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CENTENNIAL EDITION,

‘New tow

Continued from Page Four

later sold to
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Agnew built his home
and office on what is now the
Overwaitea parking lot. © H.
Dodweill, the first postmaster,
Was building his residence on
the site now occupied by PF. B.
Bass Lea.

Neil MeDermott opened a law
Office, followed by Avison ana
Stan Hewitt, next to the
Present Overwaitea Ltd. store.
Avison went on to Quesnel in
1922,

The first skating rink in
town was the frog pond where
the village hall, post office and
and house beside it on Second
are now situated. On this ice,
Lovette and Joy, daughters of
Rev. and Mrs. McKinnon, got
their start in figure skating on
the road to performing on
world tours and before the
Royal Family.

Claude Pigeon purchased the
livery stable from Spencer and
moved his family into town.

The PGE present station was
built. Mackenzie's warehouse
was built and moved in 1927
to its,présent site near the
Cattlemen's Association,

To add to the boom town
activities, Johnny Lyne and a.
HE. Platt discovered gold ai
Cedar Creek ‘

Rife arrived with his tami
and opened the drug store in
December. In 1927 he
the premises now occupied by
Mackenzies Menswear,

The Chileotin Mail and
Freight line, owned and
Operated by T. J, Hodgson,

moved from the 150 to tem-
Porary quarters in a log cabin

on the creek. About 1 ar
son built on the lot
by Simpsons-

He started in 1914 or
with a” sub-contract from
the B.C. Express Company and
in 1916 obtainea the mail con-
tract from the 150 into the
Chilcotin. It was a five-day
run with horses. His first
motor stage was a Thomas
Flyer which often had to
back up the steep grades until
a force feed carburetor
installed. About 1924
Hodgson warehouse,

the
office,
garage and stable, as well as
~ the residence, were moved to

the present location. With the
exception of a short period
when Cap Foster had the con-
tract, the Hodgson family aave

in continuous service to the
Chilcotin.
Claude Barber arrived in

town to open the first tele-

Wi OBE.

Richardson and torn down
Start a new post o:

to

1924

Although there are no
Official records available, it is
believed to be about thig y
that the Publie
moved into town,

Red Hellier started to suppl
electricity to the nearby yr
dences and business hou
to Oliver and Second, as he had
increased the power of his
private light plant to operate
a theatre. Other businesses
like Fraser and Mackenzi> and
the Lakeview, had their
plants.

ar
Yards

own

1925

The Stampede Hall was built
by Bill smith with money
raised from the sale of shares
to supporters of the show. it
Was eventually sold to Herb
Spencer and was latterly owned
by George Renner at the ‘ime
it burned down in 1956. [1

was located next to the Leo
building and from the ashes
a modern business block was
constructed.

Tt was also about ihis year
that “cat's whisker” enthus-
jasts were getting excited over

from San
the exten
hall to siage
The fee was

Francisco, even to
of hiring a small
“ radio show

© and nothing much trans-
Pired but ‘static and feeble
voices,
1926

Masonic “Lodge built thei-
hall, which is still in
main floor being occuy
Cariboo Home  Furnis
The first commercial
Was the Liquor Stor

if
Johnson
where

M. F arted
building the F;
Cafe now stands and move
barber chair and pool bu
there. He later completed the
building with concrete block.

Keith Caverly, who had been
working for the PGE as pump
man, staried a garage
Pair shop at the corner where
Tony Leather Goods now
stands, and moved it seross
the street in 1929 to open the
B.A. Service Station. This
building was torn down in 1
to make way for a
station.

the
mon

and re-

1928
The Anglican Church w:
built Rev. Basil A. Resker
had been holding service for

: f ay
110 grain fields me

tired from government service,
deserves special mention in r
gard to his work for the
ranchers. He expended more
effort than any other man in
organizing gr; hopper control;
bull sales by auction through
the’ Cariboo Cattlemen's ‘4
ciation, and in establishing the
auction cattle sales. Through
his untiring efforts,
mers’ Institutes in the di
were back working aml active.

1929

Claude Huston started a
garage in the Claude Pigeon
Stable and moved in 1931 to
open Huston Garage opposite
the Lakeview. He bought out
Herb Spencer who was operat-
ing a Willys sales agency
Huston later established a
freight line to the coast which
was sold in 1951 and hecame
known as T & H Cariboo
Transport.

slate of villa
appointed
‘ay for incorpora-

A. temporary
commissioner
to pave the
tion. This board consisted of
Dr. A. D. McKinnon, Harry
Curtis and Dr. Connolly. They
held their final meeting in the
April and an election was held
in May.

