• Rates and Terms
  • Recent Comments
  • Current Posts
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Admin Login

Admin Login

oliver Daily news

NEWS
bistro
  • Home
  • BC Press Releases
  • CBC Top Stories
  • Handy List
  • Free EVENTS
  • Free CLASSIFIEDS
  • April 23, 2018
  • banner o lake
  • banner flood
  • banner creek
  • sand bags
  • closed banner
  • wow banner
  • area race banner
  • sikh
  • ban blos
  • banner gof
  • banner rocks
  • ban
  • springs and falls banner
  • road closed ban
  • meyer banner
  • banner
  • andy banner
  • testy ban
  • banner truck
  • wine one
  • bluff
  • hard hat banner
  • golf banner
  • banner waldy truck
  • easter banner
  • banner cross
  • banner bluff
  • matt banner
  • rural banner fire
  • early spring

Hauling freight in the South Okanagan

April 17, 2018, 9:44 am

Residents of early Penticton, who documented life at the turn of the century, estimate that there were eighty four-horse and six-horse freight outfits supplying the mines to the south from the wharves in Penticton. This is about the same number of eighteen wheelers operating in and out of Penticton supplying goods to the city today.

J.A. Nesbitt stated, “The town was alive with freighters and freight teams, four and six horse, and pack trains intermingling on the dock. The night was lurid with campfires; loaded wagons were placed where possible to leave road space ready to pullout in the morning. The hotel did a roaring trade.”

There was a high status to being a freighter but the life was difficult. Most of the teams that stayed out were tied to the wagon. The teamster slept under the wagon. Then, early in the morning the horses and the teamster had to be fed. After feeding the teams were groomed and checked for sweat scalds, harnessed, and hitched to the wagon. Most freighters prepared for the trip by loading heavy machinery and equipment into a high wheeled freight wagon with few, if any mechanical lifters.

Some of the names of the freight outfits who had multiple wagons were the Bassett’s and Gillespie’s of Okanagan Falls, Dave Innis of Keremeos, and Garrison’s of Princeton. Some single wagon outfits were Gerry Clark of Green Mountain and the Brent’s of Shingle Creek.

The first day to Fairview near Oliver, was spent navigating the sand hill behind the Catholic Church on the Indian Reserve. Teamsters often doubled up their teams to haul the wagons up this soft sandy slope. The switchbacks were most difficult due to the tight turns. Larger wagons would unhook the teams at tight corners, then drag the wagon straight, then re-hook and proceed to the next switchback. The trip was shortest through Twin Lakes and could be completed in 2 days with 4 changes of horses.

A trip to the Nickel Plate Mine at Hedley was four or five days, depending on how many horses were needed to navigate the old Green Mountain Road. The stage coach to Princeton took six days.

Local Native ranchers provided many of the changes of horses along this route and were involved in the breeding and training of many of the teams. The first draft horses were from the wild mares of Marron Valley crossed with imported stallions. These tough little mustangs that had escaped from the early Hudson’s Bay Company fur brigade pack trains, and had multiplied, were the foundation of stock for many early horse ranches. The Clarks of Green Mountain had two stallions crossed with these mares; the offspring of one was used as a draft animal and the other as saddle stock. Frank Richter of Keremeos imported a Percheron stallion from France and raised premium draft animals. Many other horses were brought in from the prairies.

Working horses needed good hay and grain. Locally the Native Band supplied hay from their sub irrigated meadows near the river. The Brent’s of Shingle Creek grew hay and grain and had a horse operated baler.

The coming of the Great Northern railroad, first to Keremeos in 1907 and to Hedley in 1909, carried concentrated gold ore from Hedley directly to the smelter at Spokane. Up to this time the concentrate was taken by teams and wagons to Trail and then shipped by American rail to the smelter. By the time the CPR reached Penticton in 1915, the horse freighting boom was all but over.

Of course, draught horses were still used on farms or for logging and other industries. But the day of that dedicated horse freighter, who perched himself high on his wagon seat, guiding his teams around obstacles in the road, was over. Sometimes, the wind on the Apex road will carry the jingle of bells hanging from the harness nigh leader, reminding us of a forgotten highway.

