A building from a British Columbia ghost town is about to get a new lease on life.

The Oliver & District Heritage Society (ODHS) has launched a $15,000 fundraiser to refurbish the Fairview Jailhouse which was built in 1896. The 129-year-old jail from the historic gold mining townsite was left behind when the town declined, before being moved to its current location at the Oliver Museum garden thanks to concerned local volunteers.

The Oliver Museum is a heritage building and former police station. ODHS conserved the building so it could be enjoyed and experienced by future generations, and it hopes to do the same with the jailhouse, which has dry rot due to many hot summers and cold winters. 

"Expert opinion urges widespread replacement of the failing timbers, which must be done in a heritage-sensitive manner, followed by the careful repainting of the building, all to ensure its ongoing conservation into the future," ODHS stated.

Fairview serviced many gold mines between 1890 and 1910 and saw over 500 residents call the town home, which had many houses, hotels, schools, stores and churches. The jailhouse still contains relics from the mining days of Fairview and nearby Camp McKinney.

ODHS was established in 1982 and is a registered non-profit and charitable society that ensures the conservation of historical buildings, structures, sites, and human and natural history of Oliver and surrounding areas. 

"This fundraising campaign is vital to ensuring the ODHS can fund these important conservation efforts," they stated.

The $15,000 will go towards the structural repairs and painting of the jailhouse.

To support the Fairview Jailhouse restoration project go to: