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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 , September 21 to December 31, 1915Tuesday 21st Skinned and dressed moose and dug potatoes in afternoon. Fine day.
Wednesday 22nd Dug potatoes. Fine day.
Thursday 23rd Dug potatoes. Fine day.
Friday 24th Dug potatoes. Haines [sic] went out to Summit to get Ross. Fine cool day.
Saturday 25th Dug and took in turnips. Fine day.
Sunday 26th Went to Prince George by train. Fine day.
Monday 27th Went to court. Peterson and Harrison case laid over. Fine day.
Tuesday 28th Came home by train. Fine day.
Wednesday 29th Got ready to go after cattle. J. Adams and Mr. Wright arrived from Crooked River.
Thursday 30th Baker and I went to Ft. George with team. Fine day.
Friday October 1st Harrison and Peterson case tried today. Peterson won out.
Saturday 2nd Started for home with cattle. Stayed at Slaid's cabin. Wet cold day.
Sunday 3rd Arrived home about 4 o'clock. Cool day.
Monday 4th Hains took Martin to the lake.
Tuesday 5th Haines took Bodiker to the lake.
Wednesday 6th Plowed and got ready to go hunting. Fine day.
Thursday 7th Went across the river and gathered moss and got ready to go hunting tomorrow.
Friday 8th Got ready and went up river to 6 mile creek. Cool windy day.
Saturday 9th Went out hunting up 6 mile creek. Fixed up bunks and slept in Dutch's cabin.
Sunday 10th Finished roof on cabin and came home. Cool windy day.
Monday 11th Banked store building and plastered house. Ed and Jack Adams went to Prince George.
Tuesday 12th Put storm windows on house and fixed bridge. Fine day.
Wednesday 13th Done some carpenter work. Ceiling dwelling house. [sealing? - Editor] Baker helped. Very wet day.
Thursday 14th Worked at dining room. Baker helped.
Friday 15th Worked at dining room. Cut fence posts. Ed and Jack Adams returned. Fine day.
Saturday 16th Worked at garden fence. Jack Adams bought outfit. Wet day.
Sunday 17th Took load across portage for Jack Adams. Fine cool day.
Monday 18th Worked at garden fence and made cabbage at night. Ed took load to lake for Adams.
Tuesday 19th Stayed at home. Done odd jobs. About 4 inches of snow came today.
Wednesday 20th Sold outfit to A.G. Edwards and mad sour crout. [sic made sauerkraut] Copley and partner arrived.
Thursday 21st Worked at launch and made sauerkraut. Ed went up river after freight.
Friday 22nd Hauled stove wood. Cool cloudy day.
Saturday 23rd Hauled stove wood. Lent shovel to Charles. Wet sunny day.
Sunday 24th Got ready to start for Prince George. Ed arrived with freight from up river.
Monday 25th Built fence. Hauled freight up from warehouse. Wet day.
Tuesday 26th Came to Willow River with Jack Adams. Came on through on boat.
Wednesday 27th Worked at house in South. Fine day.
Thursday 28th Worked at house in South. Fine day.
Friday 29th Worked at house in South. Fine day.
Saturday 30th Worked at house and hauled wood. Fine day.
Sunday 31st Stayed in the South and worked at house. Fine cool day.
Monday November 1st Went to the bank. Fixed up Griffith's affair. Paid Oglevie [sic].
Tuesday 2nd Came to Willow River on train and walked home. First mail for Giscome. Fine cool day.
Wednesday 3rd Worked in office and shingled chicken house. Fine bright day.
Thursday 4th Worked at chicken house. Mild day with snow.
Friday 5th Worked at chicken house. Gust Dalsburn came to store. Cold snowy day.
Saturday 6th Was sick all day. Arthur worked at chicken house. Haynes and Ed pulled up boat.
Sunday 7th Put on storm doors. Jack Adams arrived. Bright day.
Monday 8th Worked at chicken house. Jack Adams took team to the lake. Bright cool day.
Tuesday 9th Worked at new barn. Ice running thick in Fraser. Cold clear day.
Wednesday 10th Worked at store and new barn. Jack Adams started for Ft. George. Cold day.
Thursday 11th Worked at new barn. Wright's Dutchmen called. Cold bright day.
Friday 12th Worked at barn. Wheeler and Ed pulled out gas boat. Fine day.
Saturday 13th Worked at barn. Ed finished taking out gas boat. Stormy day.
