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It was a very good yearIt is the year 1915. Al Huble and his partner Ed Seebach have been traders working from the head of the Giscome Portage for 11 years. Three years ago Al married and brought his new wife and her two children to the portage. He built a new solid squared log house and continued to run a thriving business trading, freighting goods and farming. This exhibit will bring you to the Giscome Portage to experience what our early settlers and entrepreneurs experienced by telling the whole story of a single year at the portage, a place which is today know as "Huble Homestead". The story is told using documents, interviews, and photographs which include both historic photos and special photos taken at the portage that were "set up" just for this project. So get ready, relax, and enjoy A year in the life of Huble Homestead: 1915
Every season was chock full of things to do. Freight was hauled all year round. Spring time saw new visitors, riverboat freight to haul and repairs to the portage. Summer was spent tending the garden, as well as the store and trade from stations at Giscome Portage, Summit Lake and McLeod Lake. Fall was harvest time, pulling the last wagon loads of freight, setting up the animals for the winter and hiring the people of the First Nations to help with all of this as well as helping to build new buildings. In the winter the homestead/trading post received many visitors. Transportation was by dog team, Seebach and Huble also ran a trap line and actively traded furs.
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Al Huble's Diary Spring 1915Sunday 21st March, 1915 Stayed at home. McLeod Lake Ingins [sic] came tonight. Fine warm day.
Monday 22nd Worked at the new barn. Archie Allen came to the store. Fine bright day.
Tuesday 23rd Worked at new barn. Fine bright day.
Wednesday 24th Put up rafters on new barn. Fine bright day.
Thursday 25th Worked at new barn. Jack Smart came to store. Fine bright day.
Friday 26th Made shakes for new barn. Bright day.
Saturday 27th Blazed line from here to Newton's ranch. Fine bright day.
Sunday 28th Came home from Newton's Ranch. Fine bright day.
Monday 29th Made shakes. Bert and Edwards went to Willow River to get on voter's list.
Tuesday 30th Made shakes for barn. Bert and Edwards returned from Willow River.
Wednesday 31st Made shakes. Some showers of rain.
Thursday April 1st Made shakes in morning. Worked in blacksmith shop in afternoon. Wet day.
Friday 2nd Made shakes. Ice went out of Fraser today. Heavy rain.
Saturday 3rd Worked at new barn. Wet day.
Sunday 4th Shod horses. John and Anna was [sic] here for lunch. Fine day.
Monday 5th Worked at new barn. Gus and Odell came to trade furs.
Tuesday 6th Stayed at home. Worked at new barn. Frenchmen came from lake. Fine day.
Wednesday 7th Worked at new barn. Wet day.
Thursday 8th Worked at new barn. Fine windy day.
Friday 9th Worked at new barn. Fine day.
Saturday 10th Hauled up scows from Fraser and worked at new barn. Dutch Albert and partner arrived.
Sunday 11th Stayed at home. Albert and partner started for Parsnip. Fine bright day.
Monday 12th Shod horses and worked at chicken house. Some rain in afternoon.
Tuesday 13th Fixed chicken yard and done some road work. Starting for Prince George tomorrow.
Wednesday 14th Walked to Willow River and went into Prince at night. Fine day.
Thursday 15th Done business in Ft. George. Fine day. Came to Willow River in evening.
Friday 16th Came home from Willow River with Jacobson, fur buyer. Fine bright day.
Saturday 17th Tended store. Ed went to Willow River with Jacobson. Fine bright day.
Sunday 18th Stayed at home. Took Carrigan across the Fraser. Fine bright day.
Monday 19th Cut fence poles. Ed returned from Willow River. Fine cool day.
Tuesday 20th Cleaned up yard and worked in store. Stewart and party came with furs. Fine bright day.
Wednesday 21st Cleaned up yard and around barn. Baker came back today. Fine day.
Thursday 22nd Launched motor boat and built fence. S. Carrigan returned. Fine bright day.
Friday 23rd Hauled fence poles. Bought furs from Stewart's party. Fine day.
Saturday 24th Got ready for carrots. Shorty Webler [Webber ?] arrived at the portage. Fine day.
Sunday 25th Went out and burned brush where cut barn logs. Fine day.
Monday 26th Plowed carrot ground. Ed started for Ft. George with furs.
