Cottonwood House Historic Site

In March of 1863, John Ryder, an overland freighter, pre-empted a 146-acre lot, District Lot 380, Cariboo, located on the north side of the Cottonwood River and in an apparent partnership with Allen Smith he paid for part of the adjoining District Lot 379 as well.

Smith worked to improve the Cottonwood property by building a small cabin. This was used as a shelter while they built the larger Cottonwood House, a roadhouse offering supper and accommodation with breakfast by September of 1864. The small cabin was then attached and used as an “annex” to the main house, with a parlor and a bedroom. The roadhouse was constructed of hand-hewn cottonwood logs with cob chinking. The log walls were squared and the corners of the house dovetailed.

Unfortunately, Allen Smith mortgaged Lots 379 and 380 to August Hoffmeister, on November 28, 1864, but was unable to pay the mortgage of $5,000 by the due date of July 1, 1865, and the ranch was forfeited to Hoffmeister. However, Hoffmeister & Co. was highly indebted and by September of 1866 was ordered to convey the title to the Bank of British Columbia. 

_{John Boyd stands next to a buggy in front of Cottonwood House along with another man and 3 other women. (Courtesy Marion Watson-Naomi Randall Collection, P2010.14.46 QDMA)}

By 1884, John and Jenet had seven children all born at Cold Spring House; John Charles (1869), William Henry (1872), Ida Grace (1875), Henry Thomas (1877), Albert Edward (1879), Alice Jane (1881), and Agnes Maud (1884). John’s first child from a previous marriage, Mary Ann Boyd had arrived at Cold Spring House from California in 1876, to be with John and tutor the children. ₂

In 1886, John made the decision to close Cold Spring House and move his growing family to Cottonwood House. Archibald Arthur was born at Cottonwood House in 1887, Chester Fleming on the San Juan Islands in 1889, and the last-born Walter Harold at Cottonwood House in 1891. John Fleming moved to Cold Spring House and took over the farming operations.

Under the management skills of John Boyd, Cottonwood House established itself as a reputable roadhouse and there was a steady flow of freighters and visitors including those travelling by stagecoach, such as the government road superintendent Joseph St. Laurent, John Bowron the government agent, merchants John Peebles and J.B. Nason, Alexander Locke with the B.C. Express Company, Judge Cornwall, Dentist Jones and Dr. Hugh Watt of Barkerville.<sub>3

The Boyd Family members (with their age in brackets); Back row L-R: Alfred Carson, Unidentified male youth. Third row L-R: John Charles Boyd (26), Alice Boyd (14), Mary Anne Carson (née Boyd) (34), Albert Boyd (16). Second row L-R: Agnes Boyd (11), John Boyd (61), Archie Boyd (8), Jenet Boyd (44). Front row L-R: Walter Boyd (4), Chester Boyd (6), Family dog. Missing are William (23) and Henry (18) (Courtesy Evelyn Warren’s Original, P2000.25.11 QDMA)</sub>

Over the decades, buildings were added to the farm to include a horse barn, milk house (no longer standing), double barn, warehouse, chicken coop and root cellar. Goods of almost every description were sold in the general store, to both residents of the area and travelers and a post office was established helping to make the farm a focal point of the community.

_{The formal dining area had a large table and chairs to seat up to 20 people. John Boyd and one or two of the boys would go to the kitchen and bring in the food, which was served at the head of the table. The meals served were always the best available. Photo courtesy of Bob Michek and The Barkerville Heritage Trust}

Although automobiles were starting to travel on the Cariboo Wagon Road, there were challenges for those driving an automobile in the deep ruts and slick mud. However, by the mid 1920’s the Boyd family business was feeling the impact of automated transportation and the reduced travel time resulting in only a short stop at Cottonwood House. By the mid 1930’s a gas pump was installed at Cottonwood House as an additional service to the automobiles travelling the road.   
The spring of 1930 brought some excitement to the Boyd family as they prepared for the visit of Lord and Lady Willingdon to Cottonwood House. While the depression of the 1930’s was wreaking havoc on the world economies, the development of the Cariboo Gold Quartz and Island Mountain hard rock gold mines in Wells resulted in a minor boom for the area. 
By the late 1930’s Jenet Boyd was 88 years old and her son Henry Boyd was appointed Administrator of the John Boyd Estate. On January 11, 1940, Janet passed away. Henry along with the help of his wife Eliza Jane Rawlings, sister Alice Boyd and her husband Jim Coreau kept the operation of the Cottonwood post office, farm and store going. 
In the spring of 1951 Harry sold the farm to Vagn and Anna Olrik. He continued to live at Cottonwood House, assisting them with the operation of the business and post office until the fall of 1952.

THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

In 1961, the Province of British Columbia acquired lots 1 and 2, District Lot 380 Cariboo District PL. 11710 (Cottonwood House), to conserve the buildings at Cottonwood House as well as the majority of the John Boyd daybooks and ledgers spanning from 1863 to 1950.

In 1963 the site was designated Cottonwood House Historic Park. Over the next 15 years a program of research, concept planning, policy preparation and interpretation development occurred, with the goal to complete the Interpretive Centre by 1978. During this period of time the park was open to the public.

_{Photo courtesy of Bob Michek and The Barkerville Heritage Trust}