The Kitchen - 1925 through 1940
The kitchen was the centre of family activity in the early 1900s. The kitchen stove was used for heat and cooking. It was also used to heat bathwater, bricks, and irons.
Homesteaders around Fort St. John did not have access to electricity until the 1940s. They depended on their stoves and products such as the pyramid shaped toaster. This toaster, on the upper shelf of the stove, was placed on the stovetop to toast bread.
Water was brought in from a well, creek, or dupout as few rural families had indoor plumbing.
Vintage Metal Ice BoxThis ice box on display is rather small and space is limited. In the lower portion the shelve is perforated, and the bottom is a solid base. Typically the inner walls are enameled metal lined.
Though the upper compartment, with a hinged lift up door, shows milk bottles inside, this compartment was used to hold large chucks of ice that was delivered or picked up from the local ice house, During the winter some homesteaders harvested ice from local ponds and lakes.
This example of an early metal ice box has been well used but is complete. Note the forged iron ice hooks displayed on the edge of the upper compartment.
Fort St. John North Peace Museum
From its humble beginning officially opening on February 16th, 1984, it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.
Currently, it is a large museum that can keep one occupied for several hours.
As you wander about the grounds visiting historic buildings moved onsite and a plethora of machinery related to the oil and agricultural industries. One item impossible to miss is a 136 foot tall oil derrick which last worked 143 miles up the Alaska Highway.
Inside the main building, as you enter, is this guest book and be sure to sign the guest book. The exhibits, which deal with all aspects of the Fort St. John area, from the local geology to the local Native peoples to the founding of the first settlement to oil and agriculture.
There is a large display area devoted to "Life on the Homestead". Featuring a old wood stove, several washing machines, ice box and a large display of small kitchen items that would be found in most kitchens.
Also offered by the museum are Educational Programs, Guided Tours, Scavenger Hunts, and Pre and Post Visit Activities.
Fort St. John
The original Fort St. John was established as Rocky Mountain Fort in 1794, making Fort St. John the oldest white settlement in mainland British Columbia. In 1942, Fort St. John became field headquarters for U.S. Army troops and civilian engineers working on construction of the Alaska Highway in the eastern sector.
Fort St. John has a population of about 21,000 residents and is the largest city in Northeastern BC. It is situated along the world-famous Alaska Highway. Fort St. John is located at Historic Milepost 47 of the Alaska Highway, 47 miles north of Dawson Creek where Mile 0 is located and marks the beginning of the Alaska Hwy.
Fort St. John is known as The Energetic City for their large resource base of oil, natural gas, forestry and agriculture.