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.

Walter Crowe Family

Walter Crowe was instrumental in organizing the Chapelton School District, now known as Horse Creek, and donated two acres of his homestead for the school site.

In 1916 Ernest joined the 137th Battalion C.E.F. in Calgary and served with the 10th Battalion in France, at Vimy Ridge, and Hill 70, where he was seriously wounded in 1917. Walter enlisted in the 211th Battalion and served in Canada before being honourably discharged

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Jumping Pound 4-H Club

In January 1976, the Jumping Pound Beef Club chose the Buffalo as their symbol with brown, green and gold as their club colours. Encouraged by their leader, Dale Riddell, the emphasis was put on all round achievements in all aspects of the 4-H purpose, “Learn to Do By Doing.”

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Brodie Clan

The house was a modest dwelling; the home was a sanctuary of love and warmth. Then disaster stuck! In September 1940 the family’s father and husband, James Halladay, was killed when a team of horses he was working with bolted, pulling a grain bin over him, crushing him to death. Devastated, the family soldiered on, but life had suddenly changed.

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Quan Family – Cochrane Cafe

Charlie didn’t like the big city life and so came out to have an ice cream cone (honest) and spotted his present location. He looked over the old 7-Star and Range Grill, and decided this was the best place, even though nobody wanted it and the local pundits gave him six months to go belly up. 

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Ink, Ice Cream and the Evening Paper

Bill Boothby Personal Recollection 1992 What was Cochrane like in the 1920s and ’30s? In this article, my father reflects on his experiences growing up in the community, including his time as a paper carrier, offering a firsthand look at everyday life in those early years. Dad’s bike hung in the old machine shed for

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