About Big River

Big River began as a mill town and was built and owned by the lumber company. The company was formed several years before any sign of settlement began. The Big River Lumber Company was incorporated in Winnipeg in 1903, and the first small settlement sprang up around Cowan's Mill in 1906. Serious settlement began in the next few years and by 1910, with the arrival of the railroad, Big River had boomed to a population of over three thousand.

The lumber company looked after its employees, and one street after another was filled with houses and tennament buildings. The company built the school, post office, police station, hospital, and the store. Most people seemed content with this arrangement until the disasterous fire of 1919. With the timber gone, the company began to talk of moving out. The news affected everyone and personal decisions had to be made. The possibility of a ghost town became very real, and many decided to move, either following the lumber mill to its new location or some other destination.

Not everyone lost faith in Big River's future. Some were determined to stay and make the best of things. Five enterprising men, Anton Johnson, E.C. Brownfield, W.W. Turner, Peter Figeland, and John Waite, formed the Big River Development Company (sometimes referred to as the Settlement Committee).

This small group negotiated with the Ladder Lake Lumber Company and offered to buy the entire townsite for $20,000. The offer was accepted and on January 1, 1923, the development company took over the town. Each one of the owners was in charge of and owned his section. New business was encouraged and land changed hands many times. New stores, cafes, and places of business were constructed as people began to find a place in this new system. It was a difficult task, picking up all the loose ends and making the community function as a whole, without the aid of company funds.

One important issue that had to be solved was how to finance the school. With little or no assessment or taxes to support it, the burden of the operating expenses fell on the businessmen of the district. Realizing they couldn't shoulder this responsibility for very long, it was essential to incorporate into a village as soon as possible. By doing so, more land could be surveyed and assessed, giving the district borrowing power, government grants and more tax dollars. Plans were made in haste to have Big River declared a village, and this came about in the summer of 1923. The first council meeting was held on September 15 that same year.

The first overseer elected was E. C. Brownfield. The Secretary Treasurer was Wm. E. Wakefield and the first councillors were Alexander G. McKinnon and Charles C. Cornell.

Big River continued to grow until it became the biggest village in Saskatchewan.

In 1964, a new dock was built on Cowan Lake by the Department of Public Works. The next year, 1965, was "biffy burning year" as sewer and water were installed in most homes and places of business. A new nurse's residence and the post office were built in 1965 as well.

Big River was officially declared a town on October 1, 1966. Roland Barre was the first Mayor and councillors were Sam Miller, Charles McKenzie, Laura Wilson and Sid Cookman.

The town is located in a scenic spot and noted for the beauty of its setting. It is the only town in Saskatchewan where it is possible to enjoy the sport of fishing from the end of Main Street!

Portions of this information excerpted from Timber Trails, compiled by Big River History Book Committee, 1979.

The Big River Centennial history book published in 2005, A Century in the Making, is for sale at the Tourist Center or by contacting Kathy at 306 469 4996, or email brhistorybook@yahoo.com.

Photos, from the top: Big River in the early years; booms in the ice on the river; the hotel in the 1940s.

Did you know?

The town derives its name from the translation of the Cree name Oklemow Cee Pee, or big river, which refers to the Cowan River. When the north end of the river was dammed, Cowan Lake was formed. The lake and river are named after an early sawmill official, William Cowan. Big River was one of the first places in Saskatchewan where lumbering was established.

Noted Saskatchewan nature artist Glen Scrimshaw was born and raised in Big River. He painted the saw blade that is part of the Big River Health Centre sign. Visit Glen's web site.

The Big River First Nation is located about 40 km south of the town. It is roughly 12,000 hectares in size with a population of about 2,200, of which 1,600 members reside on reserve. In 1878 Chief Saseewahum signed Treaty No. 6. Until the early 1900s, members of the Big River band made their living through hunting and fishing. The traditional language of the members of Big River First Nation is Cree.

Well-known singer Roger Miller wrote Big River, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Same name, different river.

Timber Trails, a history of Big River and district, was compiled by the Big River Historical Society and printed in 1979. The book can be read online here.

In 1957, a song called Big River by Johnny Cash made it to number 4 on the country music charts. You guessed it... different river.

There are rivers called Big River in Michigan and Alaska, and there are lots of rivers with that nickname (most notably the Mississippi, see above), but the only other town with that name appears to be on the Colorado River, at the border between California and Arizona.
 

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