History of Wells

History-Wells

Wells began with a rush -- a gold rush. For years the Cariboo Gold Rush meant thousands of placer miners rushing to stake ground containing free gold -- gold flakes lying within the creeks and soil of the Cariboo.

When Fred Wells staked his ground in the 1920s, it was with the purpose of establishing a hard rock mine deep inside Cow Mountain, just west of Barkerville Mountain.

Wells Barkerville Bowron Lakes

The promise of a new gold rush in British Columbia offered an opportunity for people to escape the unemployment of the Thirties. While most of the country suffered, Wells grew and thrived during the Great Depression.

Come explore our history online at the Wells Museum. This site explains much of the work and pastimes in Wells, including the wide variety of recreation.

Most well-known is the ski hill and jump on Cow Mountain, where the Western Canada Ski Championships were held in 1936, the Western Ski and Snowshoe Championships in 1936 and the Provincial Ski Championships in1942.

When you arrive in Wells, visit the Wells Museum and Visitor Information Centre in person. The museum is just off Hwy 26 on Pooley Street. Take the first left after Jack 'O Clubs Lake and look for the Museum sign on our roof.

The Wells Community Hall is the largest building in the community, constructed in 1938 by the Gold Quartz Mine.

Thanks to the hardwork of the citizens of Wells a restoration project is underway, with the urgent structural repairs now completed, and cosmetic upgrades now underway. For more information on the Wells Community Hall, click here.

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info@wellsbc.com

Contact Info.

1- 877- 451- 9355