The first Fort Pelly, built by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1824, was destroyed by fire in 1842. The company rebuilt on the same site but this fort also went up in flames in 1856. They rebuilt the third structure on higher ground to avoid being plagued by flooding, but yet conveniently close to the Assiniboine River. Old records or folklore tells us that the fort was guarded by two cannons, but if there is any truth to that, it was not substantiated in the more recent history. The nearby tribes of Saulteaux and Cree were on friendly basis with Fort staff, some of them were hired as hunters to help stock up on provisions to feed staff, visitors and traders. Even though Fort Pelly was off the beaten trail so to speak, being north of the more travelled Carleton Trail, it was nevertheless a well frequented place. It was handy for the trappers and traders of the more northern parts of the territory. When the river was high, it could be reached by a few steamboats from the Red River country. Records tell us that after the 1870s, steamboats relied on firewood suppliers living on Cote and Keeseekoose Reserves. The fort held its importance until 1871, when Fort Ellice to the south became a more popular stopover. When settlers arrived in the 1880s,and 1890s, Fort Pelly carried many supplies much needed by farmers and ranchers, and even merchants of emerging villages and towns. It was closed down in 1912.
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton Archives,
Box 400, 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]