 

Source: Brian Wilson, achivist, editor of Archivos – www.oldphotos.ca

2 Comments

Comments

  1. Graham kearnon says

    April 17, 2018 at 7:42 pm

    The first working horses in the area were used along with mules starting in 1811 on the fur brigade trail. They were used as pack animals. Infact park rill creek is named for the Carrol based at twin lakes. It is parcrill in French

    Reply
  2. Laird Smith says

    April 17, 2018 at 11:26 am

    Wonderful accounting of those early days. The laborers of those days got the work done in spite of the obstacles.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

H & R Block

h and r block

weather

Nunes Pottinger

nunes-pottinger

Oliver Pharmacy

oliver pharmacy

3 Bar Construction

3 bar construction

Ace

ace

Lakeside Travel

lakeside travel

riverside


riverside

Buy Low

buy low

alan

alan

SOICS

soics

Underfoot

albertos
Phone Alberto 498.6988

Alberto’s

Brighten the House albertos

oliver car and truck


olivercar

Venables Theatre

venables

Gerards

gerards

Interior Savings

interior savings

Oliver Country Wines

oliver country wines

Superior Trades Services

superior trades

paul petersen

petersen

ez rental


ez rental

Christine Hewitt

christine Hewitt

Edward Jones

edward jones

Valley First

valley first credit union

PRJ Contracting

pjr contracting

strike security


strike

visual telecom


visual

Newstart

newstart

ez storage


ez storage

Swiss


swiss

Park Drive Massage

park drive massage

maika


maika

medical

medical

ag foods

ag foods

Oliver Ready Mix

oliver ready mix

terratek

terratek

East side reflex

eastsidereflex

Quail Security

quail security

plante

plante

Parks & Rec

parks and rec

Oliver Theatre

oliver theatre

argon revised

argon

amos

century21

Casorso

casorso

ez bins


ez bins

Eastlink Curling Centre

eastlink curling centre

bctf

bctf

Archives

Find a post by the date

April 2018
S M T W T F S
« Mar    
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  

pappas

bistro

SEARCH HERE:

