Painting of Chimney Creek ranch buildings

Amédée was the first pre-emptor of land at Chimney Creek, south-east of Williams Lake, in the district now named after the Isnardy family. By 1864, he built a stopping house on what was by then an active route for gold seekers. The family lived on the main floor and five rooms accommodated guests on the top floor. The green house in the painting replaced that first house, which was destroyed by fire.

The name of Chimney Creek was taken from the house’s chimney that remained well in place after that fire. The log building next to it was pulled in from elsewhere in the valley. It served at first as a saloon, with three more rental rooms above it. The famous French packer Jean Caux “Cataline” regularly visited when passing by with his mule train.