To view the full photo album -- the rebuilding of the San Jose schoolhouse at the 108 Heritage Site CLICK HERE

Another special piece of Cariboo history was preserved last week. Thanks to local volunteers, members of the 100 Mile and District Historical Society, and a generous donation by local log home builder Andre Chevigny, the 133 Mile Schoolhouse now has a new home at the 108 Heritage Site.

The little one-room schoolhouse was built in 1938 by local ranchers Ernie Wright and Bud Felker. The new school gave local schoolchildren from nearby ranches, including 130, 132 and 134 Mile, the opportunity to attend school near their homes.

With the help of their teams of horses, Wright and Felker hauled logs in to the build the structure. Using a lot of volunteer and manual labour, the pair worked hard to get the school finished for the 15 students to attend their new school. Using a broad axe, they cut all the logs by hand. And apparently, they donated all their time and the materials and were not funded in any way by the government for this project.

Miss Laura Crystal, the first teacher at the then named Enterprise School, lived with Enid and Ernie Wright at the 132 Mile Ranch, as did many of the teachers over the years. Students walked to school or rode their horses. Water was hauled in from a nearby spring on the Wright's ranch two miles away. A little pot-bellied wood stove provided the heating in the small school room and the washroom was of course an outhouse.

After her husband died, Enid Wright, then a school trustee, had the name of the school changed to San Jose, after the meandering river that ran nearby the school. The school closed in 1956.

It sat on the side of Hwy. 97 for many years for many passing by to enjoy. Then in May 1997 it was necessary for the schoolhouse to be dismantled. Andre Chevigny acquired the structure and his first idea was to restore and rebuild the school house on his property just down the way. He then rebuilt the landmark at the Pioneer Log Home building site and he and his crew spent 11 weeks redoing the little one-roomed school house. They replaced 15 pieces and redid all the other log pieces. "We tried to do this without changing the old timers' craftsmanship," explained Chevigny.

Then about one-and-a-half years ago, Chevigny decided to donate the building to the 100 Mile and District Historical Society, to be re-erected at the 108 Heritage Site. The group was ecstatic to be able to acquire the great little building. "It's just like a dream come true," said Maryann Rutledge, director and bookkeeper of the historical society. "It makes me feel good inside to see history saved."

The San Jose School House is the 11th building to be restored on the site. They include the McNeil ranch/road house, ice house, bunk house, telegraph office, blacksmith shop, BX barn, Watson barn, outhouse, trapper's cabin and now the San Jose schoolhouse.

The old logs, all numbered and restored were hauled in, this time by truck, and set up on July 7, 2000 -- a process which took only a few hours to complete. A roof, windows, doors and chinking will be added, hopefully within a month's time.

The Society is now looking for artifacts to fill the schoolhouse, including pointers, black boards, desks, inkwells, pens, slates, etc. As well they would love to hear from past students and teachers.

For more information contact Tom or Maryann Rutledge at 791-1971.