153 Mile House: Letters Sent to the Historic Crosina Store
Credit: Crosina and Patenaude Families
153 Mile House’s History
The 153 Mile House is one of the last surviving roadhouses built along British Columbia’s historic Cariboo Waggon Road. During the Cariboo Gold Rush, thousands of miners, freight teams, and travellers passed through the region in hopes of striking it rich. They stopped at the houses at the mile markers for meals, supplies, and rest before continuing to the goldfields.
The gold rush in British Columbia ended by the end of the twentieth century, however, the 153 Mile House remained an important gathering place for those in the surrounding ranching community.
The Crosina and Patenaude Families
In 1900, Louis and Clara Crosina opened the general store at 153 Mile House. They served ranchers, travellers, and local families and overtime built close relationships with their neighbours and customers. The store was more than a place a business, it was also a meeting place where neighbours exchanged news and travellers stopped to rest, resulting in lasting friendships.
150 Mile House; George Veith and manager Joseph Patenaude – Credit BC Archives Reference E-05506
After Louis and Clara passed away, Lil took over running the store. By 1958 she decided to step back and sold the 153 Mile ranch to Joe and Peggy Patenaude. Peggy worked along side Lil at the store. In 1963, Lil suffered a heart attack and died behind the counter at the store. The store closed down immediately and was frozen in time. It was eventually reopened as a tribute to Lil and looks just the same way as when she was last in it. Today, the store opens up for tours to students and others.
153 Mile Store and the First World War
Reminders of the war were everywhere. Suppliers such as Tenax created the below Decorations of Honour to help customers learn about the different medals that the soldiers were earning overseas.
Decorations of Honour from various suppliers – Credit: Crosina and Patenaude Families
153 Mile House and the Community
150 Mile House Circa 1905 – Credit: BC Archives Reference I-33356150 Mile House Circa 1905 – Credit: BC Archives Reference A-03496
Lee makes a comment about Will Crosina’s dancing abilities, but at the time of writing, dancing had been prohibited. The only exception for this was the Masquerade ball that was a charity fundraiser for the hospital. This would have been the only time that Will would have legally been allowed to dance.
Quesnel Cariboo Observer, February 8, 1919
WWI Soldiers
Lee Sheffield Whittaker 339502
Lee Sheffield Whittaker was born June 10, 1891 in New Brunswick, Canada. Before the war he worked as an accountant. Standing 5 foot 8 and 160 pounds inches and in good health, he was deemed fit for enlistment at the age of 25 in 1917 when joined the 68th Overseas Depot Battery. You can read his military service file here.
After the War
In his letters, Lee talks of hoping to get home soon. A couple weeks later on April 12, 1919 he was discharged from the war and was allowed to head home to 150 Mile House. Physically, he returned with only a scar on his leg. His mother, a widower, must have been relived to hear that he survived the war. Hopefully he was able to make the trip down to Texas to see her once more.
After the war, Lee Whitaker moved to Alberta where he worked at a lumber camp. Sadly in 1928 at the age of 37 he was found dead in his bed at a Berrington’s camp. He wasn’t married nor have any children listed.
Credit: Edmonton Journal, January 3, 1928
Walter Hogg
Walter Hogg was born February 17, 1889 in Dumfries Scotland. Before the war he worked as a farmer.
After WW1
After he returned home to 150 Mile House, he married Mary Beveridge in 1920. He later became a politician serving in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 1948 for the Cariboo district. He served only one term and died in Kamloops, British Columbia in 1949 at the age of 60.
Credit: Quesnel Cariboo Observer, July 17, 1920Walter Hogg – Credit: Quesnel Cariboo Observer, May 15, 1948
About These Letters
Among the items preserved by the Crosina and Patenaude families, are letters written to their families from customers and friends. Customers had the habit of mailing in their orders and also wanting to know the last gossip in the region. This didn’t stop when these customers and friends went off to war. Instead Lil continued to receive the letters from soldiers, still eager to remain connected to the Crosinas and their community. Something to note is that since the customers were so close to the Crosina that they frequently referred to Mr. and Mrs. Crosina as “Mother” and “Father”. Lil had 3 siblings, Dolly, Will, and XXX who are mentioned in the letter.
The Letters
Lee Whitaker’s Letter to Lil Crosina – March 18, 1919
Witley Camp Surrey England Mar 18/9, 1919
Dear Lillie
Many thanks for the “bawling out,” but are you quite certain that I deserve it? I am almost certain that I answered your last letter and anyhow I have written to you far more than I have received letters from you. Let us blame it on the submarines or the mail or something. I do not write very often to Julia, but I got a letter from her with yours. She says that the village of 150 Mile House is busy now over a certain piece in the “Cariboo Observer” and some folks are trying to figure out just who the kind people were who sent them the pretty valentines.
Julia says Mrs. Weyenburg sent her one “acknowledged given of her greasy dominion” which she did not mind, but someone sent her one which said something to the effect that she was stuck on herself and putting on airs. Mary Felker got a couple mean ones too. Mrs. Geo. Goodrich got one about a two faced woman and another about wearing paste jewelry. I would like to know what the article in the “Observer” is about, but perhaps it is only some cheap scandal which is not worth hearing.