Sunday 14th Stayed at home. Ed exchanged stoves with E. Wheeler. Fine mild day.
Monday 15th Went to Willow River. Heavy snowstorm all day. Done [sic?] foot of snow.
Tuesday 16th Returned from Willow River. Fine mild day.
Wednesday 17th Went out on east side of Fraser to hunt. Mild day.
Thursday 18th Went out on east side to hunt deer. Mild day with some snow.
Friday 19th Went over and cut road to Ed's ranch. Fine day.
Saturday 20th Done some work on new barn. Ed and Mr. Arthur finished road to Ed's ranch.
Sunday 21st Stayed at home. Put up range in house. Some snow. Going after moose.
Monday 22nd Went up river hunting moose. Ed and old men hailed [sic hauled] hay.
Tuesday 23rd Worked at barn. Bright cold day.
Wednesday 24th Went out on east side to hunt deer. Perry came for medicine for Osker [Oscar?]
Thursday 25th Worked at barn. Haynes came to the store. Fine day.
Friday 26th Went over to Ed's ranch for hay. Fine cold day.
Saturday 27th Worked at new barn. Ed and Arthur went after hay. Fine cold day.
Sunday 28th Went across the river. Set two linx [sic] traps. Ed W. River.[Ed went to Willow River-Editor] Cold day.
Monday 29th Worked at barn. No. 2 Indians came across the river. Fine cold day.
Tuesday 30th Worked in store. Joe Reresaw came. Fine bright day
Wednesday December 1st Worked around home. Ed hauled hay. Mild day.
Thursday 2nd Went out on the plains to hunt deer. Mild day.
Friday 3rd Hunted deer with Baker. Mild day. Rained all night.
Saturday 4th Came home. Fixed stove in afternoon. Fine bright day.
Sunday 5th Went down Bridge Creek to look for moose. Fine mild day.
Monday 6th Moved furniture out to Sunnybrook Ranch. Fine day.
Tuesday 7th Set linx [sic] traps on east side of Fraser. Fine cold day.
Wednesday 8th Worked at barn. Snowed all day.
Thursday 9th Worked at bridge. Feeling tough today. Fine cold day.
Friday 10th Worked around home. Ed went over trapline across river.
Saturday 11th Stayed at home. Ed went across to Beans Creek to set traps. Mild day.
Sunday 12th Stayed at home. Fine cold day.
Monday 13th Fed stock. Done odd jobs. Ed carried the mail. Stormy day.
Tuesday 14th Filed saws. Going up river tomorrow. Mild day.
Wednesday 15th Went up to the hunting cabin at the mountain. Fine day.
Thursday 16th Went up the mountain and killed a deer. Fine mild day.
Friday 17th Went up the mountain and skinned and cashed [sic cached-Editor] deer.
Saturday 18th Went up to Osker's with pack. Mild day.
Sunday 19th Came home with pack of meat. Mild day.
Monday 20th Went up to Osker [sic] with sleigh. Mild day.
Tuesday 21st Went over to Avril camp. Mild day.
Wednesday 22nd Went out to Gulch cabin. Set traps and returned to Avril.
Thursday 23rd Came from Avril camp to Osker's and set lynx traps. Mild day.
Friday 24th Left King Osker's at 9 o'clock. Went up the mountain for [_____?]. Went home.
Saturday 25th Christmas at home. Fine day.
Sunday 26th Stayed at home. Mild cloudy day.
Monday 27th Hauled some wood. Ed went with mail. Stormy day.
Tuesday 28th Sawed some wood. Big Swede took medicine up to Osker. Bright cold day.
Wednesday 29th Hauled out some green wood for summer. Fine day.
Thursday 30th Stayed at home sick. Stormy day.
Friday 31st Stayed at home. Ed and Haynes hauled hay. Fine day.
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Actors recreate a fall day in 1915; a wagonload of goods is about to go across the portage1915
Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, North of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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Fall at the Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage 1915"Took load across portage for Jack Adams. Fine cool day." from Al Huble's diary October 17, 1915.
It's a cool and cloudy fall day in 1915 and Al and Ed just loaded the wagon with a great deal of freight to be hauled over the portage. These business men spend many days freighting loads of merchandise and watercraft over the portage for the Hudson Bay Company, the Forest Service, land surveyors, miners, entrepreneurs and homesteaders and others. Depending on the weather, it generally takes most of a day to haul a load and passengers over the portage with a team. The portage is rough, with wetlands to cross and mosquitoes and black flies to contend with.
