From 153 Mile House to British Columbia’s Cowboy Hall of Fame
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 general store served the local ranching families and travellers in the Cariboo region.
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The Crosina and Patenaude Familie
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.
After Louis and Clara passed away, Lil took over running the store. By 1958 she decided to step back and sold the 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.
About Bill Pulver
Bill Pulver was one of the Cariboo-Chicolton region’s pioneers when he arrived in 1928 to work on the Moon Ranch and 150 Mile House Ranch. He found his calling working with the horses and embraced cowboy culture. Each year he would travel to the Williams Lake Stampeed and compete in calf roping and pig racing.
In 1936, he found his wife, Millie and they settled down to have two daughters, Gwen and Barbara.
Serving During the Second World War
While his daughters were still quite young he left to serve his country in World War Two in 1940. He fought in Belgium, France, and Holland until 1945 when returned home safely to his family.
Returning Home From War
In 1945, William returned from fighting in the war and immediately got back into ranching. He started his own ranch, the Mountain House Ranch, and continued to compete in rodeos. Life for the family continued on at the ranch up until William had a heart attack and they had to sell their ranch and move to Silver Creek, British Columbia.
Once healed, William returned to ranching. His wife Millie would be busy in the kitchen making hearty food for their ranch hands.
A Cowboy and His Rooster
Bill had many talents and if training horses for the rodeo wasn’t already impressive, he learned how to train a rooster. Before long he had a new act for his rodeo show. His rooster, Happy, would be harnessed and tied up to a mini chuckwagon. Out would jump Bill’s Pomeranian dog, Cheekie, and into the wagon ready for the harnessed rooster to pull him around.
British Columbia’s Cowboy Hall of Fame
Bill spent his life dedicated to being a cowboy. He worked on the ranches, trained horses, and competed in rodeos. Although Bill died in 1990, his family was there to see him inducted into British Columbia’s Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2023.
Credit: The Tribune, May 18, 2023
About This Letter
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 the store received letters from those overseas fighting in the First World War, still eager to remain connected to the Crosinas and their community. Their customers regularly referred to them as “Mom” and “Dad” in letters.
The Letters
Bill Pulver’s Letter to Mr. Crosina – April 19th, 1941
April 19TH , 1941
Dear Dad,
Well dad how’s everything going there. I am a long way from home now in Nova Scotia pretty near Halifax so I guess there won’t be any chance to see you till this war is over hop it don’t last to long. I guess the grass should be coming along there now The snow is just about gone here lots of mud. How’s Bill & family say hello to them for me I get lonesome for the old Cariboo & cattle & horses haven’t hardly seen one since I left will have to learn to ride a horse when I come back. I wouldn’t be surprised if we go overseas pretty soon I’m in the third Div & they should move soon of course we don’t really know. This is a big Army Camp here 14 or 15 thousand men here the Camp covers 30 sq mile or more.
How’s Dolly & Lewis making out say hello to them. Theres lots of trenches here all right hand drive & 4 wheel drive it seems funny a truck with 4 wheels spinning in the mud instead of two. Did you get all your cattle last this fall & how are the calves coming along should have some now. We learnt all about Bren Machine Gun & Boyer anti tank rifle & Lews Gun. Who have you got working for you now is Mrs. Smith still with you. Hows Bills leg now.
I guess quite a bunch of the boys from up there have joined up now saw quite a few in Victoria. I shure miss Milly & the kids. But they are pretty comfortable there in Victoria. Old Harry Case is still in Victoria he cut over 100 cords of wood for one fellow and now hes working for $50.00 per month for somebody there.
Hows beef holding should be pretty good price now. Do you have see old Bill Locke is he well nowdays. When is Bill Mckenzie & Olive going to chads I guess Bills still working on Van Isle. Suppose Chadbolt will go to the coast & live now. Do you ever see George I wrote to him haven’t had an answer yet though. I don’t know how long it will take this letter to get there shouldn’t take long by air. Harry is in Winnipeg now I am sorry he didn’t get in the same outfit Im in but can’t be helped I guess. Well dad I guess I’ll quite for now write soon as you can Ill be looking forward to a letter. Don’t work to doggone hard.
Bill.
Bill Pulver’s Christmas Card to Miss Crosina- Nov 1919
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Best Wishes
For
A Merry Christmas
And
A Peaceful New Year
Bill
K731941 Pte. Pulver W.5.
35 CDN A TPS COMPOSITE, COY, RCASC
CDN ARMY OVERSEAS
Stay tuned!
Next, I will share letters from a teacher in Quesnel in 1914-1916. Sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss any.
More to Read
- Education in the Cariboo: From 150 Mile School to Victoria High School
- 153 Mile House: Dr. Cecil Boyd’s First World War Letters
- William McRae’s Letters: A WWI Pilot and Soldier (1916)
- Missing in Action: A Family’s Search For Answers (1917)
Editorial Note
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.
