Dr. John Roberts published his book “Cariboo” in 1999 quoting from pioneer journals, diaries, letters and reports of historical events in the years leading to the opening up of our area – Cariboo Chilcotin.
Dr. Roberts was born in Australia where he learned to fly in the Royal Australian Air Force with a variety of aircraft from Tiger Moths to twin-engined bombers.
He attended the Ontario Veterinary College, part of the University of Toronto and did aerial acrobatics in a Chipmunk, for a break from studies. He graduated in 1958 and with wife Anna, came to Williams Lake to establish the first veterinary north of Kamloops in all of B.C. For the first few winters he was busy vaccinating cattle against brucellosis. Anna and John drove to Quesnel in 1958 and 1959 for a clinic each Friday, to treat the cats and dogs that people would bring for treatment.
John also has a long career as the regional coroner, as he was asked to fill the position in 1977.
Williams Lake was a cattle town with the PGE railway handling the shipment of stock at sale time. From his clinic in the basement of their house, he set out to serve the many scattered ranches over 23,000 square miles of the Cariboo-Chilcotin. His services were a life line for large and small operations during that growth period.
Pavement did not extend to the rural roads and what there was for roads were rough, full of mud holes, often not graded and decidedly lacking in gravel, especially at break up.
To reach his customers he bought a Piper Super Cub and also helped establish the local flying club. It was a good choice, well suited to the conditions and never let him down. The airport then was downtown on 9th Avenue.
He flew out of Williams Lake for 25 years, always with sufficient altitude and in sight of an emergency landing spot on lakes and fields.
Visiting pioneer ranches, he got to know many people who by their efforts were creating a country in very challenging places. The folks talked of their adventures in long cattle drives, severe weather, difficult streams and the opening of the interior. From that, Dr. Roberts developed an interest in history and collected many documents. His book reports on the daily activities of people such as Norman Lee, G.B. Wright, Lt. Palmer, the Cornwalls and others.
The book is self published. He ca be reached at his home.
It’s a worthwhile read of when times were tough.
Andy Motherwell is an amateur historian and regular Observer columnist.
