Dog Creek: A Place in the Cariboo

Nora D.S. Robins is co-ordinator of Internal Collections at the
University of Calgary Libraries.

In 1862, Billy Barker struck gold in Williams Creek in B.C.’s Cariboo
country. One of Canada’s major gold rushes followed as thousands of
hopeful individuals streamed into what soon became known as Barkerville.
By the mid–1860s, the population of Barkerville exceeded 10,000, the
largest population north of San Francisco. The inhabitants required all
the necessities of life and could afford quite a few of the luxuries.

It was a challenge for the packers who supplied everything the town
required. The freight wagons, pulled by horses, mules, or oxen, required
good winter feed. It was found at such places as Soda Creek, Alkali
Lake, and Dog Creek. In each of these places, small settlements
developed.

J.S. Place arrived in Dog Creek in the early 1880s to find a thriving
settlement of several hundred people. He proceeded to build a hotel,
store, cattle operation, sawmill, and flour mill. J.S. was the
author’s grandfather.

Hilary Place lived in Dog Creek for over 40 years. He decided to write
about his family, his friends, the early pioneers, and his life as a
rancher, trucker, storekeeper, and musician. The stories, written for
his grandchildren, are told with humor and affection.

Dog Creek is history at its most informal. Reading the book is rather
like sitting by the fire and listening to stories recounted by a man who
loved living in this remote part of the Cariboo. The black-and-white
photographs bring additional life to the stories.