wa

election as
m=
tern,
Smed-

Returned in thi
the first Board of Vill
missioners were W. S$.’ \We
M. F. Johnson and J. 0
ley. The first meeting was held
in the Oliver Theatre. Village
Clerk was Ken G. Rife,

throughout

Cariboo

When Mrs, Agnes Lee, one of the Cariboo’s
‘nown and best-loved figures, died last year in
her 87th yea ral hundrea People made the trip
to Hanceville to Day their last Tespects to a woman
whose kindness had touchea them all during her 5
years in their midst.
many hardships. At the time times a jon y one as the Lee’s
Many of the. mourners were ~ built up their ranch and trad-
Indians, for-“ Gan-Gan” had ing store, but the little woman
* special place in her heart for from England withstood the
the Indian people. of her death, she was still the
Soyman Lee was already SORES! personality that she
famous personality when he vat nae a

gland
the
change from her native Shrop-
shire to the ruggedness of the
Canadian West was about
great a one as any woman could
expect to make in a lifetime

TRIP TOOK SE

EN DAYS

keen interest
present day

in affairs of the

Mackenzie was town’s |
tost dominant

A PRINCES

Highlight of the Centennial Year in Williams Lake

Was the visit of H.R.H. Princess

a-small Stampede was staged,

She received pioneer Chilcotin resident Mrs. Norman
Lee. 6

Chilcotin’s “Gan-Gen” was known

VISITS

Margaret, for whom
She is shown here as

No matter how ¢
& newspaper is proof
t certain number of mis
nto wet by.
Pour of the sec-
of this issue,
out

the first tine was missed
the story 7

the romance of day
The ‘Yy should
“Williams Lake, Cit

ys ot

ste

Sturt:

ents,
In. the same section,
headline on the story
Page Eight about Cro.
should read

not 150 Mile.’

person

|

’ THOUSANDS OF DOL
ON FAMOUS RACE

There will probably never again be as much

money bet on
that day in 18
ser Baby”
sorre], “

was

Some say there was $100,000
bet that day, although Robert

Oiticer,
who landeq in Williams Lake
the race and stayed
for the celebration, estimatea
the amount of. money that
changed hands at between
360,000 and $70,000.

The two owners were
well-known men
boo. Doc English had his
headquarters at Deer Ranch
and drove beef to the mines!
Killing the cattle there and sell.
ing the meat by the ‘pound.
He loved horses and brought

both
in the Cari-

a race in Williams Lake as there was
61 when Doe English’s famous

“ Nig-

matched against Phil Grinder’s

some fine animals into the
country. One of these, the
“Chinaman,” he thought so

highly of he provided it with
gold-plated horseshoes. _

The race was to be over a
$00-yard course, and one of
the problems was to. find an
area large enough that would
accommodate the course and
sive the spectators a good
view. Since there was good
pen country around the west
end of Williams Lake, and
William Pinchbeck was operat-
ing a small distillery, this
location was the choice on both
counts.

LARS BET

AT ’LAKE ~

Grinder obtained the ser-
viees of a man named Stubbs
of Walla Walla to rida his
horse, but English did his own

i ing a man that >“
own horse

shouldn't own one.

When the date of the epic
Tace_was announced, everyone .
in the Cariboo made plans to
attend. All. mining on the
creeks stopped for two weeks.

On the flats near the present
town, the grain had all been
harvested and the fields were *
covered with tents.

The race that drew these
hundreds of spectators was won
by Nigger ~aby in a canter.

Says the slogan used by
proof as store clerk Mrs

when the Borkowsk
Every

Walk-Rite Sho
- Prank Bork
Borkowski hold a pair of children’s,
The shore store has grown imm

decided .to go
effort is made to provide a supply of the ¥

in business

e Store and seen in the Picture is
Owski and co-owners John and Edie |
» men’s and women’s shoes.

easurably since it was first Opened in 1950

ry latest styles in foot-

The resulting celebrations __
lastéd for two weeks, and for
Years afterwards every yard of
the race was run beside the
campfires of the Cariboo.
~
=

on their own account.

Wear, and a semi-annual clearance Sale ensures that stocks are constantly
changed... a far ery from the pioneer days when residents could only buy
and New York and Paris styles in footwear never graced the streets of

« tWO years in the theatre, school
‘phone office, although the main a atirtdds

office was still at the 150 Mile

swith Hope Patenaude in charge™

It was 50 below at Asherofs
when the couple got off the
train. From there they tray-

or whatever
was convenient.

) Roderick Maclinstéy cue of the first merchants
of Williams Lake and qife of its most dominant per-

