CHAPS Cochrane Historical Museum
Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society
Beautiful Scenery
Visitors to the CHAPS Museum in Cochrane, Alberta are within an hour’s drive of Banff National Park and the mountain playgrounds west of Calgary that offer year round outdoor activities in a beautiful setting.
Located within The Cochrane Ranche
The Dominion Government incorporated a company in 1881 and it was known as the Cochrane Ranche Company. (excerpt from Big Hill Country page 155).
The Museum Building's History
Constructed in 1909 by the Davies family using bricks from the Collin’s Brick Yard. Built to be used as a hospital/nursing home and private residence. Moved to its current site in 2014.
Experience the history of
Canada's West
Through the eyes of its settlers, ranchers and farmers;
the service and supply businesses, the educators and more.
THE TAYLOR AND BRISTOW FAMILIES
About that year gunslinger Ernie Cashel was being sought for murder. One evening he came to my grandmother’s house; my aunt, who later married Bill Bradley, was there too, and at gun point, he forced them to hide him in the attic and feed him. He stayed there for three days, but one night he left on their little pony.
2025 Museum Opening
Step Back in Time at the Cochrane Historical Museum! Discover Cochrane’s rich agricultural and town history through fascinating displays, artifacts, and stories from our past. Opening for the Season: May 17 – September 1, 2025Open Wednesday to Sunday & Holiday MondaysHours: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PMAdmission: FREE Bring the whole family and explore the roots
Cochrane Lioness Club
Our club has donated funds to 4-H Clubs, Life Line since 1985, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Hospice Calgary, Flames/Rotary Children’s Hospice, Ronald MacDonald House Academic Awards at both Cochrane High School and Bow Valley High School, Cochrane Lions Club Annual Rodeo, the Cochrane Lioness Club Garage Sale and Craft Fair. We have also, donated funds to many other organizations in Cochrane and area, too numerous to mention.
Dennis and Kathleen Welham Family
We were at Two Rivers Ranch for 15 years. Dennis became manager of the ranch. This was the time that exotic (so called) cattle were coming into Alberta. Dennis did the buying of the Simmental cattle for the Ranch. He had several trips to the Ontario sales. It took a considerable number of years but he built up a good herd of Simmentals, full bloods and half bloods.
Leigh and Jean Blackwell Family
In the early part of April 1940, they boarded a train in Toronto and headed to the great and wide-open spaces of western Canada. They arrived three days later on a cold, wet, snowy and muddy day. There was no electricity, no running water, no car or means of transportation and worst of all from Dorothy’s point of view, they had to live with Bill’s parents in the same house!
Franciscan Order and Mt St Francis
To conclude, Mount Saint Francis Retreat has had a long association with the town of Cochrane. When the Franciscans arrived in 1949, Cochrane had a mere population of about 250 people. As the Centre grew, a lot of purchasing had to be done in town. Then, there are the thousands of people who have come to Cochrane due to the location of the Retreat Centre. It is hard to say what will happen in the future for Mount Saint Francis as the ranks of the Franciscans are diminishing and few young men today are corning along to replace the ageing Friars.
