Break Time II

One of the fascinating things about postal history is that a single item can open up windows to interesting events, people or situations that occurred in the past.  A good example of this is the item shown on an exhibit page I created.  I'll let you take a look at it first.  Go ahead...it won't bite.

I will not overwhelm you with the postal history coolness that I like about it.  Instead, I'd like to point you to some interesting things that might give you some perspective.

First, look at the map.

If you look at the scale at the bottom left, you begin to realize that the distance this letter covered is no short distance.  Three hundred miles would not be out line for an estimate to get from Williams Creek to New Westminster.  With today's roads and means of travel, that doesn't sound like much.  But, if you do a little looking into what the terrain in this area is like and you'll realize that this was not a small task.

This letter probably traveled over the Cariboo Road and below is a picture of some of the Yale Cariboo Wagon Road.

Old Cariboo Road, picture from wikipedia

The Old Cariboo Road was created in response to the Cariboo Region gold rush in the 1860's.  And, if you know anything about North American history, you have to recognize that the discovery of gold fields was one of the quickest ways for an area to attract settlers and cause development of infrastructure - such as the Old Cariboo wagon road shown above.

And, there you are.  I realize I may have over-simplified on the whole thing - but the hope here is that I can share some of what attracts me to these bits of paper.  It isn't always just the item by itself, it is the story that comes with it - if you have eyes to see it.