Tuesday 27th Sowed some peas and worked in store. Fine day. Slim Coward arrived.
Wednesday 28th Harrowed and sowed peas. Tried out motor boat at night. Fine day.
Thursday 29th Sowed and harrowed wheat. Bought beaver from Ft. George Siwashes. Fine day.
Friday 30th Harrowed in wheat and worked in store. Billie Fox, Jack Dormchue [Donahue ?] arrived.
Saturday May 1st Prepared ground for strawberries and carrots. Fine day.
Sunday 2nd Stayed at home. Mr. Wright and party was here for dinner. Fine day.
Monday 3rd Harrowed new ground for oats. Ed brought one of Odell's engine's.
Tuesday 4th Sowed barley. Ed and Bert sowed carrots and burn [sic] Bridge Creek meadow. Fine warm day.
Wednesday 5th Sowed and harrowed oats. Bud Sweet [?] and Ed started for Ft. George. S.S. Quesnelle came today.
Thursday 6th Harrowed oats and worked in store. Ed returned from Willow River.
Friday 7th Picked up roots in morning. Took German's load to lake in afternoon.
Saturday 8thRolled oat field and worked in store. Motor boat went upriver. Fine day.
Sunday 9th Took load of fertilizer out to Anna. Worked in store. Fine day.
Monday 10th Put away machinery and unloaded motor boat. Cool wet day.
Tuesday 11th Blew out stumps. Bert took load to lake for fire warden. Wet day.
Wednesday 12th Stayed at home. Harrow potato ground. Dutch came up. Fine day.
Thursday 13th Harrowed potato ground. Dutch crossed the portage. Cool windy day.
Friday 14th Took load across portage for Stewart and partner. Constables here today. Fine cool day.
Saturday 15th Worked in blacksmith shop. Ed and Bert plowed. Cold windy day.
Sunday 16th Stayed at home. Fixed wagon seat. Fine cool day.
Monday 17th Worked at wagon and sowed timothy seed. Fine cool day.
Tuesday 18th Picked up roots. Adams arrived from upriver. S.S. Quesnelle came. Cool day.
Wednesday 19th Worked at potato ground and sowed 1 acre of oats. Fine cool day.
Thursday 20th Worked at potato ground and cut seed. Ed Graham came with hay. Fine day.
Friday 21st Worked at potato ground and in store. Ed, Bert, and Woods went down river.
Saturday 22nd Hauled off roots and cut potato seed. Baker went home tonight. Wet day.
Sunday 23rd Stayed at home. Painted signs. Ed returned from Willow River. Wet day.
Monday 24th Worked at potato ground. John Sannis came to help. Fine warm day.
Tuesday 25th Worked at potato ground. S.S. Quesnelle arrived in morning. Some rain.
Wednesday 26th Marked ground and planted potatoes. Fine day.
Thursday 27th Took load across portage for old Frenchman and partner. Wet day.
Friday 28th Finished planting potatoes. Got ready to go to meadow. Fine day.
Saturday 29th Moved seed grain and outfit over to Ed's ranch. Some rain.
Sunday 30th Picked up roots in morning. Went fishing in the afternoon. Fine bright day.
Monday 31st Sowed the oats on Ed's ranch. Ed came here and had supper. Some rain.
Tuesday June 1st Dug ditch and came home. Fine day.
Wednesday 2nd Sowed some carrots and wrote letters. Collin's boats arrived.
Thursday 3rd Went to Willow River on Collin's boat. Fine day.
Friday 4th Came home from Willow River. Ed went up river.
Saturday 5th Took load to the lake for one-armed Jim Masingell. Fine day.
Sunday 6th Stayed at home. Motor boat returned with freight. Fine day.
Monday 7th Hauled up freight from river. S.S. Quesnelle came up. Fine day.
Tuesday 8th Shod horses. Wet day.
Wednesday 9th Left home at 10 o'clock. Towed boat up Fraser toThomay Creek. Wet day.
Thursday 10th Went from Thomay Creek to Ft. George. Met Brady on train. Fine day.
Friday 11th Stayed at Ft. George. Fine day.
Saturday 12th Stayed at Prince George Hotel. Protested Small's pre-emption today.
