The Journey by Bill Gallaher

Author:Bill Gallaher
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-926971-37-7
Publisher: Touchwood Editions
Published: 2011-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

THE ROAD TO TÊTE JAUNE CACHE

Does the road wind uphill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.

Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?

From morn to night, my friend.

Christina Rossetti, “Uphill”

FORT EDMONTON TO TÊTE JAUNE CACHE

JULY 26–AUGUST 31, 1862

Fort Edmonton, though built of wood, was on a par with Fort Garry as far as size and importance were concerned, and was the hub of these far western plains. In addition to its role in the fur trade and as a provisions depot for travellers, it was where most of the boats plying the river had been built, and it boasted of one feature that Fort Garry could not: the “Big House,” otherwise known as “Rowand’s Folly.” It stood three storeys high, measured 30 feet wide by 80 feet long, and was chock-a-block with small-paned windows. Porches trimmed both the front and rear. Inside, in addition to Rowand’s living quarters, were a gentlemen’s mess and the only ballroom in the Northwest.

Later that evening McMicking, dry at last, sat in the gentlemen’s mess with George Brazeau, temporary master of the fort, while William Christie was away, and over some of the HBC’s finest brandy, listened eagerly to the story of the house’s builder.

“John Rowand,” Brazeau said, “was the Chief Factor here from 1823 to 1854, and the Company has not seen the likes of him since. He was a huge man in both size and personality. The fort was suffering financially when he arrived but he soon had it showing a profit again. One of the first things he did was impress the Indians with the Company’s importance by building the Big House. They had never seen a building so large, and they’d never seen glass before. He’d had it imported in molasses barrels to prevent breakage and the Indians were completely enthralled by it.

“As a young man he was stationed at Fort des Prairies and one day, when he was out riding alone, the horse threw him. He broke his leg and couldn’t move. Luckily, a young country-born woman had seen him go off and was concerned when his horse returned riderless. The animal led her to Rowand and she managed to get him back to the fort where she cared for him until he was fully recovered. Her name was Louise, and he married her a short time later.”

Brazeau sipped some brandy, then continued. “They both loved parties and held many here in the Big House. They also shared a love of food and, like Rowand, Louise weighed well over 300 pounds. Their daughter Margaret was even heavier, and when the three of them were on the same floor it creaked and groaned in protest. The servants below were afraid that the family would crash through!

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.