Wilderness Outpost: The Fort Vermilion Memoir of Mary B. Lawrence 1898 – 1907

Ed: The Fort Vermilion Agricultural Society,
Marilee Cranna Towes, 2007 (SC 310 pp)
ISBN 0-929123-16-6

In 1898, Mary Lawrence together with her husband, Fred S. Lawrence travelled to Fort Vermilion. Fred’s father, Eratus, had established the Irene Training School at Fort Vermilion in 1879. This constituted the first genuine attempt by Euro-Canadians to instruct people of the First Nations in the Peace River Country in the ways of farming.

Mary stayed in Fort Vermilion for nearly nine years. During this time, she compiled a memoir of her life there. The manuscript provides a vivid account of life at Fort Vermilion during this time and reveals much about the interaction of Euro-Canadian settlers, missionaries, traders and others with the resident Metis, Cree and Beaver people.