Al Huble often hired First Nations people to help with many chores and tasks at the Giscome Portage. This day was no exception. The picture depicts Al Huble, walking along behind after the wagon had been completely loaded and tied down and Ed, driving the team, with a First Nations hired hand, going along to help with the rough trip over the portage.
The portage commenced directly at the Huble homestead on the Fraser River and ended at the south end of Summit Lake. The barn, built in 1915 can be seen in the background while Ed pulls away with the team of horses. Most freight hauled over the portage for the business partners Ed Seebach and Al Huble, ended up in the Peace River area, which was being developed and settled in the early quarter of the 20th century.
The fall was a busy time for Al and Ed with loads of freight to be off loaded from the sternwheelers that traveled up and down the Fraser River. The freight was either directly loaded to teams of horses and carts or stored for a time in the warehouse that Al and Ed had built in 1910. Other duties to perform in the course of a typical fall day were tending the trading post, working the many fields of crops, constructing one of the many large buildings at the site, guiding travelers through the Giscome rapids on the Fraser River, tending to the many animals at the homestead or one of the many other chores that needed to be performed at the portage. Fall can be a beautiful time of year in the north with the crisp clean air and the leaves on the trees and shrubs in the forests turning colour. The Huble's and Ed Seebach were an industrious lot as each day brought a litany of chores and tasks to fulfill. So off Ed goes with another load, as Al stays behind this day at the homestead to tend to many other pressing matters.
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Ed Seebach, Al Huble, Native helpers and others are setting out for a trip accross the portage.August, 2003
Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, North of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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Reconstructed letter about the life of Annie Huble, written 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 of the seasons begins with one of these imaginary letters.
Sept. 14, 1912
Giscome Portage BC
Dear Friend,
I awoke this morning to the sound of the river and rain falling onto our small cabin. Quarters are cramped and I admit I scarce have time to write. The experiences gained growing up on a farm serves me well here! As of the last letter I was expecting our first child. Bertha Bernice has recently celebrated her first B-day. I just finished putting a pot of stew on for the men. They fear the rain may damage much of the yr's harvest.
The house is nearly completed and sits upon a small rise over looking the river. It is of sturdy construction. Recently Al has headed to Quesnel to visit Ed (his partner) who is in the hospital. The time he was absent was quite hectic, as a lot of land prospectors stopped here to restock. The small cabin that houses the store is quite cramped, but I made it through!, and met a number of wonderful people in the process. Customers arrive at various times throughout the day, and we have all been busy with their needs.
Well dear friend I fear I have taken up to much of your time already, I must get back to preparing the root cellar, as the garden is coming out shortly. We had an amazing crop this year, with p'toes far exceeding our expectations. Write back dear friend when you can, as I do enjoy the news from home.
Yours Faithfully,
Annie Huble
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Reconstructed letter about the life of Annie Huble, written by museum researcher, Darla Dickinson.2003
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Nov. 9, 1915Dear Friend,
Snow is falling with increasing intensity, trapping us all within for the time being. Supper and the dishes are done, and Al is with the kids. This actually reminds me of Al's run in with the bears. When the snow ceases I am hoping to make it over to the Wiley's for a visit. Business and visiting crawls to a stop when winter arrives. This summer my neighbour and I spent a great deal of time together, picking berries and what not (Mrs. Sanna's).
On September 6, 1914 we had our third daughter, Mrs. Radke the midwife was present. As well, Al, Bertha and I went to the fair in town. Al took 1st prize for his grain.
May 6, 1914 (Black Ink)
I just found this letter as I was looking at last years receipts. May 1, 1916, I had another little girl. Spring is here and it is hectic, our new store is built - but we lost the post office.
Yours,
Mrs. Annie Huble
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Commissioned painting of John Giscome at Summit Lake. Painting is done by Richard Estey11 January 2004
Summit Lake, British Columbia, Canada
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John Robert GiscomeThis painting done by artist Richard Estell is a depiction of the following scene described in the Weekly British Colonist in a article entitled "Interesting From the Rock Mountains: Notes of a Prospector from Peace, Tribe and Smoky Rivers -- Good Diggings Found." dated December 15, 1863.
