Fort Carlton

Fort Carlton was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post from 1795 until 1885. It was rebuilt by the Saskatchewan government as a provincial historic park and can be visited today. It is about 65 kilometers north of Saskatoon.

History

First called Carlton House, two previous posts were established in 1795 and 1805 respectively, before being abandoned for the third and permanent fort.

Three Locations

The first Fort Carlton (1795-1801) was built at a safer site near the old French post of Fort de la Corne in 1795 following the destruction of South Branch House. James Bird was in charge; James Sandison (Sanderson) was his assistant; and John Peter Pruden was an apprentice. From 1799 to 1801, Joseph Howse (Howes) was the writer in charge. The NWC had a nearby post called Fort St. Louis. It produced few furs and was closed in 1801. The second Fort Carlton (1805-1810) was built on the South Saskatchewan River six miles upstream from the former South Branch House. Joseph Howse (Howes) was a trader. There was a nearby NWC post. In 1810 both companies abandoned the South Saskatchewan and moved to the third Fort Carlton. The third Fort Carlton (1810-1885) was built on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan at the Great Crossing Place, a ford of that river. John Peter Pruden was master (1814-1815), master and trader (1815-1820) and chief trader (1821 - 1837) except for a brief furlough to London in 1824-1825. The area was prairie and not beaver country, but there were plentiful woods nearby and even a supply of limestone. The NWC had its Fort La Montée inside the same stockade as Fort Carlton. In 1816 the Nor'Westers moved out and established...