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Introduction Pollards Cornish Ranch and Roadhouse 108 Mile House |
The buildings which exist on the 108 Historical Site beside the Cariboo Highway (97)
The beginning of "108 Mile House" began with William J. Roper, who pre-empted 320 acres of D.L. 76 in 1863.
There was no evidence of ownership of 108 Mile house from 1871 to 1880. In 1867 Roper built a log shed north of the road.
From 1875-1885 the 108 Mile post, called the "108 Mile Hotel", was run by Agnus McVee, assisted by her husband Jim McVee.
In 1880 William Walker pre-empted 320 acres of D.L. 76. It is at this time that he built log dairy Ice House on this site.
In 1880 Walker tore down the "1867" Roper log shed and re-assembled it on the current site for the Store and Telegraph Office. Rumors have it he was looking for gold buried by Agnus McVee.
A Blacksmith shop was built in 1880 and by 1891 Walker sold the 108 Mile House on December 30 to Stephen Tingley for $320.00. His son Clarence ran it.
In 1892 a small log barn was built on the site. Also in 1892 a large log BX Stable was built, but this structure burned down 1904-1908 and was situated on the exact spot where the 105 Heritage House is now located on this site 1892 was also the year that the Bunkhouse was built and a frame blacksmith shop.
Captain Watson turned the site into a Ranch and in 1908 he had Gilbert Monroe of Ashcroft build the large log Clydesdale Barn
The 108 Mile House (108 Mile Hotel as it was known then) was built primarily to serve the host of prospectors going and returning from the goldfields.
Because it was so close to 100 Mile House it was probably not used by stagecoaches that travelled the Cariboo Wagon Road. However, it was probably an ideal stopping place for the lines of pack mules that carted supplies to the gold fields.
Source:100 Mile and District Historical Society, 108 Mile Heritage Site.
Special thanks to Mary-Anne and Tom Rutledge, Louise Larsen, Gary Babcock, Marie and Harvey Moore, Ted Parker and everyone at 108 MIle House 
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