"Subsequently on the first lake after leaving the Fraser, Mr. Giscome was engaged in writing a few notes of what he had seen..." The first lake after the Fraser River would have been Summit Lake where Huble built a warehouse in 1912.
Behind John Giscome are his two Native guides who showed him "Lhedesti" (the shortcut), the name of the portage before it became known as the Giscome Portage. The third man is Henry McDame John Giscome's partner.
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THE GISCOME PORTAGEHISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Introduction
The Giscome Portage is a route approximately nine miles long which joins the Fraser River with Summit Lake, providing access to a water route system known and used by the Indians of the area, and was investigated by the North West Company during the fur trade period. However, it did not come into prominence as a transport route until the discovery of gold in the Omineca/Peace River area in the 1860s created a demand for quick and efficient access to the goldfields. It remained as the main northern access route until 1920 when it became obsolete with the construction of a road from Prince George to Summit Lake. Today, the southern portion of the portage is still intact, however, the northern portion (Summit Lake end) has been obliterated by the construction of the Hart Highway. The map of the Giscome Portage shows its location in relation to the Upper Fraser River, Summit Lake, and Fort George.
Historical Background of the Giscome Portage
Alexander Mackenzie was the first non-Native to pass through the central interior of BC on his historic overland trek to the Pacific coast in 1793 Mackenzie descended the Fraser River by passing the south end of the Portage on his way to the West Road River and to Bella Coola.
It was not until the early 1800s, when the Natives showed the early explorers alternative routes to the coast, that the portage became more commonly known. Simon Fraser, in his letters and Journals of 1806, refers to some of the routes as described to him by the Natives. One, known as the "Middle Road", was a short portage that led from Summit Lake to the Salmon River, a tributary of the Fraser:
"…The Indians informed us of another road that lead(s) into the Columbia (Fraser) which is much shorter and more safe than the one we came by. It falls in a little below the Knights (Sir Alexander Mackenzie's) first encampment on the Columbia (Fraser). It is a fine navigable River, with no great current and a report says that there is only a couple of miles at most from the other lakes…Mr. McDougall has now directions to ascertain the truth of it, which if exact, will not only shorten the passage but render it perfectly safe…"
James McDougall apparently did investigate this route and others, as subsequent letters refer not only to the above-mentioned "Middle Road" but also to another occasionally used route known as the "New Road". Writing to John Stuart, another Northwest Company employee, Fraser mentions this road,
"I now inform you of a plan I have in view for the summer expedition…to get all the goods required…to Nakazleh (Stuart) Lake as soon as possible on the ice. By going round by the New Road when the navigation is open would cause the loss of much time and I expect that the ice will break up in the River (Nechako) nearly a month before the Lakes of the Mountains."
The Giscome Portage was not recognized as a viable route until the 1860s when a demand arose for a more convenient passage to the northern gold fields of the Peace River and Omineca districts. The first miners heading into this area from the Cariboo used a route from Quesnelmouth up the Fraser River to Fort George, then up Stuart's River to Fort St. James. From Fort St. James the Hudson Bay Company pack trail led to Fort McLeod providing access to the Omineca and Peace River region. Miners seeking a more direct rout depended on native guides familiar with the territory. Two of these miners, who were among the first to explore the northern region's prospecting potential, were Henry McDame and John Giscome.
Henry McDame and John Giscome were part of the great influx of miners who came to the Cariboo in 1858. Both were native West Indians: McDame from the Bahamas and Giscome from Jamaica. They spent some time in the Quesnel mouth area and pre-empted adjacent properties. Their partnership was to continue for many years in various mining endeavours in the Cariboo, Omineca and Cassiar districts. It was during one of their exploration trips to the Peace River region that their Native guide led them over the portage. They set out from Quesnel mouth in November of 1862 with the intention of taking the Fort St. James route to the north. Traveling by canoe up the Fraser River, they found their way blocked by ice and were forced to winter in Fort George. It was not until April 22, 1863 that they were able to proceed. Over the winter they had heard from the local natives of another route utilizing the Salmon River Then with their native guide they again headed up the Fraser River to the Salmon. To their disappointment, ascent of this river was impossible as the water level was very high. Their guide then suggested an alternate route.