Sunday 13th Left Prince George at 6.20. Went to Hansard. Loaded boat and came home. Some rain.
Monday 14th Hauled cordwood. Brady went across the portage. Some rain.
Tuesday 15th Thinned carrots. Bert took 4 horse load [sic] across the portage. Fine day.
Wednesday 16th Hauled cordwood and sewed harness. Wet day.
Thursday 17th Filed saw and cut some wood. Wet day.
Friday 18th Thinned some beets in morning and got a deer in afternoon. Fine day.
Saturday 19th Cultivated potatoes. Circle W arrived. Fine day.
Sunday 20th Took load across the portage for Fetherstone Haugh [sic Featherstone-Haugh ? - Editor]. Ed went to Willow River.
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The first riverboat of the season arriving at Huble Homestead at Giscome Portage.27 August 2003
Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, North of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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Spring at Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage: 1915You have just gotten off the steamer at Giscome Portage. Ed Seebach and Al Huble are helping to unload freight along with a neighbor Shorty Haynes. This is the beginning of your stay for one year at Huble Homestead. Seebach and Huble went into business freighting goods over the Giscome Portage in 1904 and by the year 1915 they were successful businessmen. The Huble Homestead site at the south end of the Portage on the Fraser River 40 kilometers north of Prince George boasted a general store, two barns, a warehouse, several cabins and a comfortable squared log house for the family of Al and Annie Huble.
Al is just finishing the building of a new barn and looking forward to seeing the first of the riverboats come in with freight after the spring thaw.
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Reconstructed letters about Annie Huble's life and character by museum researcher, Darla Dickinson.2003
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Reconstructed letter about the life of Annie Huble, written by museum researcher, Darla Dickinson.2003
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These letters written by museum researcher, Darla Dickinson, are based on research into Annie Huble's life and character. There are no known letters written by Annie that exist today. The letters show the work required in each season and cover the years from 1912 to 1916.Each season begins with one of these imaginary letters from Annie Huble
Mon. April 28, 1913
Gis. Portage
Dear Friend,
The days have flown by since I last had a chance to write, but you are continually in my thoughts and prayers. The river is breaking up and with It comes an increased number of chores. Spring could not have arrived at a better time as I have recently given birth to another little girl. Ada has not yet met her as she is away at school. Al has stuck close to home lately and It has been nice to have him close with the arrival of another child.
We have moved into our new house, the change was a bit of a shock. I am very happy. Spring is a busy time for us, and the animals need to be curried. I must sign off and put lunch on for the men.
I apologize as it has been a week since I last had a chance to write. Al is heading into town and I hope to send this letter off. This past week has been quite hectic with the new baby (Martha) and preparing the root cellar. Many of our veg. Spoiled over the winter. The ground is being worked for the new gardens. Our large garden is mainly root veg. for sale on the Steamboats. They store easily, so sell well. The SS Chilco arrived today and unloaded supplies for the store. I did a count and supervised the transfer, all is in order. Stock is running low due to spoilage I suppose. Candles are selling less and less with the lengthening of the day. It is always a welcome indication that winter has almost passed. I will sign off new as I hope to plant my flowers and do a bit of gardening before I put supper on. I pray that these letters find you in good health.
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The location of the Huble Homestead, Giscome Portage and the Fraser River23 December 2003
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Huble Homestead is located at the south end of the Giscome Portage on the northern reaches of the Fraser River. When the riverboats unloaded their freight here it could be carried over the continental divide to Summit lake.All of the rivers and streams south of the portage flow into the Pacific Ocean. All of the rivers and streams north of the Portage flow into the Arctic ocean.
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Preemptor's map Fort George Sheet in 1915.1915
Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, North of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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Preemptor's map Fort George Sheet, 1915. Huble Homestead was on Lot 848 and 774 at the southern end of the Giscome Portage on the Fraser River.12
First Nations' names of the territory around Lhedesti and the northern part of Fraser River.1863
Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, North of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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First Nations place names of the territory around Lhedesti (Giscome Portage) and the northern part of the Fraser River.Lhedesti means "shortcut" and is the name that the Lheidli T'enneh gave to the the trail. The Lheidli T'enneh are part of the Carrier language group.
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Article for the Fort George Herald announcing the arrival of the B.X. at the Giscombe Portage.1915
Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, North of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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