RECORDED: Williams Lake (B.C.), 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Spencer Hope Patenaude describes how he came to 150 Mile House from Quebec with his father, Joseph P. Patenaude, around 1896. He describes his memories of 150 Mile house, how he came there from Ashcroft, and the Bachelors Ball, which was a three day party with about 600 people from all around the area in the winter. Then he describes how he moved to a ranch in Williams Lake with his family in 1898. He describes the area and his memories, the Primrose Dairy, the trails in the area, English settlers who were unprepared for BC. Patenaude tells a story of a cattle drive of 1,500 miles to Dawson Creek from Williams Lake to make a fortune -- which proved to be unrealistic, and almost all were lost. He discloses how his family moved to a ranch in Horsefly which was 600 acres or so with 150 head of cattle. He describes Horsefly as a gold mining town and the town as he remembers it. He discusses his school years including a time in Victoria at the Collegiate College at Beacon Hill, run by Mr. Church, in 1900 and 1901. He goes on to speak about how he became a telegraph operator when he was sixteen. He describes how the telegraph system was set up and how he worked within the telegraph for 47 years. Then he mentions the progress of the railroad which never quite reached Prince George.

TRACK 2: Mr. Patenaude describes the area around Vanderhoof including the roads around Black Creek to Prince George. He describes how he went to the area, a story about a Chief of the Black Water Tribe named Jimmy who had the ability to foresee who was coming to the area with great accuracy, a man named Dr. Ringwood, and observations and anecdotes about trusting Indians. Patenaude goes on to describe his job as a telegraph operator, the installation of howler telephones in 1910, stories about a phone operator named Bob who was caught eavesdropping, telephone lines, and teamsters.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): A Cariboo pioneer, 1895-1974 RECORDED: Williams Lake (B.C.), [1968?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Came to Cariboo 1895 (age 8), from eastern Canada. Train travel, 1895. Education in Pavilion, 150 Mile House and Victoria. Joined telegraph service, 1902. Worked as a telegrapher in Horsefly ;and Quesnel. Quesnel described. Riverboats on the Fraser River. Transportation in the Cariboo. Returned to 150 Mile House in 1913. Then to Blackwater River. Early days at Williams Lake, ca. 1900. Anecdotes. [TRACK 2: blank; end of interview]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Cariboo recollections RECORDED: Williams Lake (B.C.), 1974 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Reg Beck, Spencer Hope Patenaude discusses early Williams Lake, Horsefly, 150 Mile, and 153 Mile House. Bullion Mine described. Telegraph lines in the Cariboo. Anecdotes about telegraphy and the life of a telegraph operator. 150 Mile House pioneers. Chinese in 150 Mile House. Ox teams and freighting on the Cariboo Road. Grist mills and grain growing. Sawmilling. TRACK 2: Description of the engines and workings of the Miocene mine. Anecdotes about maintaining the telegraph lines. [End of interview]