Fort Pelly
| Fort Pelly | |
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Fort Pelly in 1887 (second fort)
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| Type | Fort, Military Structure, fur trading post |
| Etymology | Sir John Pelly, governor of the Hudson's Bay Company |
| Location | Pelly, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Nearest city | St. Philips No. 301 |
| Founder | Hudson's Bay Company |
| Built | First fort 1824 Second fort 1856 |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Website | Parks Canada official website |
| Designated | 1953 |
Fort Pelly was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The fort was probably named after Sir John Pelly, governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. The current village of Pelly, Saskatchewan, takes its name from the fort, and is located approximately 8 miles north of the site of the fort.
Before Fort Pelly was built there was a Fort Hibernia in the general area.
The first Fort Pelly, at 51°46′42″N 102°00′19″W / 51.77833°N 102.00528°W, was constructed by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1824, in the northeast corner of the elbow of the Assiniboine River. It was situated at a convenient portage point between the Assiniboine and Swan Rivers. Since the upper Assiniboine is shallow and crooked the area was most easily reached from the Swan River. The route was Lake Winnipegosis - Swan River - Snake Creek - Miry Creek - portage to the Assiboine River. It was the administrative centre of the Hudson's Bay Company's Swan River District.
Fort Pelly consisted of a dwelling house, and Indian house, several staff houses, a store, and stables, all enclosed within a square palisade, 120 feet a side. Its first chief trader was Alan McDonell, who had selected the site and oversaw construction. The fort traded with Cree and Salteaux Natives from the surrounding area, along with recruiting employees from both nations. In 1841 Fort Pelly had four employees, along with their Métis families. The first fort was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1842 and rebuilt immediately by chief trader Cuthbert Cumming. In 1849 Thomas McKay, who would become first mayor of Prince Albert and a prominent territorial politician, was born at Fort Pelly.
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