"…40 miles further up the Fraser, from whence they made a portage of about 9 miles to a lake, leaving the canoe behind. They have procured a fresh canoe from an Old Indian Chief and…crossed the lake which was about 25 miles wide…"
When utilizing various lakes and streams they reached Fort McLeod, where they were greeted with a salute of 30 shots in honour of their arrival by a seldom-used route. From there they continued on their extensive exploration tour of the Peace River traveling as far as Forts St. John, Dunvegan and the Smoky and Red Deer Rivers. They then retraced their steps to the Finlay River where they commenced mining. In late October, with the first snowfall, they returned to Quesnelmouth via the Salmon River. Encouraged by the success of their trip, John Giscome wrote a lengthy report for the Victoria British Colonist which was printed the following December. Shortly after he and McDame returned to the Omineca Area where they were involved in various mining ventures, there, and in the Cassiar district for many years. Giscome eventually returned to Victoria where he died in 1907, leaving a considerable estate. McDame stayed in the Cassiar district and although his death has not been recorded, he probably died there around the turn of the century. Both men have been commemorated as place names in British Columbia; Giscome in Giscome Portage, Giscome Rapids, Giscome Canyon, and the former sawmill town of Giscombe; McDame in McDame Creek, Mount McDame and McDame Lake.
It is unlikely Giscome and McDame were the first miners to use the portage, as the 1863 BC Directory mentions the existence of an alternate route to the Ft. St. James one, probably the portage.
"…it is, however, asserted on good authority that a much nearer road can be taken, and McLeod's Lake reached from the Fraser without going round by Fort Stuart."
By 1871, with the increased traffic over the portage, pressure was brought on by the government in the form of a petition for improvements. This petition was addressed to Anthony Musgrave, Governor of British Columbia and the Legislative Council and contained 399 signatures. It described the potential richness of the region and decried the lack of funds expended by the government on any exploration. The difficulty of access was driving the price of provisions up, thereby frustrating further private exploration and mining. The petitioners then went on to request a sum of $30,000 be set aside in the estimates to improve various trails in the Omineca and to construct a "…wagon road across the "Giscome Portage".
Accordingly, on February 26, 1871, John Trutch received a letter from the Surveyor General instructing him to proceed to Quesnelmouth for the purpose
"…of making a reconnaissance of the "Giscome Portage" and directing the construction of a wagon road across the same"
Trutch reached Quesnelmouth on March 12 and remained there for three days. On March 15th he set out on his reconnaissance in company with G.B. Wright, John Grant, W. Dalziel, W. Bouche and four Natives. They traveled by toboggans pulled by dogs, as the ice in the river made travel by canoe impossible. The party reached Fort George on March 19th, where they remained for several days, sending the Natives on to the portage with provisions.
Trutch and his party finally reached the portage on Monday, March 27th, after a difficult trip in snowy and windy weather. The following Wednesday they completed a round trip across the portage to Summit Lake and back, following an Indian trail nine miles each way. A few days later the party set off for Fort McLeod. However, bad weather and lack of provisions forced them to return to the portage camp, except for John Grant who continued on to Fort McLeod and Germansen Creek, returning later to help oversee the building of the wagon road. Trutch then set up a permanent camp and remained there for over a month making a reconnaissance of the area and receiving supplies for the road building. In his journal he mentions the arrivals and departures of miners traveling on the Portage but had little success inducing any to stay to work on the road. Finally on May 8th the work began.
"…I started the work with three (3) men, the party being increased to twelve (12) during the course of the week. I had estimated that with a force or from forty (40) to fifty (50) men I should be able to complete the road in five (5) or six (6) weeks…but I was never able to collect more than twenty one men (21): the general average strength of the party being about fifteen (15) or sixteen (16)."
"It was with great difficulty also that I was able to keep any men at work as they were most restless and anxious to push on to the mines and it was only their inability to obtain provisions and supplies that forced them to remain. The work was consequently carried on under great discouragement."
The actual road construction proved to be more complicated than had been originally thought. The ground was exceedingly wet and forming wetlands, thus necessitated much corduroying and bridging. Heavy rains and swarms of mosquitoes plagued disgruntled work crews on the portage. Many of the men gave up in disgust and deserted for the more imagined lucrative Omineca gold fields.
As the project ran considerably past its time, John Trutch had to leave for Victoria before the completion.
"…I was fortunate enough to succeed in inducing the Foreman, Mr. John Grant…to remain until the completion of the road."
In his final report Trutch estimated the total cost of the construction of the wagon road to be $9,070.00.
