Good morning everyone. It's off to Wyoming. The most favorite cache is an Earthcache. 'Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone' GC10HZW. Placed in January, 2007, it has been found 5,999 times and has received 849 favorite points. The oldest cache is 'Won Wyo' GC3B5. Hidden in March, 2001, it was found 23 times with the last find being in 2002. It was archived in 2003, although someone claimed to have found it in 2011. Oldest active cache is 'Bridger-Teton Cache' GCD7E. Hidden in June, 2001, it has been found 118 times (it has a D/T rating of 4/3) and has received 53 favorite points.
Earlier this year, I was awarded an Adventure Lab. I knew what and where I wanted my Adventure Lab to be, but didn't know how to go about setting it up. After meeting up with Peter of Peter & Gloria (local geocachers), where I got an Adventure Lab 101 guide, I was ready to get this project under way. My original plan was to do this in the Spring, but the pandemic hit and that delayed things. Also delaying my ability to set up my Adventure Lab was my moving. I wanted to set it up in the neighborhood where I was living. There is plenty of history in the neighborhood and I wanted to showcase that history. Now I have to make a special trip back to get everything set up. This week, we are going on a virtual walk around what use to be home for me.
Long before Winnipeg became a city, or even Canada became an official country, the surrounding lands were being settled by European immigrants, looking to start a new life. Fur trapping and trading was one of the major commodities at the time. The area which is now known as downtown Winnipeg was known then as the Red River Colony. In 1814, the colony was run by Miles MacDonell, on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The North West Company (NWC) was the competition. It was in 1814 that Miles MacDonell issued the Pemmican Proclamation. This basically restricted the export of pemmican, which was a main food source at the time from the Red River Colony. The NWC took exception to this and accused the HBC of monopolizing the fur trade. Miles MacDonell resigned his position in 1815 and was replaced by American businessman Robert Semple, who had no experience with the fur trade. It is believed that Robert Semple made the situations between the colonists, the Metis, the fur traders, and the NWC worse.
On June 19, 1816, Metis leader and NWC clerk, Cuthbert Grant lead a party of about 60 mounted Metis and First Nations men past an HBC blockade on the Assiniboine River, to set up a blockade of their own on the Red River. They were trying to avoid the Red River Colony, but were spotted from HBC's Fort Douglas. This fort no longer remains, but the ground that it was situated on is along Waterfront drive in downtown Winnipeg. At about 7:00pm, Governor Semple and 28 men went out on foot to confront Cuthbert Grant. Both groups were expecting trouble, but neither was looking to start a fight. Governor Semple caught up with Cuthbert Grant in the area that is known as Seven Oaks, now a neighborhood on the North side of Winnipeg. Angry words were exchanged and a shot was fired from one of Semple's men. This touched off a battle that lasted fifteen minutes, but it left Governor Semple and 20 of his men either dead or dying. The battle was a defining moment in the history of the Red River Metis. The settlers at the Red River Colony gathered their belongings the day after the battle and sailed North, leaving the Metis and the NWC in charge of the settlement.
Today, an obelisk monument sits in a park at the corner of Main St. and Rupertsland Boulevard, along with plaques depicting the history of what occurred over two hundred years ago. Six blocks North of the monument and slightly to the East is an elementary school named after Governor Robert Semple. Just three blocks North of the school is a residential street also named after the late Governor.
(Monument at the Battle of Seven Oaks)
(Governor Semple Elementary school. Both my boys attended this school)
Moving forward in time, and to the East of the Battle of Seven Oaks monument is one of the oldest surviving homes in Winnipeg. Seven Oaks House. Built between the years 1851-1853, this was the home of John Inkster, a prominent merchant at the time, and his family. The house is built primarily with oak logs, with a stone foundation. Next to the house is the General Store. The store was built between 1826-1831 as a two-room cottage, it is the oldest building in Winnipeg. It is a rare example of Red River frame architecture. The house was lived in by the Inksters until 1912. It opened as a museum in 1958. You can see more of the museum and what it looks like inside here > Seven Oaks House Museum
(Seven Oaks House)
Making our way back to Main St. and just North of the Battle of Seven Oaks monument is Bleak House. This house also used the same Red River frame style of construction as Seven Oaks House. Constructed in 1874, it was the home to long-time sheriff Colin Inkster, the son of John Inkster. The last member to live in the house was Colin's daughter, Sybil, who passed away in 1973.
(Bleak House. Located on Main St and Seven Oaks ave)
The last stop on my Adventure Lab is two blocks East of Bleak House. A tiny neighborhood park that seems very ordinary. This little park was renamed Volunteer Park after the flood of the century in 1997. It is in honor of the many people who helped make sandbags and erect dikes along the river bank to prevent the rising Red River from flooding the homes across the street from the park and all along the street in both directions. It is also at this park where you will find a flood pole. Three years are indicated on this pole to give you an idea of just how deep the floodwaters were at that location, during that specific year. The year 1826 is near the top of the pole, followed by 1950 half way down. This is what early settlers had to contend with by living close to the Red River. Back then, the river was the main transportation route.
(Flood pole at the corner of Seven Oaks ave and Scotia st)
That is a tour of my former neighborhood. I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour. If you happen to be in the area, take the time to do my Adventure Lab and see everything up close. Until next time, be happy, stay healthy, be safe, wash your hands, wear a mask, and most importantly, have fun. Peace out.
As the kitties get bigger, their personalities come out. Sassy is the adventurous one.
Tinkers is the instigator.
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