Stagecoach North

A History of Barnard's Express

By (author): Ken Mather
ISBN 9781772033090
Softcover | Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Book Dimensions: 6 in x 9 in
288 Pages
$22.95 CAD
E-Book Price: $12.99 CAD

About the Book

An in-depth look at the origins and operations of a pioneering transportation company that moved people and goods across the province throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

At the height of the Cariboo Gold Rush, demand for an efficient transportation route to and from the goldfields was reaching a point of desperation. With a lack of reliable roads to traverse the vast and rugged BC landscape, delivering food, mining equipment, and mail to the newly built gold rush towns was a constant challenge, not to mention the logistics of transporting people. This book tells the fascinating story of one company that attempted to connect the province at an unprecedented time of growth and change.

Barnard’s Express (1862–1878), later known as BX or the British Columbia Express Company (1878–1921) reflects the ingenuity, risk, and enterprising spirit of the era. Focusing on the stagecoach line, which ran from Yale to Barkerville from 1864 until 1886 and from Ashcroft to Barkerville after the construction of the CPR, historian Ken Mather uncovers new details about the gold rush through the lens of this groundbreaking company’s operations. Rich in anecdotes and character sketches backed up with extensive research, this is the first full-length book to cover the history of one of BC’s most important early businesses.

About the Author(s)

Ken Mather has been researching western Canadian heritage for over four decades, working in curatorial, management, and research roles at Fort Edmonton Park, Barkerville, and the O'Keefe Ranch since the early 1970s. He is the author of several books on pioneer and ranching history, including Stagecoach North, Trail North, Ranch Tales, and Frontier Cowboys and the Great Divide.

Reviews

"Mather has written an excellent slice of BC history which stands on its own . . . an essential addition to any bookshelf on BC history."
British Columbia History
"In Stagecoach North, which includes maps, illustrations, and rare photos, Mather mixes scholarly research with interesting facts. His book is peppered with anecdotes and conveys the risks Barnard and others undertook over the rugged trails of south-central British Columbia."
Canada's History
"An enjoyable read. . . suitable mainly to those with a general interest in the history of British Columbia but also offering useful nuggets to scholars of the time period."
BC Studies
"Stagecoach Northis invaluable in shedding light and clarity on Barnard’s mythologised and under-examined contribution to BC’s gold rush history. "
Ormsby Review
"Rich in anecdotes and character sketches backed up with extensive research, this is the first full-length book to cover the history of one of B.C.’s most important early businesses."
Canadian Cowboy Country