Rekindling historic connections — Walla Walla Washington

The Boyer-Baker National Bank of Walla Walla was initially funded by the gold rush of the Kootenays in Canada. 

Where is the historic connection?  My wife and I recently had the opportunity to visit the fine city of Walla Walla and were pleasantly surprised by the vibrant nature of the town.  Live music, great food, a wonderful museum and a thriving wine industry all caught our attention.

This all left me wondering whatever happened to the historic connection between Walla Walla and the Kootenay region in the south east corner of British Columbia, Canada.  Several years ago I authored a book called Living in the Shadow of Fisher Peak, which chronicled the gold rush fever that consumed the west in the 1860’s and saw Walla Walla become the commercial hub of the northwest.

On cold winter’s day in 1864 California 49’er Jack Fisher and contingent of men rode out of Walla Walla and headed 400 miles due north to the Wild Horse gold fields near present day heritage town Fort Steele just outside of Cranbrook.

It is said that the subsequent gold strike, which produced an estimated $15 to $30 million in gold, funded the startup of the Boyer-Baker National Bank now a fixture of downtown Walla Walla.

As I wrote in my book, “Evidently there was so much gold making its way to Walla Wlla, the Dorsey S. Baker Company quickly filled their one safe to capacity.  The company then took to filling empty nail kegs with gold dust.  It is unlikely that the miners, who were depositing their valuable gold there, were ever told about this stop-gap method of banking.  From these humble beginnings, the Boyd-Baker National Bank of Walla Walla sprang forth.”

So my question is where is the Cranbrook – Walla Walla connection today?  How about a sister city agreement between the two cities to promote modern day tourism trade and commerce?  How about a Chamber of Commerce exchange that would build on our common historical heritage?

If you would like to read more about the historical connection between Walla Walla and Cranbrook and the Kootenay region to the north visit the gift shop at the Fort Walla Walla Museum and pick up a copy of my book, Living in the Shadow of Fisher Peak.

Next year, 2014 is the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold on Wild Horse Creek and the development of Walla Walla as the commercial hub of the early Pacific Northwest interior.

I personally think its time to re-establish this important historic link to the benefit of both our communities.