The District of 100 Mile House has decided to demolish the Valley Room.
Mayor Maureen Pinkney announced this move during the regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Pinkney was solemn as she explained the district has determined the cost to repair the facility, estimated at over $1-million, was not in the town’s best interests.
“Sadly the building, because it is beside a creek, has flooded in the past and has a bit of wear and tear on it. The funding needed to preserve that portion of the building is more than what is deemed available and required for that facility,” Pinkney said.
In a press release issued after the announcement, the district stated that this demolition will help preserve the historic 100 Mile Lodge, which the 100 Mile House Museum Society currently seeks to turn into a museum. The Valley Room is an addition attached to the old Lodge building. Its demolition, according to the release, “symbolizes the progress of heritage preservation of the historic 100 Mile Lodge and the district’s commitment to arts, culture and recreation.”
The facility has been closed since 2020 when the nearby Bridge Creek flooded both it and the neighbouring Martin Exeter Hall. While the district was able to repair and reopen the hall, the asbestos and mold found in the Valley Room kept its doors closed. Prior to its closure, the Valley Room was used to host dances, parties and other community events. In 2022 the district took ownership of the 100 Mile Community Hall, at which time a decision was made to turn it into a community gathering place and to no longer invest any more money into the Valley Room. Pinkney said that if they were to remove all the asbestos and mold from the Valley Room they would only be left with a shell anyway.
“It’s sad to see things go away like that but we will move on to the future. What it’s (demolition) will allow is some much-needed parking for Martin Exeter Hall,” Pinkney said.
Work on the demolition is expected to begin later this month and will continue until June 1, 2024. Neighbours of the Valley room should expect a large number of tradespeople in the area coming and going from the site and loud noises as the demolition progresses.
