More than just a library and hub for community services, the Fort Nelson Library is home to historical photos and stories.
The Fort Nelson Public Library and Archives is working on a collection that preserves the history of the Northern Rockies.
As the library celebrates 40 years in its current location, it’s inviting residents to contribute photos, stories, and memories to expand its archives.
The archive is popular on social media, especially for its posts featuring old photos of familiar buildings and sites. Residents of the small town, home to about 2,600 people, often engage by sharing their own memories and pictures.
Located at Mile 308 of the Alaska Highway, about 440 kilometers south of the B.C.-Yukon border, the archives were started in 2014 by Sylvia Bramhill, a retired library clerk and lifelong resident. Her father, Silvester (Silver) Arychuk, moved to Fort Nelson from Edmonton in the late 1940s for what was supposed to be a short-term job as a heavy-duty mechanic, but he stayed for life and brought Bramhill’s mother from Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories.
Local history librarian Katelyn Vandersteen, who is now overseeing the project, notes that many people come to Fort Nelson for short-term work but end up staying permanently. The archive is frequently used by people researching their family history, hoping to find old photos of relatives or news articles mentioning their names.
Fort Nelson was established as a fur trading post in 1805, well before the Alaska Highway was built, which played a significant role in shaping the town’s identity during World War II.
The Northern Rockies region is also home to various First Nations, including the Acho Dene Koe, Dene Tha', Kaska, Fort Nelson, Doig River, and Prophet River nations.
The online archive features more than 400 photos from over 100 contributions, along with maps and editions of the Fort Nelson News, which served the community from 1959 to 2023.
The library continues to collect photos of Fort Nelson businesses and buildings, particularly small, family-run shops, and is encouraging residents to share their stories about the area.
-With files from Tom Summer of CBC News