In 1887, North-West Mounted Police Superintendent Sam Steele established the Kootenay Post in British Columbia. A year after the police post had been established, it was abandoned as Steele did not feel that a continued NWMP presence was required. This post would later be known as Fort Steele.
Like Canadian society, the North-West Mounted Police was divided along class lines. Officers were leaders and cultured “gentlemen” in the Victorian sense. Superintendent Steele followed the NWMP practice of keeping the ranks separate and leading by example.
The officers’ quarters were rich when compared to the quarters for constables and sergeants. Officers were paid more and and had shipping privileges and special allowances.
Today Fort Steele is a Heritage Village in which visitors can experience what life was like in the 1890s. The Heritage Village includes restored buildings,replica buildings, and buildings which are allowed to decay naturally. Shown below are photographs of the officers’ quarters.
Hallway Area
According to the display:
“Those doing business with Superintendent Steele or calling on another of the officers normally waited in this area until formally received. The officers entering in bad weather shed their outer garments here for their servants to clean and look after.
Games and reading materials for the entertainment of “D” Division’s constables were also kept in and distributed from this area.”
Sitting Room
According to the display:
“The sitting room typifies the difference between the living standard of the officers and the men they commanded.
They used the sitting room for leisure pursuits and to entertain visitors. Their recreational activities often reflected the values of Victorian England—outdoors en chassé (in pursuit) of trophies and unique items from nature, fishing, luxurious smoking and reading.”
Dining Room
According to the display:
“The officers wore their formal dress uniforms and sat down to a full meal whenever possible.
Financial contributions to the ‘Officer’s Mess’ kept the table fare varied and similar to what would have been served to men of means in any larger centre.
The meal was served from the kitchen and cleared by a mess servant.”
Office
The office was the “nerve centre” of the post. According to the display:
“Superintendent Steele wrote his reports, received visitors and delegations, and made command decisions here. Supported by a clerk, he transacted the business of ordering, supplying, keeping the peace and satisfying political masters in far-off Ottawa.”
Superintendent Steele’s Bedroom
Sam Steele was the third person to take the oath as a North-West Mounted Policeman. He began his career as a Sergeant-Major and rose quickly to Superintendent. He was described as a big man physically, standing over six feet.
Inspector Wood’s Bedroom
Zachary Taylor Wood joined the NWMP in 1885. He was the great grandson of U.S. President Zachary Taylor and the nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Wood attended the Royal Military College in Kingston and after serving with the Canadian Artillery he joined the NWMP in 1885.
Inspector Huot’s Bedroom
C.F.A. Huot was a Quebec native and was representative of an important minority of French Canadian NWMP officers. He was instrumental in dealing with the local St. Eugene Catholic mission and training the Division’s constables.
Doctor Powell’s Bedroom
Assistant Surgeon Frederick Hamilton Powell was responsible for the well-being of the 75 men at the Post. According to the display:
“His distinguished medical career in Montreal, London and Paris did little, however, to prepare him for the devasting Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that overtook the troop in the fall of 1887.”
Preparation Area--Kitchen
The Preparation Area—Kitchen is in a lean-to section attached to the Officers Quarters. This area housed the cook the officers’ servants. According to the display:
“The officers contributed to an officers’ mess fund which, combined with their personal transportation allowance, allowed them to import the most exotic seafood and table fare.
The food varies from the simplest of trail lunches to luxurious formal dinners given by the officers for visitors and local citizens.”
Washing Area—Kitchen
This was a general work area for the cook, servants, and other attendants.
More from Fort Steele
North-West Mounted Police: The Kootenay Post (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Fort Steele Assay Office (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Fort Steele Drug Store (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Newspapers and Telegraph in Fort Steele (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Chinese in British Columbia (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Horse-Drawn Wagons in Fort Steele (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Some Farm Equipment at Fort Steele (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Churches of Fort Steele (Photo Diary)