HISTORY

As part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the 108 Mile Ranch in 2019, we posted interesting tidbits of its history.  Here are links for a quick reference!

 A Brief History of the 108

by Sandy Foster

There is no doubt that there is a long and interesting history of this area before 1858 when British Columbia became an official colony of Great Britain. The First Nations had been here for many hundreds of years before white explorers, then fur traders and settlers made their way into the Cariboo. One of the defining moments of change in the late 1850s was the discovery of gold and the subsequent Cariboo Gold Rush.

Many a visitor has wondered as they traveled north how all these places – 83 Mile, 70 Mile House, 100 Mile House, 108 Mile House – got their names. In 1862, the Cariboo Wagon road was started and as each mile was completed, a post was planted to accommodate the road crews. Some of these posts became well known “Mile Houses” when these places developed as stopping places for stage coaches to exchange horses or for travelers to obtain food and lodging. The original Mile 0 is at Lillooet, a major town in the 1860s, where miners prepared to head north to the gold fields near Barkerville.  108 Mile House, located at the Heritage Site today, was not much more than vacant land in 1860. 320 acres of District Lot 76 was pre-empted by William J. Roper in 1863 and a log structure built in 1867. The famous 108 Mile Hotel of Agnus McVee fame operated from 1875 to 1885. The property changed hands several times before Captain Watson purchased it in 1903.   Click here to learn more about the history of the roadhouses along the Cariboo Wagon Road.  Click here to visit the 108 Mile House Heritage Site’s website.

Two friends, British noblemen, Lord Edgerton of Tatton and the Marquis of Exeter (Martin Cecil’s father), bought land here in 1912. Lord Edgerton bought land from the 105, 108, and 111 Mile ranches. The Marquis purchased Bridge Creek House and 12,000 acres of ranch land surrounding it. Lord Edgerton accumulated 35000 acres in what was known then as the Highland Ranch and  Exeter managed it for him. In 1948, Edgerton sold his holdings to a Californian, Fred Davis.  Davis operated the ranch until 1962, when he decided to return south as he had his eye on a ranch in California. Conveniently, the owner of that ranch was looking to move to Oregon where R. M. Monical and his three sons, Wendell, Robert, and Len owned a ranch. A three-way switch was worked out in 1962 and the Monicals moved to the 108 and purchased what was then known as the 105 Mile Ranch.  It was cattle and logging country, still very rural in 1963.  Wendell is famously quoted as saying of the time, “In ’63, we put 700 head of cattle right down the highway pavement and drove them to the [Mile] 111. Three cars passed us, and we knew ’em all.”

Len Monical, along with Dick Smith, had some ideas about developing part of the ranch for recreational purposes, including a golf course. His ideas were passed onto Block Bros. in 1968. The 105 Mile Ranch was sold to Block Bros. in 1969 for approximately $1 million and became The 108 Recreational Ranch. They had big plans for the area.

The Grand Scheme

By Don Robertson

Many newcomers to the South Cariboo and the ranch may be unaware of the grandiose scheme first envisioned by the 108 Recreational Ranch developer, a vision that never came to fruition.

In 1970, the project consisted of 26,805 acres of land, including the resort complex. The present community was the major part of Phase One of the planned five-phase development. This development offered a heady mix of rural living to those tired of city living and was advertised heavily in both Alberta and B.C. to attract urban dwellers to enjoy country estates in a Cariboo setting.

Today, one wonders just what the then 40 square-mile ranch would look like now if some 5,000 lots had been sold and developed. What would all those new residents have done to sustain a living and support a South Cariboo lifestyle?

Some briefing notes given me by Henry Block, shortly after his announcement to the property owners that the development of Phase II was dead, explained the difficulties encountered in moving the project along due to government restrictions, the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) ‘freeze,’ and market conditions. Soon after this halt to ranch development, Block Bros. sold their land interests to Olympia & York, the Reichman brothers operation.

The recreational ranch development’s origins began in 1969, when Block Bros. Realty purchased 40 square miles of working ranch from U.S. owners (the Monical family and other interests) for the purpose of developing a model recreational community.

At that time, the ranch consisted of some 8,000 acres of meadow land, 1,700 acres of water in the form of several small lakes plus 17,000 acres of rolling lands covered by light forests. “Topographically, it is a series of treed ridges overlooking valleys, meadows and small lakes,” explained Block’s promotional material. After reaching agreements and with initial approval from municipal, regional and provincial governments on the total concept, the developer, in a short span, converted the project into reality. The B.C. government also passed legislation providing for the use of a Land Use Contract to regulate, control and formalize land development. On Sept. 27, 1972, a contract covering the entire project was concluded with regional and provincial governments and subsequently, registered.

The developer’s expenditures on the hub recreational facilities, in the first phase, exceeded $10 million. The central portion of the project was the 18-hole golf course, clubhouse, motel, swimming pool, airport, riding facilities and a small commercial area (previously the Wheel Room Sports Clinic and Gunners Ski & Cycle, currently the Hanger Restaurant).