argon left

argon

Park Drive Church

Phone 250.498.2322
park drive church

catholic

church

Valley Congreg Church

valley congregational

oliverkiwanis.org

oliverkiwanis

hwy to healing

highway

Oliver Elks Lodge

oliver elks

Comments

  • Lawrence Green on Bluffed
  • rocky lundy on Sunday photos – a contest
  • Work Russell on Sunday photos – a contest
  • Marie Brown on Free Classifieds
  • neil seidler on Bluffed
  • Gary Kennedy on Free Classifieds
  • sue harvey on Free Classifieds
  • Lance Soare on This is illegal !!
  • Stan Marshall on Afternoon spent sand bagging and shoring up a creek in Oliver
  • Cynthia Watson on Free Classifieds
  • Cynthia Watson on Free Classifieds
  • Marigje Toepfer on Events Page
  • Norm escott on Afternoon spent sand bagging and shoring up a creek in Oliver
  • Cathy Smith on Free Classifieds
  • Pat Whalley on Report on meeting – April School District #53
  • Marjo Koskinen on This is illegal !!
  • Kelly Wheeler on Free Classifieds
  • Marjo Koskinen on This is illegal !!
  • JAGMEL SINGH SIRA on Free Classifieds
  • Megan Allen on Events Page
  • Ron Pivovar on This is illegal !!
  • Michael Bannon on Free Classifieds
  • Jeff Parent on Deer population is in decline – lack of wildfire to blame
  • Norma HOLT on Report on meeting – April School District #53
  • Stuart Syme on This is illegal !!
  • Keith Johnson on by Pat Whalley
  • Richard Walks on Free Classifieds
  • Patrick Hampson on This is illegal !!
  • Shirley Ross on Free Classifieds
  • Georgena Forsythe on This is illegal !!
  • Richard Simmons Jr. on This is illegal !!
  • Mike bannon on Free Classifieds
  • Brenda Shaw on by Pat Whalley
  • Marcie Dumais on Community volunteers honoured
  • Mike Monaghan on by Audrey MacNaughton
  • Roberta Stubbs on Free Classifieds
  • Ray Odland on Free Classifieds
  • Kyle Martin on Council to discuss “new” smoking bylaw Monday
  • Cathy Smith on Free Classifieds
  • Al Stewart on Free Classifieds
  • Patrick Hampson on by Pat Whalley
  • Ed Greenwood on Free Classifieds
  • Sandra Smith on Events Page
  • Patrick Hampson on Council to discuss “new” smoking bylaw Monday
  • Charmaine Embleton on Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Dave Whalley on by Pat Whalley
  • Al Stewart on Free Classifieds
  • Mandeep Brar on Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Barb Z on Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Dave Drought on Updated story – RDOS to allow more water into Willowbrook
  • Dave Drought on Open Air Burning Ban in Effect for RDOS
  • Kim Nesbitt on Free Classifieds
  • Stan Marshall on Afternoon spent sand bagging and shoring up a creek in Oliver
  • Steve Staresina on Free Classifieds
  • Steve Staresina on Free Classifieds
  • Steve Staresina on Free Classifieds
  • Steve Staresina on Free Classifieds
  • Maureen Sparrow on Free Classifieds
  • Dawn Brooks on Free Classifieds
  • Maureen Sparrow on Free Classifieds
  • Maureen Sparrow on Free Classifieds
  • Maureen Sparrow on Free Classifieds
  • Ed Machial on Open Air Burning Ban in Effect for RDOS
  • Ron Pidduck on Free Classifieds
  • joan nunweiler on Open Air Burning Ban in Effect for RDOS
  • Michelle Weisheit on Disaster – is financial assistance available?
  • Gail Blidook on Trepidation
  • Alan Ogden on Disaster – is financial assistance available?
  • Dorothy A Taylor on Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Hella Prochaska on Crime wave?
  • Shawn Madge on Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen on Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Rocky lundy on Do you remember him?
  • Jeanette Riches on Updated story – RDOS to allow more water into Willowbrook
  • Jodie Lewis on Events Page
  • Arthur Riome on Trepidation
  • Patrick Hampson on Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Sandra Smith on Free Classifieds
  • Julie Wolter on Free Classifieds
  • Terry Beddome on Arts club in Oliver supports those who chose ability!
  • Germain Miller on Do you remember him?
  • Donna strelioff on Free Classifieds
  • Richard Simmons Jr. on Do you remember him?
  • Cathy Smith on Free Classifieds
  • Brenda Bond on Free Classifieds
  • Cathy Smith on Free Classifieds
  • Kayce Kelly on Free Classifieds
  • Kelly Riome on Free Classifieds
  • Ed Machial on Drug treatment fears aired at hearing
  • Bob Morgan on This could be a story about…
  • Roger McKay on Noise from Area 51 ??
  • Cathryn Pidduck on Arts club in Oliver supports those who chose ability!
  • Marlene Bolenback on by Brenda Shaw
  • Maureen Bott on Arts club in Oliver supports those who chose ability!
  • Jean Roux on by Ron Peace – a work of art
  • Graham kearnon on Hauling freight in the South Okanagan
  • Megan Allen on Free Classifieds
  • Patricia Burns on Free Classifieds
  • Megan Allen on Drug treatment fears aired at hearing
  • Ed Machial on Is this practical?