construction,

Men envisioned Squamish as a

in

store

— Norman Lee bought the Hen- malig Hi eae I i a a es
— nee derson store building on itail- elled the Cariboo Trail, taxine ie Dig Sages se ene Williams Lake.
way Avenue trom Herb Spencer seven days to make the trip to a new career in fr y Was suc:
In the spring of 1922, the (according to rumor, the sale Hanceville. To cross the Chil- cessful in both ventures. @
srrsing In Ptah Se gatal Yet Rade while man lo The cata he sesh orang ny young Scots lad with a deep sea port ani ‘Roderex alk=8tite oe Store
Operating in Fraser and Maci Process of being moved from the frozen Fraser, and as Mrs. spirit of adventure, Roderick Mac! enzie chose this spot fot
enzie’s store with Water Slater Railway to the new site on Lee often told it, if modern left his highland home to work his first. store. Although the
ee the frst vender. The store Oliver. where Borko s airplane service had been for a German company in dream never became reali
Was moved in 1926 to the Menswear is now located). Mr. known in those da: she south Africa. He soon Roderick held ° fast to it —_——____———
Masonic building. Dave Full- Lee established a dry-goods would have taken the n ‘ene branched out into partnership through the years, WSS
erton was the next vendor, fol- business which was later home. with another man, selling goods The restless Scot was hardly
lowed by Mickey Lunn. bought by Miss A. R. Burley The Lee establishment at by oxcart through the Trans. established 1. Squainisn thou A t f t
Teter une hag gt coum ehh Bc 6 fot coats atta "ag te ere eters quarter of a cen “ry
a barber chair in the Log new and second hand business place in those days between he served with a. highland lowing steel into laterior E
Cabin Hotel, ten going on to on Railway between Oliver and Bech ke Creek and regiment, returning to the re- In 1918 he started his second
the Cedar Creek rush. When Borland and moved in 1932 to Bena the English tail trade ater peace was store at Williams Lake. then OO
he returned, he bought oui the Oliver Street location bride set herself the hard task declared. only a cluster of shacks and
; Newt Clair in the poolroom on where Lake Hardware is today. 6 learning the Indian language ; tents waiting for the line to
Railway. The first district agricultur- so she could be of help in trad. In 1909 far horizons beek- come.through. Eventually his
Barney Boe built the small ist was Gabriel (Gab) A. Luyat, (908 them, ened again, and Roderick de- holdings extended to Wells, 4
structure on the site of Wil who arrived early in January Tt was a busy life and a; ‘ided to emigrate to Canada where a third store
liams Lake Pharmac This to open the first office in the . with his small family. The opened This Venture was |
Was first used as an office, then Boe building It was later Mackenzies landed at Van- closed in 1951, For several
— as a meat market by H. Lam- moved to a smali shack across a * couver where the talk of the years he operated a sto
birth and later C. Poston. from the government offices ANOTHER was the Pacific Grest Quesnel as well. The Squami: . << s
- and final in the ern development and the store is now operated by hi ‘ ‘
The new hospital was’ under covernn TRANSPORT Wuture ef the town of Squamish. son Alistair. and the lar iP %

A great many of the men
Who had helped build the new
town left for Cedar Creek.
Among there were Mr. Johnson,

<1 Phil Coxon, Harold Richard-

5

Fred Mellish and Tom

son,
Mart.
On returning, Fred Mellish

Gab Luyat, who has now re-

“ FIRST»

partment

Lake by his son-in-law, Doug-
las Stevenson,

Through the years, Mr,
Mackenzie took a !teading role
in town and district affairs.
From 1938 to 1932 he repre-
sented Cariboo riding as Con-
servative member in ‘tke B.C.

went in for excavating, and | / reryaure member in be Bo.
fo the wood busines tad Mr | Anne (Mrs. Stevenson) was
to the wood business.and Mr. ! Ammer Stevenson) as
Mart into trucking. i his

1923 H A figure of contradictions
; until his death at 89 years of

Smedley and Sharp started
the building supply business
with construction of a ware-
house by the railway tracks at
the foot of Borland. They also
obtained the agency for Im-
perial Oil. Succeeding agents
were Tom Mart, Jack Mellish,
Alvin Miller, R. M. Blair, and
his sons, Robin and Jim.

Roderick could
be as hard as steel in b
dealings, and open-handed in
his generosity to those in need
or whom he befriended.

The street fronting his store
in Williams Lake was changed
from Railway to Mackenzie
Avenue in 1956 in recognition
of his many years of inceres

of service to the Cariboo is the proud claim Woo
make as British Columbia celebrates its 100th
in 1933 when there were very few retail outlets

dlands Jewellers are able to
birthday,
in Williams Lake, Tony

Opening his store

Woodland now finds himself the oldest merchant in the district who owns his
own store. A family business in the best sense of the word, Tony has passed
on the skill of his craft to son Ralph and it seems likely there wil] always be
“a “Woodlands Jewellers” in Williams Lake.

It was about the winter of of bis many year
this year that the first known
Pubic Works snow plow pulled

mF !
into town from the 150 Mile.
It had 16 head of horses pull-
ing it with Tommy Comer 1s
skinner. The huge affair was
made of two-inch planks.

George Havers had
estate office, a small
building on the site of Black.
wells Photo Service Ltd. This
was bought in 1933 by Harold

ROAD FINISHED IN 1863

On August 16, 1862, Gus-
tavus Blin Wright obtained
the contract to build a wagon
road from Clinton to Alexan-
dria, a distance of 244 miles.
By the end of July, 1863, the
road was finished to Soda
Creek. The saga 9f the Car
bro Read had started

E. G. Woodland & Son

LIMITED

line and village officials anq Visitors
are shown here on the old Stage coach
brought up by members of the Rube

This was the scene at Williams Lake
airport on April 15, 1950, when the
inaugural flight of the new Canadian
Pacific Airline service was made i r

yA) far