One Hundred Mile House around 1912 (credit: BC Archives #10255)

With the building of the Cariboo Road in 1862, a roadhouse and store was built beside the road. Through the years, and with the various owners, the building was enlarged to become five separate buildings.

Charles Beak (credit: Humphrey Beak, England)

One of the many owners was Charles Beak, who owned several nearby ranches, and instituted a dairy in the Lac La Hache area, selling dairy products to Barkerville.

Lord Martin Cecil (credit: Cecil family, 100 Mile House)

In 1912 the ranch was sold to the Marquis of Exeter, but it was not until 1930 that Lord Martin Cecil, son of the Marquis, came to reside at the 100 Mile House. By this time the old roadhouse was infested with bed bugs, and was burned down. As Manager of the Bridge Creek Cattle Co. Lord Martin learned the ranching business quickly, and later became the President of the Provincial and National Cattle Association. With a small group of friends he also started the 100 Mile Chapter of the Emissaries of the Divine Light, a religious sect, in 1948. Today the village of 100 Mile House, 334km south of Prince George is a thriving community of 1,850 residents. While cattle and horse ranching continues to be important, sawmilling and log house building is equally important. Nearby 108 Mile hosts an annual Cross Country Ski race each February which brings tourists and visitors to 100 Mile House (Encyclopedia of B.C. p.515)

All text and images © Quesnel & District Museum and Archives unless otherwise noted. Thanks to the B.C. Archives for permission to show various images. Thanks to the BC Encyclopedia for permission to quote information on the roadhouse communities. Thanks to the Living Landscapes Project, the Royal British Columbia Museum, Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services for their support of site development.