Roadhouses on the Cariboo Wagon Road

Posted On 24 August 2020

Last updated on April 9th, 2024

I wrote this post with a pen and paper at our rented cabin at Cottonwood House. It’s a beautiful historic site and remote enough that there is no cell coverage here. My family and I spent the night here on our way to Barkerville. It was the discovery of gold in the Barkerville area that brought a gold rush to the area.

Cariboo Wagon Road

We live in the interior of British Columbia, Canada, on the only highway that runs north through the center of BC. The highway follows the path of the Cariboo Wagon Road and has been in use since the mid 1800’s. Gold was first discovered in the lower Fraser River, and prospectors followed the gold up the Fraser River. Eventually, the Barkerville area was found to be rich in gold.

When there were stagecoaches travelling on the on the Cariboo Wagon Road, there were no towns in the whole area. The stopping places were simply houses along the road. Not all the roadhouses were the same. Some were good places with good food, others were dirty places run by swindlers!

Some of the houses were developed into ranches, some of the houses became towns, and some of the houses were simply abandoned. It’s a lot like people – because the houses were built and run by people.

Because it is people that build highways and houses as well as wealth, this brings me to how people conduct their own finances.

Roadhouses and Wealth

Every roadhouse had a name. Some were given names like Hatt Creek Ranch or Cottonwood House. Others were simply called 10 Mile, 59 Mile Roadhouse, 100 Mile House, or 150 Mile House, based on how far up the road they were located.

Cottonwood House and Hatt Creek Ranch became ranches with stage express offices, telegraph stations, and had supplies available for purchase (like a general store). Some even had blacksmiths. These ranches were truly self-sufficient.

100 Mile House and 150 Mile House both became towns when other industries moved into the area. Lumber is still a big industry in the area. When these mills started operating in an area, they needed (and attracted) people.

We have the choice of how we would like to grow – just like the houses on the Cariboo Wagon Road. Developing a network of people with various skills allow us to grow into a town. When we take responsibility for the whole project and bring people into our lives to help us with that project, we are like the self-sufficient ranches on the wagon road. There is no one right way to do things for everyone. Sometimes a ranch can turn into a town as well.

Canoosa Finance is a Roadhouse

Canoosa Finance is a place for the weary traveller on the highway of life. It is a causal site where personal finances are discussed. There are also tips and tricks shared to help you get the best bang for the buck or rack up points as fast as possible.

As an American who moved to Canada in 2006 and became a Canadian citizen in 2017, I am familiar with the financial systems in both the United States and Canada. Both have advantages over the other, and both could learn something from the other. I like them both.

After working in an electronics store, I started working as a handyman, which is where the DIY aspect comes from. I enjoy making and fixing things. Some of this probably came from the fact that we live in a small town and it is sometimes easier to make it myself than to try to find something. That’s ok. It has taught me how to be resourceful.

I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in History. Since I enjoy history, there will be history thrown into these posts as well. We can learn a lot from the past.

While we are not rich, we have learned how to stretch our money as far as possible and, I feel compelled to share what we have learned with those who want that info. I look forward to developing this site while I continue my journey through life.