108 TIMELINE: THE FIRST 10 YEARS

Prepared by Sandy Foster

1969

  • Block Bros. company completes purchase of 26,000 acre 105 Mile Ranch from R.M. Monical and sons
  • August 17, 1969 – First landing at 108 Airport with Frank Bernard flying a Cessna Skymaster. Olaf Hansen was on board for a 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 5 year lease to operate restaurant
  • Golf course opens; Keith Hannah 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, chair
  • 108 Ranch and outdoor staff; Len Monical, Don Parker, Barb Monical, Dick Smith, Ernie Mulvohill, Bernie Penner.  108 sales department – Cathy Jameson, Nick Sykes and Duncan Myers

1971

  • 108 Motor Lodge opens with 22 units; swimming pool and tennis court construction underway
  • New building adjacent to airstrip, (now the Wheelroom) to include the sales office for Block Bros., a Mini Mart opened by Dick and 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 project

1972

  • January 26, 1972, low temp of -45F and 71.9 inches of snow so far this winter
  • Volunteer Fire Department and Woman’s Auxiliary initiated
  • Pat Corbett becomes on-site manger 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 with 600 attending
  • 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 survey Walker Valley for potential

1974

  • 108 School opens as 108 Annex with 5 portables

1975

  • Motorlodge expanded, plus 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 opened with eight classrooms

1977

  • 5 acre Biblical Garden completed at 108
  • Mile 108 School official opening September 21 with 227 students. Brent Rutherford as principal
  • Block Bros. announces 108 development is being curtailed due to provincial government’s Agriculture Land Freeze
  • Click here to take a trip back to 1977, when the 108 Mile Ranch was in its prime…the heydays. The Resort was still owned by Block Bros. and still in promotional mode….all systems still on go…. (Large pdf file – takes a bit of time to open)

1978

  • Eric Bojesen is 108 tennis pro, Bill Wilson is 108 golf pro
  • Population at 108 estimated at 1,200 persons in over 400 homes
  • Fire hall being expanded from two-bay, to a three-bay, plus maintenance area and larger meeting area
108 is Great!

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