In 1875, Dr. Alfred Selwyn, who used the road on an exploration trip for the geological Survey of Canada, remarked that the Portage had been abandoned in favour of the Stuart Lake route. This assertion was certainly incorrect. Although the Stuart Lake route had remained in use, many miners, freighters and government officials, such as Peter O'Reilly, continued to use the portage. Selwyn, in his report, went on to contradict himself when he described the Hudson's Bay Company's use of the route.
"The Hudson Bay Company…(sent) a wagon and horses up from Fort George to convey their goods over the six miles of road. We were very fortunate in finding the wagon and horses still there; had we been one day later we should not have done so, and to have "portaged" our canoe and boat without their aid would have been an arduous undertaking. As it was, two trips of the wagon sufficed to take everything to the other side, and in doing this we were kindly assisted by Mr. Seymour, who had come up with two Natives from Fort George to take the wagon and horses down for the winter."
Dr. Selwyn went on to recommend that the route from Fort George via the portage, Pine Pass and thence to the Smoky and Athabasca Rivers be "more carefully examined" as a possible railroad route. This "careful examination" was carried out many times by various government and private agencies such as the CPR, other private railway ventures, and return visits by the Geological Survey of Canada.
Despite the frequent use of the portage, there was little or no permanent settlement in that area prior to the turn of the century. A reference from a secondary source indicates Peter Dunlevy established a post by in 1873, at a time when he was apparently operating trading excursions to the Peace River district via McLeod Lake.
In July of 1906 an area where the portage crossed was surveyed and set out into district lots. Of these lots, only two showed any buildings, D.L. 774 and D.L. 848.
The south half of D.L. 774 was pre-empted sometime before 1906, by A.G. Hamilton, who was reportedly operating a store. The survey of his property shows a house and garden adjacent to the trail, and an "old building" further up near the river-bank. Hamilton does not appear to have occupied the site for many years as he later pre-empted property in Prince George and by 1912 his Giscome Portage property was pre-empted by Edward Seebach who likely was in possession of it earlier.
Edward Seebach and Albert Huble were trappers who, in 1904, decided to open a trading post at the Portage. Whether they took over Hamilton's operation is not known, however, this seems likely. In early 1905 Albert Huble pre-empted D.L. 848 located south of D.L. 774. The 1906 survey shows a house and clearing as improvements, although the pre-emption record mentions "buildings". Certainly by 1910 he had erected some substantial ranch buildings, including a large log house and trading store.
"Giscome Portage… runs in a westerly direction for about 7 miles from the Fraser River to Summit Lake…Messrs. Hubble
As other pre-emptions were taken up in the area and further north, the Portage became a more popular route. Steamboats operating up the Fraser made regular stops to accommodate travelers and the Huble-Seebach operation became a supply centre, with a warehouse at the Summit Lake end, and a store at McLeod Lake. They also operated a freighting service over the portage, although not all travelers who availed themselves of this service were pleased. A visitor to the portage, Hulbert Footner, wrote in 1912 of his impressions of the settlement and its occupants;
"After several false discoveries Giscomb
"It transpired that the storekeepers at Giscomb
Seebach and Huble carried on their trading and packing operation for several years, while also maintaining their own homesteads. They even for a brief period had a post office. Many travelers passed over the portage in the intervening years, miners, surveyors, journalists, government officials, and adventurous travelers.
"Another party arrives…two members of the United States Biological survey on their way into the North Country. They have come down the Fraser from Tete Jeune Cache in a magnificent Peterborough canoe loaded with specimen cases and other paraphernalia."
With the northern part of the Province opening up to settlement, a faster and more efficient transportation route was required. By 1911-12 a wagon road was under construction from the community of Fort George (now Prince George) to the Giscome Portage settlement, and was completed by 1916. This was a temporary measure utilized for a few years only until a rough road was put directly through to Summit Lake in 1919.
"On the Summit Lake Road a four-mile diversion was opened up and graded, giving a more direct route to this important lake, which is the commencement of navigation to the Peace River Country."
This effectively put an end to the use of the Portage route and Seebach and Huble's operation. The store closed about 1920 and the property was eventually acquired by Mrs. Josephine Walker Mitchell to become part of the extensive WM Ranch. It wasn't until 1952 when the Hart Highway was completed, that Summit Lake Road, and Summit Lake itself, lost importance as a transport route.
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Drawing by Kathleen Angelski showing construction of the Giscome Portage wagon road in 1871.2001
Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage on the Fraser River, North of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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