I am glad that you are all getting such nice weather. The ranchers can stand it. I bet you folks had a very nice xmas time. I had a very quiet time. One of my brothers got napped in the last few days of the war. Mother feels it very much, you may be sure. Will is a good boy that he thought enough of his family to stay at home. It is a hard job for a boy to stay when everyone else is going, but it was a great mistake that so many of the farmers in Canada did go.
To make it worse they are not making any effort to get farmers back in a hurry. It is a wonder to me that in a time like now, the whole world is short of food and every acre counts for so much. I know at least 15 fellows right in my own crowd that should be in Canada right now, getting ready for seeding. If they are lucky they will be demoted about the end of Apr. But there are a good many thousands that will not. This does not concern me a great deal as I am no farmer but I just could not help mentioning it. (Don’t think I am joining the Bolshevks or I.W.W. because I write this)
I was on leave last week and I had a beautiful time. I was at Torquay a town in Devonshire. I was staying with some relations. They have quite a bit of money and property. They are Canadians but have lived in this country for some time. Though they have made several trips to California and eastern Canada. I did not like going to visit rich relations but I am glad now, because they used me like a king. I must tell you about Torquay. It has a beautiful climate, though it is a coast town. There are lots of palm trees and tropical plants growing in the outdoor gardens. All the house and cottages are very pretty and it is fine in every way, but the cost of living there is terrific. As I was not a paying guest that did not worry be a little bit.
If you were in Witley you would think of Victoria because it rains so much here. I intend to stop off at Alberta to go and see my folks and then go to Vancouver. If I am not sent to the 150 Mile House I will take a trip there any way, before I get to work. Of course, I am trusting that I will get to Canada, but it may be a nice dream that is the way a lot of us feel about it sometimes. I will bring this to a finish now. Hoping that I will be forgiven when I go to visit your people. I did write I am almost certain. I have to write to your Mother and Father.
So good bye.
Lee
P.S. As Mother says Will is some dancer. Did you and Doll teach him?
Credit: Crosina and Patenaude Families
Lee Whitaker’s Letter to Lil Crosina – March 27, 1919
Witley Camp Mar 27/19
Dear Lillie,
How are you these days? Quite well, I hope. We are going to sail day after tomorrow for good old Canada. I hope we get home soon. I am very tired of the army and the 1.10 a day pay. I don’t suppose I will ever get rich, but I will have a better chance of being so when I shake this old suit of khaki. If I ever see a bunch of kids playing at soldier, I won’t want to have any more to do with them.
It is not very warm right here but the sun is shining most of these days which makes it rather pleasant. There is most always a really cold wind which spoils what otherwise would be real nice weather. There are a lot of real good shows and free concerts here some are very good indeed. London is some town. On a nice fine afternoon you see some life. Most all the people in town who…
Note: The rest of the letter is missing.
Credit: Crosina and Patenaude Families
Walter Hogg’s Letter to Lil Crosina – March 24, 1919
Private W. Hogg. Miss Lillie Crosina 153 Mile House Cariboo BC Canada
Canadian YMCA
Belgium 24/3/19
Dear Lillie
Your welcome letter arrived yesterday & I was sure glad to hear from you . Well, we are still holding it down hear among the mud & rain, at least when it isn’t raining its snowing.
When any one talks to me about sunny France again, I’ll tell them “The frozen month for mine”, I never suffered so much with cold in my life as I have out here. I don’t know when they are going to get us back but I am sure getting fed up, its nearly five months since the war finished & were farther away from home than we were then. We have nothing to do, I think that is what makes us feel so bad, we have only twelve horses left & two of us to do the shoeing. Its going to be hard on me to do a days work now unless I can get something — — I can sit down to & not get up early in the morning.
You must be having great times at the dances & Willie I am surprised at him, Pectonia sure woke him up, but there is nothing like it, I used to be that way my self but I am getting too old now, if I got up to dance with a girl now I would walk all over her feet, you’ll have to give me a few lessons when I get back.
Well, I suppose you will be having Summer weather by the time you get this. I got Willie’s letter a few week ago & answered it I hope he gets it all right. I guess I won’t know the place when I get back, it will be nearly three years by the time I get there. I don’t know how I will come off if all four of you kids pile on to me now. I used to have quite a time handing you four years ago & you must have grown since then.
I hope Dad got home all OK with his tractor & has good luck with it. Now I don’t seem to have any more to say at present but will have all kinds to tell when I get back remember me to all the folk & hoping this finds you all well.
The Patenaude family has carefully preserved the original manuscripts featured in this post at the 153 Mile Ranch. I transcribed the letters verbatim, retaining the original spelling, grammar, and punctuation to preserve their historical authenticity. To make the collection more accessible, I added editorial introductions and historical context that place the letters within the broader social and historical landscape of twentieth-century British Columbia.
For over sixty years, Louis and Clara Crosina, and later on their daughter Lil, welcomed customers at 153 Mile House. When the store closed after Lil’s death in 1963, the building and its contents remained exactly as they were on her final day. Today, the building offers a…
