all-night social event that offered warmth, music, and connection during a long Fraser Valley winter. In two letters home, May Wright describes dancing until dawn, winter travel…
Follow along the journey of the famous Bride Ship – the SS Tynemouth – as it sailed from England to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This post is all about the journey of the men and women of the SS Tynemouth in 1862. Among them a man who would…
Planning a road trip through British Columbia? If you’re a history lover, don’t miss these top historic places to visit between Vancouver and Hell’s Gate. From a pioneer museum to Gold Rush landmarks, this route through the Fraser Canyon is rich in BC history and perfect for anyone…
Follow along with the British Columbian settlers, Wright siblings, as they build a new life in Canada while farming on the land their parents had rented. Each week, they write back to their parents in England, updating them on how farming is going and everyday lifein Agassiz, British…