Victoria Post Journal

The following are from the Victoria Post journal, presumably written by Charles N. Garson, the clerk from 1890 - 1892. Spelling is of the era.

 

December 1890

Monday 1  Very little snow as yet and have no bad weather so far. river still open down here but cloud at the upper part of the settlement and people are able to cross. Tupper arrived from Ft. Sask.
Tuesday 2 Still fine no fur coming in of any kind.
Wednesday 3 A little older last night and appears as it was going to snow
Thursday 4 E Anderson and Simon Whitford off aross river hunting a little snow fell to day. Mail arrived. OBrein in from Saddle Lake.
Friday 5 Mild. River still open in some places
Saturday 6 Blew hard last night and cold. Thomas off to Long Lake to see Indians.
Sunday 7 Cold today again. Thomas back from Indian camp. Mrs. Gairdner in from Lac La Biche with Peter Pruden.
Monday 8 Fine day. Thawing. Mrs. Gairdner and Peter Pruden left for Edmonton with wagons.
Tuesday 9 Man in from Lac La Biche with Mrs. Gairdners effets. Rained all day
Wednesday 10 Snowed heavy all last night. Cromartz in from Edmonton with coal oil. Thomas and Simon left for Beaver Lake. Still snowing.
Thursday 11 Cleared up today. Hemlin passed up to Edmonton.
Friday 12 Another fine day. OBrien arrived from Edmonton using Buckboard reports roads bad. Had first drive with sleigh. Some parts of River not frozen.
Saturday 13 Fine day again nothing doing old Hawk brought in a few furs.
Sunday 14 Cold and quiet.
Monday 15 Went up to Wahsatnew after a little furs Mail left for Ft Sask Clophas Norn left for Edmonton fine day. Thomas arrived from Beaver Lake getting a good many Bears out in that quarter.
Tuesday 16 Victoria freight arrived at Edmonton James Norn and Fred Rowland in with some freight for here and White Fish Lake.
Wednesday 17 Started for a trip to Saddle and White Fish Lakes.
Friday 19 Returned from White Fish Lake had Fine weather the Indians not killing much fur
Saturday 20 Tuppers Freight passed Through for Saddle Lake. Mr. Ross and daughter left for Saddle Lake.
Sunday 21 Cold and stormy with a little snow some sleighs in from Edmonton had to come down by the River. 
Monday 22  Coldest day of the season. Hemlin in from Edmonton Some sleighs left for Lac la Biche
Tuesday 23 Another cold morning. Man in from Saddle Lake last night. Arthur Stenheaur in from White Fish Lake.
Wednesday 24 A fine day Sleighs in from Edmonton with goods for Post reports roads bad and times dull at Edmonton.
Thursday 25 Xmas day went to church very dull around cold day
Friday 26 Arthur started for White fish Lake. Some indians in from the long Lake have not killed much furs.
Saturday 27 Warm to day and some rain in the evening. Andrew Whitford left for Edmonton.
Sunday 28 Some snow fell to day blowing hard from the North.
Monday 29 Fine day nothing doing very dull Mail left for Ft. Sask.
Tuesday 30 Still fine. no arrivals as yet for the new years.
Wednesday 31 The old year is going out with a smiling face. Some Indians in from Moose and Egg Lakes very little Furs been caught this winter. Pierre Okennes brought in 2 fine silver foxes. Some of the people are moving around taking in the New Year. its kind of wet.

        January 1891

Thursday 1 A fine day for this time of the Year. Most of the people are out driving their fancy slays making the place have an appearance of a large town but no money around. a big dance this evening at McGillverys and everybody has to attend. Mail arrived
Friday 2 Long sleep this morning after the dance    a fine day
Saturday 3 A fine morning most of the people started for their Homes this morning leaving the place in its usual quiet state.
Sunday 4 Another fine day. dull and quiet
Monday 5 A little colder today   Most of the young people off to a dance at Egg Lake. Peter Pruden arrived from E.
Tuesday 6 Stormy and Cold   very little of any thing doing in business    Peter Pruden left for La la Biche.   Snowed all day.
Wednesday 7 Milder today Mcrea arrived from White Fish Lake on a tour of School Inspection for Indian dept.
Thursday 8 Man in from Lac la Biche sent mail off by him   fine warm day.   Mr. Mrea's man left for Onion Lake.
Friday 9 Mr. McRea left for Edmonton   McGillvery goes along with him   fine weather.
Saturday 10 Got word of a Blk Fox caught at Beaver Lake will send after him   Mild to day. Made out requisition 91.
Sunday 11 Mild   Andrew left for Beaver Lake. a little snow this evening.
Monday 12  Very Mild  thawing all day  No arrivals   Mail left for Ft. Saskatchewan.
Tuesday 13 Colder to day. Andrew in from Beaver Lake got Selver Fox  Ross in from Saddle Lake with Patrol party   Ingran and Pere Merrier in from Edmonton.  Snowing tonight.
Wednesday 14 Coldest day of the season    wind from North with a little snow   2 Indians in from the woods north brought in a few furs
Thursday 15 Very Cold to day again    Mail arrived in afternoon
Friday 16 Not so Cold to day    People all off to Egg Lake for a dance at Browns
Saturday 17 Old Hawks House burned down last night    Mild to day   nothing to note occured.
Sunday 18 Very quiet   fine mild day.
Monday 19 Fine Mild morning   Snow soft    looks like spring.    nothing doing.
Tuesday 20 Another fine day   John Whitford in from Beaver Lake reports furs very scarce
Wednesday 21 Still fine weather   Simon McGillvery in from Edmonton reports the price of all kinds of Furs risen.
Thursday 22 Very fine weather   nothing doing of any kind   most of the people has been out at Egg Lake assisting Old Hawk building a house to replace the one burned down   Messrs German and Batty in from Saddle Lake.
Friday 23 Thomas and Robert started to Little White Fish Lake for Fishing this morning   a fine day.
Saturday 24 Another fine day   this is one of the finest winters that I have seen in the country   Young Erasmus in from Good Fish Lake
Sunday 25 Another fine day quiet
Monday 26 Garsen left for Saddle and White Fish Lakes   fine morning.   Andrew Whitford taking care of the place
Thursday 29 Garsen arrived back from White Fish Lake   snowed all day   wet and getting cold towards evening.    James Erasmus in from Edmonton   Mr. Ross in from Saddle Lake Mail arrived from Fort Sask.   Old Harry House died very sudden Yesterday.
Friday 30 Cold and stormy to day   Mr. Ross left for Saddle Lake   commenced to take stock
Saturday 31 Very cold to day  Some people in from Ft Saskatchewan.  No bussiness of any kind doing.

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