CALGARY GROUP PAGE NO. 1

Major James Walker, N.W.M.P.

Major James Walker, N.W.M.P. - photo courtesy Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta

Cover addressed to Major James Walker, Bow River, N.W. Territories by Fort Benton, Montana, U.S.A. from Carluke, Ont., OC 10/82. No receiving mark, as no Calgary post office existed at that time.

The North West Mounted Police established their first permanent post in the west at Fort Macleod in 1874 and in the following year a post was established on the Bow River at what is now Calgary. No Canadian mail route existed into the territory up to the early 1880's, and mail was forwarded up the Missouri River to Fort Benton, Montana and thence by bullock team north to Fort Macleod. This route continued to operate until the Canadian Pacific Railway pushed across the prairies.

Major Walker was a well known member of the N.W.M.P. and served with distinction until 1881 at which time he left to become the manager of the Cochrane Ranche Company, one of the largest ranches in the territory.

In 1975, Major James Walker was named "Calgary's Citizen of the Century".

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