Belle Vue Sheep Farm

This was shared by the National Park Service…

Belle Vue Sheep Farm was making money by September 1859 – Photo contributed by NPS

On chilly morning here 160 years ago, Vancouver Island Gov. James Douglas (also chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Victoria) landed on San Juan Island and established the agricultural station that became known as Belle Vue Sheep Farm.

The occupation of the island by a quasi-government entity -The Company held the charter to colonize Vancouver Island – drew an immediate negative response from Americans on the mainland. Thus began the unrest that would culminate in the Pig War of 1859, the lessons from which would lead to the creation of San Juan Island National Historical Park.

Here is Governor Douglas’ letter, written Dec. 27, 1853, reporting the founding of the station:

Fort Victoria
27th

Archibald Barclay Esq.
Sir

…I am in consequence of the Governor and the Committee’s instructions of 16 Sept., engaged in forming a partial[?] settlement on San Juan, one of the Aro Islands, on account of the Fur Trade. I proceeded thither on the 15th Inst (December) in the Beaver, which were all safely landed the same evening. The following day the “Otter” arrived with another deck load of sheep, and I propose further to increase the flock to about 1300 breeding ewes.

I commenced the buildings on the banks of a rivulet in the centre of a dry elevated sheep run containing about 1500 acres of clear prairie land, besides a large extent of brush land, which will afford a good deal of feed. This land yields excellent grass and will support from 2000 to 3000 head of sheep. I have placed Mr Charles Griffin temporarily in charge of that establishment. I shall take measures to occupy Lopez Island, by opening a small farm, which I can probably do at a small expense, by employing persons to work it for a half share of the profits…

James Douglas

Note: Warm thanks to San Juan Island historian Boyd Pratt for the transcription of this letter.

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