Kullyspell House facts for kids

Kullyspell House (sometimes spelled Kullyspel House) was an important place built a long time ago, in 1809. It was a special kind of building called a fur trading post. People used it to trade animal furs and other goods. This post was located in what is now North Idaho, right on the edge of Lake Pend Oreille.

It was built by a man named Finan McDonald. He was working for David Thompson, who was a famous explorer and mapmaker from the North West Company. This company was very big in the fur trade back then.

Where Was Kullyspell House?

The trading post was built on the northeast side of Lake Pend Oreille. This area is known as the Hope Peninsula. It was also very close to where the Clark Fork River flows into the lake. Today, this spot is just southeast of a town called Hope, Idaho.

Building the Trading Post

Building Kullyspell House was a big job! David Thompson wrote about how they built it. On September 11, 1809, they started getting their tools ready. Their first goal was to build a strong log building. This building would keep their goods and furs safe. It would also be the main place for trading with the local Native American people.

By September 23, the main storage building was finished. To make the roof strong and keep out the rain, they covered it with small logs. Then, they used long grass mixed with mud to fill in any gaps. This worked pretty well for rain. But when snow melted, it could still find its way inside! They built their living house in a similar way. The floors were made from logs that were split in half, with the round side facing down.

The chimneys were also built from materials they found nearby. They used stones and mud. These chimneys were about six feet tall and very thick, about eighteen inches. The fireplace inside was raised a little bit and was about three to four feet wide.

Why Kullyspell House Was Important

Kullyspell House was one of the first trading posts in this area. After building it, David Thompson set up two more posts nearby. These were called Saleesh House and Spokane House.

However, Kullyspell House was not on the main route that people traveled between these other posts. Because of this, it was not used for very long. It was abandoned just two years later, in 1811. Even though it was used for a short time, it was an important part of the early fur trade history in the Pacific Northwest.

What Happened to It?

Even after it was abandoned, parts of Kullyspell House stood for a long time. Some people say that the two stone chimneys stayed standing for 87 years! They finally fell down during a big windstorm.

The name "Kullyspell" is still remembered today. The city of Kalispell in nearby Montana has a similar name. "Kullyspel" was how David Thompson spelled the name of the local Native American people. Today, these people are known as the Pend d'Oreilles tribe.