cbc link

cbclogo

So photos

so photos

Blogroll

  • Oliver Community Arts Council
  • Town of Oliver

The one you turn to

Submit your banner photos, news items or contact Publisher

oliverdailynews at gmail.com

ODN is published daily

Mailing Address:
PO Box 686 Oliver, B.C., V0H 1T0

No phone contact
No downtown office location

Current Posts

  • Freshet to begin this week ?
  • Sportsman’s Bowl area – roads in danger
  • Sunday photos – a contest
  • Community benefits from Rotary Auction
  • Bluffed
  • 100 ladies
  • On the Sunnyside
  • by Mike Monaghan
  • Think about it with Joseph Seiler
  • MLA thanks volunteers
  • OIB evacuation order – rescinded – cancelled – no more
  • Updated: Sportsman’s Bowl – # of homes “that have been evacuated” scaled back to 12 properties
  • Update – Evacuation at Sportsman’s Bowl complete at 9am
  • Forest Services attempting to shore up properties on Hwy 97
  • Eagle eye on Fairview Mountain
  • Tactical evacuation of Sportsman’s Bowl
  • Golf course hit by mud and water….again
  • Burning the midnight oil at the Legion
  • OIB order rescinded less than 24 hours later
  • Report on meeting – April School District #53
  • Next week – let’s wake up the plants at community garden
  • This is illegal !!
  • Deer population is in decline – lack of wildfire to blame
  • Community volunteers honoured
  • Council to discuss “new” smoking bylaw Monday
  • Transit systems in South Okanagan to be run by established firm
  • Down the aisle
  • by Pat Whalley
  • Secrest water levels go down – reducing risk – says RDOS
  • 1 hr later – another call same home/farm
  • Afternoon spent sand bagging and shoring up a creek in Oliver
  • Letter to the editor
  • RCMP report
  • Not very often – do you see the Hwy cut open
  • Spirit of Oliver awards to be granted Friday
  • by Audrey MacNaughton
  • Health care training – 12 new Okanagan College seats for Oliver
  • Open Air Burning Ban in Effect for RDOS
  • Disaster – is financial assistance available?
  • Award – best welcome to Oliver
  • Do you remember him?
  • Tuesday May 1st – supper hour – tribute to Greg Norton
  • Helping 101
  • Sand, bags, machines, sweat and help from many areas
  • Trepidation
  • This could be a story about…
  • by Ron Peace – a work of art
  • Arts club in Oliver supports those who chose ability!
  • Oliver Parks – another year starts afresh
  • Hwy 3A open – one lane alternating- at Yellow Lake
  • Drug treatment fears aired at hearing
  • Have some fun – watch or get involved!!
  • Hauling freight in the South Okanagan
  • Road closed – local traffic only
  • Hwy puddle – rain pool, creek or broken pipe?
  • Work continues at Secrest Hill Rd. – Firefighters hand out evacuation alerts
  • Notices were delivered to:
  • Hotel workers’ camp plan faces obstacles
  • Osoyoos drug recovery plans abandoned
  • Hey kids – playground equipment being installed
  • by Sandra Smith
  • by Tom Szalay
  • Open letter to RDOS Emergency Operations Centre
  • by Brenda Shaw
  • Word of the day: Saturated
  • Have you visted the “area” ?
  • WOW – Women of Oliver – cash awards, entertainment and a new project
  • by Marion Boyd
  • Something to ponder
  • Crime wave?
  • Preparing – Okanagan Lake – successful draining
  • Updated: Pumps running – hoses charged
  • Rainy weather
  • Update : Sunday opening maybe at Yellow Lake
  • Vaisakhi – the birth of Kalsa tradition (Sikh religion)
  • by Pat Whalley
  • by Audrey MacNaughton
  • Think about it with Joseph Seiler
  • by Marion Boyd
  • by Henry Wiebe
  • Community Connections – RCMP report
  • by Wendy Newman
  • Down the aisle
  • Update: Osoyoos dons jerseys for Humboldt
  • Alert
  • Housing group seeks help from the town
  • Update: “we use a canoe to get home” – Green Lake
  • Town of Oliver seeks funding to prevent canal problems at Tinhorn
  • Cause and effect – Reed Creek culverts spilling over
  • Is this practical?
  • On stage in Oliver
  • Drainage assessment underway to reduce risk
  • Mapping water sources – connected to flooding
  • Back at the ‘Bowl’
  • by Marjo Koskinen
  • by Tara Hovanes
  • by Robert Seiben
  • Notice
  • How do I get out of here?
  • R we controlling the geese – too well ?

Copyright © 2018

  • Home
  • About
  • Tip Line
  • CBC Top Stories
  • BC Press Releases
  • Handy List
  • Events
  • Free Classifieds
  • Recent Comments
  • Current Posts
  • April 23, 2018