Bert and John Gibbs came and settled in area called Buffalo Head Prairie. 1939 Winter road building announced for Peace River to Keg River to Watt Mountain to Lower Hay River post to Great Slave Lake. In winter, first cat train came through and followed route proposed as Mackenzie Highway. Highway construction delayed as Provincial and Federal Governments disagree on cost sharing. Brush cutting and road clearing began in March at Grimshaw, to be completed to Great Slave Lake by Oct. 31, 1947.
First settlers arrive in High Level area.
1948 Completion of the Mackenzie Highway and Fort Vermilion road, Highway 58. Imperial Oil drilled a well on the area known as school property. Premier Manning announced the new name for the highway was the Mackenzie Highway , previously known as the Grimshaw Highway . Official opening was in the spring. There were complaints of poor highway conditions and trucks had to ban operations during spring break-up.