Fort Steele, British Columbia

About

Fort Steele is a heritage site in the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. This visitor attraction lies on the east shore of the Kootenay River between the mouths of the St. Mary River and Wild Horse River. The locality, on the merged section of highways 93 and 95, is by road about 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of Cranbrook and 230 kilometres (143 mi) southeast of Golden.

In 1864, John Galbraith arrived to prospect for gold on Wild Horse Creek but soon switched to more lucrative business opportunities. Later that year, he was granted a charter for a toll ferry across the Kootenay River, commencing in the new year. John also established a general store, which with the ferry, greatly profited from the early goldfield traffic to the Fisherville mining camp. He sent for two of his brothers and his two sisters with their families. Marrying Sarah Larue, John, and his brother Robert Galbraith (known as R.L.T.), purchased land at Joseph's Prairie (later called Cranbrook), where John operated a ranch from 1867. Horses could ford the river about 370 metres (1,200 ft) downstream from the ferry, which crossed by the mouth of the St. Mary River. The ferry charter was renewed in 1871, 1876, 1880, and 1882. The ferry could carry livestock, but did not appear to have the capacity for a wagon. The annual ferry licence, which was initially $500, was lowered to $200 by 1867, because most miners had abandoned the creek for brighter prospects. In 1874, Robert Galbraith took over the operation, which continued until replaced in 1888 by a lift span bridge. The 1894 flood destroyed this 140-metre (450 ft) structure, which was superseded by Howe truss approaches and an opening span. The 1909 bridge had three spans, the western one being a Howe truss. The 1934 bridge comprised three Howe trusses. When the highway was realigned in 1966, a concrete span was chosen.

Once the crossing became known as Galbraith's Ferry, the place assumed the same name. In 1887, Superintendent Sam Steele arrived with a detachment of the NWMP to defuse tensions between settlers and local First Nations. No actual fort existed, but the police compound, erected that year, had the appearance of a fort, because of the few windows. Four constables did not survive the typhoid that struck the contingent. In 1888, the community adopted the rename of Fort Steele.

Early supplies came in by pack train from Walla Walla, Washington. A wagon road northward to Canal Flats opened in 1886. In summertime, the Golden–Fort Steele passenger service encompassed riverboat, tramway and stage modes. In 1895, a wagon road to the Elk River was completed, providing a link with Montana. By the late 1890s, two riverboat companies served the Jennings, Montana–Fort Steele run. From 1898, a jitney service connected with the Eager train station. The highway, which followed Main St, was diverted to the present position in 1965.

In 1864, the population numbered over 3,000, but five years later, few remained, except the numerous mosquitos in summer. By July 1888, the NWMP had been reassigned to Fort Macleod and the detachment buildings abandoned. The settlers, who numbered about 11 Caucasians and 60 Chinese, occupied the few buildings by the river. Chas. Clark was the inaugural postmaster from 1888 to 1897. In 1892, the commercial centre comprised the government buildings, a hotel, and two stores.

In 1894, the townsite was surveyed, Miss Adelaide Bailey became the inaugural teacher, and two hotels were erected. By 1895, Fort Steele was developing into a mining centre. That year, a mining association formed, and the Prospector, the local newspaper, was founded. The infrastructure included two general stores, three hotels, and a sawmill. In 1897, an annex was added to the Dalgardno Hotel, five further hotels were opened, and the Government Building was erected. On the ground floor were three cells and a courtroom, while upstairs were several offices. Also opened were a hospital, opera house (which soon became a men's club), and a Roman Catholic church. Across the river, warehouses and a bottling plant sprang up. Several new business premises were added to the town, which joined the US telegraph network. A Board of Trade was established. During the first six months of that year, the population grew from about 300 to 3,000. In 1898, a 91,000-litre; 24,000-US-gallon (20,000 imp gal) water tank was placed atop a 15-metre (50 ft) tower, water mains were installed, a volunteer fire department was founded, and a Presbyterian church erected. When the railway bypassed the town, the exodus of residents began. The Anglicans bought a surplus school building for a church. Henry Kershaw opened a general store and ice cream parlour. In 1899, W.A. Prest established a photo studio.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.