Block Bros. 108 Recreational Ranch Display – 1971 PNE Photo by Bob Tipple, Vancouver City Archives	Arthur & Henry Block	108 Recreational Ranch Brochure Cover

Many soon-to-be residents came to the 108, attracted by special road and air packages, to view and purchase lots. It wasn’t long before the lot owner’s numbers exceeded the 1,000 mark. At a meeting in the Red Coach Inn on October 10, 1971, a memorandum of association was adopted and the 108 Property Owners’ Association was born.

A major fly in the development ointment was the passage of provincial Bill 42, the Environment and Land Use Act, providing for the designation and preservation of agricultural lands. Although the 108 was covered by the Land Use Contract, the B.C. Land Commission proposed that the ranch project be included in this land freeze. The Regional District contended that it should be excluded and 1,100 property owners, the adjacent municipalities, the regional district and the company supported that position.

In March 1973, approval was sought from the Ministry of Highways to proceed with the second phase development of some 600 lots, extending northward in the Walker Valley.

Although all levels of local government backed the project, the Ministry failed to respond and a litany of bafflegab issued by the Environment and Land Use Committee added to the delay. On November 9, 1973, the Minister of Highways advised the Blocks that the 108 subdivision did not come under the jurisdiction of the Land Use Committee and the project could proceed.

Reassured, the company spent another $1.75 million on expansion of the hotel facilities, new tennis courts, playgrounds, school recreational facilities, golf course improvements, ski trails, chapel construction, amphitheatre and gardens, plus other amenities, including a move of the stables from 105 Mile to a new facility on Kitwanga Drive (adjacent to the North Entrance). The resort and recreational expansion was based on the projected population and development of the entire five-stage project.

Now, conflict occurred within the Agricultural Land Reserve, as major portions of 108 land were found to be included in that Act. Blocks fought back, pointing out that “the concept incorporates all the objectives of the ALR. It does not destroy any grazing lands; it limits development to some 5,000 wooded acres out of a total of 25,000 acres. These areas to be developed can in no way be considered agricultural from a practical point of view. The development carefully preserves the character of the Cariboo Region.”

But politics and bureaucracy prevailed and Phase II collapsed. As soon as Block Bros. gave up negotiating with the B.C. government, future development of the five-stage ranch concept was also dead. Subsequently, the company sold off the lands east of Highway 97 and pastureland to the northwest and the vaunted 40 square miles of recreational land to roam in was pared down to the hub facilities, namely: the motor lodge, riding stables, etc., which were put on the block in 1985, and in 1986, the waterworks and airport became CRD functions. After 18 years of close association with the growing community, the Block Bros. Realty link with the ranch was finally severed.

After Block Brothers

By Sandy Foster

By letter dated June 15, 1977 Block Bros. was notified by the BC Government under signature of our Cariboo MLA Alex Fraser (Minister of Highways) that the Agriculture Land Reserve restrictions applied to the 108 and Block Bros. would have to successfully appeal if they planned to continue with the development. In addition to this big problem, it is possible that Blocks had also begun to understand that they had misjudged the market potential for a recreational development almost 300 miles from Vancouver. In any event, by the fall of 1977 Block Bros. began to “pull the plug” on further investment. The idea for a grand style recreational ranch encompassing five phases was over. There were, however, problems to work out, as promises had been made. What we were left with was the central golf course and resort area near the airport, approximately 1500 original lots and the greenbelt areas including Walker Valley, Block pasture and our lake areas. To learn about the History of our Greenbelt lands click here. Currently, the only visible link with the developer is recalled on our street names. Nevertheless, we are grateful to Block Bros. for their vision and efforts in creating what is now our community called the 108 Mile Ranch or frequently just ‘The 8’.

As Block Bros. withdrew, many people saw the need for the local residents to step up and take charge of their own destiny. Local governance for this area was under the jurisdiction of the Cariboo Regional District, which was incorporated by the BC Government in 1968 and covered the large area north of 70 Mile House to south of Hixon in the north, approximately 80,600 square acres. We are Area “G” which is basically Lac La Hache and the 108. As early as 1970, a local group had been created known as the 108 Property Owners Association (BC Society) which provided input, support, ideas and lobbying to Block Bros.

While many people stepped up and volunteered, there has been one person who took initiative and leadership above all others and continues to do so. That person is Al Richmond, a 108 resident since the mid-1970s. Whatever was happening at the 108 during those transition years and later, Al was involved. Whether it was building the hall, organizing the Greenbelt, wells, and waterworks, new fire trucks needed, airport improvements, as a volunteer firefighter – there would be Al’s leadership and energy. Of course, he was also Chair of our Community Association until 1993, when he first ran for CRD Director for our area. In addition to looking after the 108, Al has led the CRD in so many capacities, including chair, and again with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ various committees and again as its chair.

In 1993 and 1994 the residents of the 108 decided to look into their option for local governance. We formed a local committee, obtained a government grant, and hired a consultant to consider the benefits and disadvantages of leaving the CRD and incorporating as a municipality. The study showed advantages in having local decision making with self-government, but much higher taxes to cover road and policing costs etc. The community decided to stay with the CRD governance, with input from our various community committees and volunteers.

Where do we go next…who knows, but it is a great place to live and if you want to enjoy it even more while making it better, just try getting involved as a local volunteer. (Just call Ingrid Meyers and you are in!)