Pine Island Fort facts for kids
Pine Island Fort and Manchester House were busy fur trading posts located on Pine Island. This small, narrow island is found on the North Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan, Canada. These posts operated from 1786 to 1793. Pine Island Fort belonged to the North West Company. Manchester House was run by the Hudson's Bay Company.
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Where is Pine Island?
Pine Island is on a part of the North Saskatchewan River that flows south. It is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Lloydminster. The island is just north of where Big Gully Creek meets the river. It is also about 18 kilometers (11 miles) northeast of the town of Maidstone. The island itself is about 1.4 kilometers (0.87 miles) long and 0.3 kilometers (0.19 miles) wide.
Early Days of Trading
In 1786, five different groups set up trading posts on Pine Island.
- First was Donald McKay, an independent trader.
- Then came Peter Pangman from Gregory, McLeod and Co..
- Robert Longmoor represented William Tomison of the Hudson's Bay Company.
- William Holmes was there for the North West Company.
- An independent French trader named Champagne also arrived.
In the next trading season, things changed. Donald McKay joined the Hudson's Bay Company. Gregory, McLeod and Co. joined the North West Company. Champagne left the area. This left two main posts on the island. Manchester House of the Hudson's Bay Company was at the upper end of the island. Pine Island Fort of the North West Company was at the lower end.
Important Events at the Posts
Many interesting events happened at these trading posts.
- In 1788, the Hudson's Bay Company built the first York boat used on the Saskatchewan River right here. York boats were large boats used to carry furs and supplies.
- Also in 1788, the famous explorer David Thompson broke his leg at Pine Island.
- In 1792, Isaac Batt, a well-known trader, went south with a group of Indigenous people to hunt on the prairie. Sadly, he did not return.
- In 1793, a large group of Gros Ventres people entered the North West Company post. They pretended to trade. However, it soon became clear they wanted to take the fort's goods by force. A brave clerk quickly took up arms and drove them away. The Gros Ventres and Mandans were at war with the Cree and other Plains tribes. They believed the traders were selling guns to the Cree.
- In the same year, Manchester House was also attacked and its goods taken. The traders there barely escaped with only the clothes they were wearing.
The Posts in Ruins
By 1794, the trading posts were no longer active. Duncan McGillivray of the North West Company reported that the buildings were in ruins. Pine Island is not easy to reach today. However, in 1991, a special stone and plaque were placed on the river bank. This memorial remembers the history of these important fur trading posts. As of 2014, the plaque was still on a high hill overlooking Pine Island.
