Local Thompson Falls author publishes second book

Carl Haywood, a Thompson Falls resident, has published his second book “Howse House,” focusing on Joseph Howse and the fur trade.
After publishing his first book “Sometimes Only Horses to Eat,” Haywood worked with archeologist Mark White, an enthusiast of the fur trade.
After White was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, Haywood promised to finish the research White had started, a long, meticulous task of locating the Howse House site, a trading post built by Joseph Howse.
“At about three months before he died we were up visiting him and I was staying in touch with him on this project and he asked me to finish this,” said Haywood. “This (book) is basically the combination of coming through on our promise. The point is Mark asked us to do this so we did it.”
Linda Haywood, Carl’s wife, helped Carl with the fieldwork and research on this project.
The Haywoods believe they have pinned the location of the Howse House to a quarter of a mile of where the actual fur trading post was, something that has not been done before.
“Other people have talked about that as being the area but I think we’ve got it pinned out to a very small area,” said Carl.
The fieldwork for the project began back in 2011, although, Linda pointed out the writing of the manuscript did not start until last year.
White had given the Haywoods his files and materials he collected over the years to help give them a jump-start on finishing the project.
As the Haywoods sat around their kitchen table reflecting on the work they have accomplished, stories about David Thompson and Joseph Howse were abundant. The two discussed the interaction between the two traders, who were fierce competitors and worked for competing trading posts. Throughout their time trading fur, often times the two remained in close vicinity to one another, placing fur trading posts next to each other.
“In one particular case they built a stockade because of the hostility (between the two traders). They were that close together but they were fierce, fierce competitors,” explained Carl.
Carl’s second book piggybacked on his first one, diving into the fur trade even further, but instead of focusing on David Thompson, the book focused on Joseph Howse.
Carl and Linda explained there is a lack of information on Joseph Howse, a problem they did not have to deal with when writing their first book on Thompson.
“It’s highly likely that Howse kept a journal because most of the factors at these operations were required to do that,” said Carl, explaining that a factor was the person in charge.
The problem is that no one knows where Howse’s journal ended up.
“It’s possible that someday, in some musky old attic somewhere in Canada, somebody is going to find Joseph Howse’s journal. And if they do then we’ll know more about it. But until that time, this is all we had,” said Carl, stating most of the information either came from bits and pieces of letters from Howse or David Thompson’s journals.
With such little information available, Carl explained that some speculation had to take place to finish the manuscript.
The Haywoods said the process of digging up information was a grueling one, often times having to read through books and articles to try to find the root of a fact, to help ensure that it is indeed true.
“It’s just amazing how much stuff has been said over and over so many times, and the whole thing has changed,” said Carl “If you accept what someone writes without going back (to the original source), you’re taking a chance.”
Carl said the farther we get from the time Howse was here, the more diluted the information becomes explaining that often times speculation is turned into fact.
“My approach is if you don’t go back to the very root, where you start, you’re going to end up being wrong,” said Carl explaining that he went back as far as archives would allow him, digging up as much information as possible on Howse and the fur trade.
“You’re always going to make some mistakes but my point in writing is you write using historical evidence, you draw conclusions based on what you know at the time and you interpret it,” said Carl. “The point with a book like this is to say if someone disagrees with it, and thinks its something wrong, than write about it,” said Carl.
Carl said he made all the information possible available to others so they can make their own comparisons and draw their own conclusions on where the Howse trading post was located.
Once all the information was gathered, Carl and Linda would head out into the field, piecing together the puzzle and coming closer to solving the mystery.
“You read something, you look at all the maps and then you go out and try to find (the location),” said Linda. “And when you actually see something like the original tread... than you know you’re on the spot. And that’s what I think is thrilling.”
Carl explains that questions still remain concerning the Howse House but Carl is happy to have answered many questions that were previously left unanswered.
“Hopefully we moved it forward and somebody else will pick up from there after I’m gone and continue to work on it,” said Carl.
Carl is currently working on two more books, one that will be done in another month or two and the fourth book, which is a few years out.
Most of the writing for the books began decades ago, however, after having heart surgery, Carl was not well enough to continue the books.
“After I had my heart surgery, my bucket list contained finishing those books,” said Carl. “I figured it was time to do it.”
Carl and Linda remain hard at work, piecing together the next two books that will be published.