So you think you know the 108? How much do you know about the first 10 years, 1969-1979?
Answer:
Timeline 108: First Ten Years
Prepared by Sandy Foster
1969
- Block Bros. company completes purchase of 26,000 acre 105 Mile Ranch from R.M. Monical & Sons
- August 17, 1969: First landing at 108 Airport; Frank Bernard flying a Cessna Skymaster with Olaf Hansen on board for the long weekend fly-in/opening
- Major work completed to clear and develop 108 golf course
- Dredged between 108 Lake and Sepa (Separation) Lake
1970
- Club House built. In December Mike & Heidi Hapalo take a 5 year lease to operate the restaurant
- Golf course opens with Keith Hannah as the pro, Bill Wilson, assistant pro
- 400-500 lots sold
- Hansen Bros. opens home building business and building supply outlet
- 108 Property Owners Association formed; Len Kellogg as chairman
- 108 Ranch and outdoor staff: Len Monical, Don Parker, Barb Monical, Dick Smith, Ernie Mulvohill, and Bernie Penner. 108 sales department: Cathy Jameson, Nick Sykes and Duncan Myers
1971
- 108 Motor Lodge with 22 units opens; swimming pool and tennis courts underway
- New building completed adjacent to airstrip, (now the Wheelroom) to include the sales office for Block Bros.; a Mini Mart opened by Dick & Myrtle Tyrwhitt, and the Gold Shop owned and operated by Mary McFarlane
- Block Bros. buy out shares of Len Monical and Dick Smith and are now 100% owners of the project
1972
- January 26, 1972: low temp of -45F; 71.9 inches of snow so far that winter
- Volunteer Fire Department & Woman’s Auxiliary initiated
- Pat Corbett becomes on-site manager of 108 Recreational Ranch
- Old Community Hall near Chapel built by Hansen Recreational Homes
- Referendum passed to have CRD administer 108 Fire Department
- Olaf Hansen’s 108 Supply complex officially opens April 1st; 600 attend
- In 1972, about 37 new homes built and over 300 lots sold
- 108 Property Owners Association has 336 members
1973
- The 11,400 sq. ft. indoor riding arena built on Tatton Road
- Two-bay Fire Hall completed
- Ducks Unlimited surveys Walker Valley for potential
1974
- 108 School opens as 108 Annex with 5 portables
1975
- Motorlodge expanded with tennis courts, landscaping
- First Cariboo Marathon
- Ground-breaking for new 108 Chapel construction
- 108 school has 130 students and 5 teachers
1976
- 108 Lake stocked with Eastern Brook Trout
- New school opens with eight classrooms
1977
- 5 acre Biblical Garden completed at 108
- Mile 108 School official opening September 21 with 227 students. Brent Rutherford is the principal
- Block Bros. announces 108 development is being curtailed due to Agriculture Land Freeze
1978
- Eric Bojesen is 108 tennis pro, Bill Wilson is 108 golf pro
- Population at 108 estimated at 1200 persons in over 400 homes
- Fire hall being expanded from two-bay, to a three-bay, plus maintenance area and larger meeting area
1979
- 105 Mile Ranch house moved to 108 Heritage Site
- Happy 10th Anniversary celebrations
- Block Bros. begin retreat from development
- Change of name to 108 Ranch Resort