History of Hixon

For thousands of years, First Nations lived, fished, and sought other sustenance up along the local creek tributaries of the Fraser River.

Much later in the mid-1800s, a brief wave of prospectors seeking golden riches swept through the area.

In the 1910s and 1920s, the earliest settler families began homesteading where the Communities of Hixon, Strathnaver, and Woodpecker later grew into existence. These settlers most often came on foot, horseback, or paddle-wheeler along the Fraser River. Those travelling by paddle wheeler disembarked at White’s Landing or Woodpecker Landing. The initial construction of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway brought in more settlers in these very early years. A modest settlement of Scottish share croppers was attempted in Strathnaver as part of the worldwide settlement scheme of the then Duke of Sutherland in Scotland.

The next group of settlers, mainly from the Prairies, arrived during the Great Depression. These families would sell out or abandon their Prairie homesteads, gather together a few settler effects, and board a train to Prince George and then walk or wagon south to homestead this area.

It was basically a subsistent life until the early 1950s. Local homesteaders eked out their lives in log homes in small isolated clearings in the bush near the abandoned Pacific Great Eastern Railway grade or the early dirt highway between Quesnel and Prince George. These settlers warded off their isolation by periodically gathering at social events in the Bachelor’s Hall near Hixon, the Woodpecker Hall, or at one of the nearby one-room Schools.

The greatest population growth in these communities occurred right through the late 1940s to the early 1980s. The Provincial Government began promoting northern economic development and opened up large tracts of timber for the sawmilling industry. Almost overnight, sawmills sprung up creating steady employment. The Pacific Great Eastern Railway finally reached Prince George in 1952. Highway 97 was relocated in the late 1950s and paved right through these communities. 1960 saw the arrival of hydro power and telephone.

Newcomers flocked to these communities for employment. Most initially lived around the many sawmill operations and yet soon after properties were subdivided, mainly in Hixon and Strathnaver, creating the beginnings of these communities. Many businesses followed supporting the needs of these new residents. Modern schools replaced the one-room log schools in Strathnaver and Hixon.

Hixon and Strathnaver flourished as forest industry-dependent communities. Woodpecker remained primarily as an agricultural community.

Sadly these heady days were numbered and by the late 1960s, the forest industry began consolidating with sawmills closing, and with the loss of these jobs went the families. By the mid-1980s, the only major sawmill operation left was Dunkley Lumber Ltd. in Strathnaver.

Over the past three decades, the arrival of new residents and business owners replaced the older families departing these communities. Today, the communities of Hixon, Strathnaver, and Woodpecker are experiencing a renaissance of sorts with the arrival of new blood and renewed community spirit.

Hixon Today

Today, more than 300 habitants live in the Hixon area. As a small community, people here realise the meaning of connection and they help each other. During long winter months, Soup Group prepares nutricious meals for seniors. Every month, there are special activities for kids at the Kids’ Playgroup, where they can learn about animals, music instruments, etc. There are free Spanish and French lessons. The Hixon Senior Club gets together for card games. The Hixon Community Association and the community members work hard to organise events during the year. One of the oldest celebrations is the Hixon Fall Fair and the Parade. During Easter, Christmas and Halloween, there are always fun activities prepared for children.

Nowadays, Hixon has its own newsletter, The Hixon Holler, where people can read about upcoming events and keep up to date of what is happening in town.