Hudson's Bay Warehouse facts for kids
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) built a special trading post in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, in 1938. This was during the first big gold rush in the area. A trading post was like a general store where people could buy supplies and trade furs.
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The Historic Hudson's Bay Warehouse
This building is important because it tells a story about Yellowknife's past. It was once a busy place where gold miners and trappers got their supplies. Today, it is recognized as a special heritage site.
Starting a Trading Post
The Hudson's Bay Company is one of the oldest companies in Canada. They set up this trading post to help the many gold prospectors who came to Yellowknife. Prospectors are people who search for gold. The store helped them get everything they needed for living and working in the wilderness.
Fire, Rebuilding, and New Uses
Sadly, the original building was destroyed by fire in January 1945. But the Hudson's Bay Company quickly rebuilt it. The new, bigger store and warehouse opened in November 1945. It served the waterfront area of Yellowknife's Old Town.
At first, the store mainly handled "bush orders" for prospectors. These were orders for supplies needed far out in the wilderness. In 1947, a new, modern department store opened downtown. After that, the Old Town post focused mostly on supplies for fur trappers, commercial fishers, and prospectors.
The store closed its doors in 1960. All of the Hudson's Bay Company's operations moved to the bigger downtown location. The building then became just a warehouse for storing goods.
A New Owner and Heritage Status
In 1987, the Hudson's Bay retail stores changed their name to Northern Stores Inc. The old warehouse was then sold to a person named Les Rocher. He has owned the building ever since.
Because of its long history and importance to Yellowknife, the Hudson's Bay Company warehouse was named a City of Yellowknife Heritage Site in 1993. This means it is a protected building that helps us remember the city's past.
