14
It was natural for the Bohannons to decide to retire to Quesnel rather than the United States. Through many years of business and social contact they had made a large circle of friends in the community. They had also supported the growth and development of charitable and institutional organizations at Quesnel. Ellen Bohanon with her good friend Sarah McLean had worked hard towards the establishment of the first Protestant church building in Quesnel, the Union Church, built in 1895. Later Mrs. Bohannon was very supportive in the promotion of Quesnel's first hospital, built in 1910.15
In preparation for his retirement Sam Bohannon had purchased a house built a few years earlier by Stephen Hilborn situated on a double lot on Reid Street across the road from his hay barn and butcher shop. Originally the house, a two-storey structure, had consisted of only the kit-chen, pantry and sitting room on the main floor. The front door, in the corner of the sitting room faced the south. A stairway situated on the south wall of the sitting room led to the upstairs bedrooms.16
Bohanon Household on Reid Street1900
Reid Street, Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
17
Bohanon House prior to demolition Back left portion1989
Front Street, Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
18
To accommodate their needs Sam Bohannon hired John Strand to en-large the house to include a bedroom downstairs, a large front room, a new front entrance onto Reid Street, a front hallway and stairs. The upper storey included an extra bedroom and large landing. The four separate chimneys of Bohannon House were constructed of locally made bricks from the Quesnel River.19
Bohanon Summer Kitchen1989
20
At the back of the house, and joined to a summer kitchen is an aged lumber building that was probably a lot older than Bohannon House. It had at one time been part of a holding complex at Cottonwood, on the road to Barkerville. The Bohannons had barns there in which hay, transported from the ranch at Kersley was sold to the freighters and teamsters travelling the road. Later when this service was discontinued Sam Bohannon had the building moved to Quesnel.21
Ellen Jane Bohanon (Allen) (Longfellows) Obituary1911
22
As time went on the Bohannons celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in December of 1909, the first ever in Quesnel. It was a well-attended reception at their home by who's who of Quesnel. Two years after their joyous occasion Ellen took ill for a week, and passed away in March of 1911 at the age of seventy-eight. Sam had recently taken ill, and so had Stephen Hilborn take the body to Kamloops for cremation and from there down to Minnesota to the family burial site.23
After Ellen's death Sam sent a letter home to his family, in response Alice and Grace Doten came from the United States to help out their great-uncle. Within a few years, however, they both became married Alice to Tom Windt and Grace to Allan Miles. In 1922, Josephine and Flora Guy came from Minneapolis to care for their great-uncle.24
Once in Quesnel, Josephine with the help of Reverend Currie Thomson set up the first library in Quesnel which resided within the United Church Hall, and Josephine became the first librarian. Another first for the girls was having a car bought from Johnston Brothers, before it officially became a car dealership. And with this car they became the first females to drive the Blackwater Highway to Prince George, a rough and unfinished road. Josephine left Quesnel in 1927, but her sister Florence stayed on to get married to Clarence Fuller.25
Samuel Hall Bohanon's Obituary1927
26
Samuel Bohannon passed away at the age of ninety-four on February 5, 1927. The two sisters accompanied the body to be buried back in Minneapolis alongside his wife and children.27
Back Porch of the Bohanon House prior to demolition1989
Reid Street, Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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