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.
Herbert Alonzo “Soapy” Smith
In Banff Soapy was employed as a harness maker by Bill and Jim Brewster. He was anxious to get out on the trail and went out as a camp cook for Bill Brewster for about four years. He then started as a guide for Brewsters and worked for them for twenty years.
Dave Murray Cochrane Blacksmith
For many years Dave was the only blacksmith west of Calgary to beyond the British Columbia border. A lot of customers came from British Columbia to get work done in his shop.
Alex Howes Family
In the fall of 1940 they moved to the Cochrane district where Alex started a sawmill up the Grand Valley. In 1950 Alex and his sons started a lumberyard in the village of Cochrane as A. Howes & Sons.
Pete Helfrich Family
In 1960, I bought a house on Main Street from Duncan McFarquhar. It was formerly known as the Grayson House. It was ideal for us, close to the elementary school and to the downtown area
MR. AND MRS. JAMES JOHNSTONE
The Journeys lived in California. Mr. Johnstone had a store and post office in Cochrane for awhile. In 1896 they purchased the SE¼ 12-28-4-5 from James Thompson. They sold the land to Angus McDonald in 1903, and went back to California. The Johnstones once owned property where Los Angeles is now situated.
William (Curly) and Charlotte (Lottie) Rowan Family
Jim, eldest child of Curly and Lottie Rowan, started school in the one room Brushy Ridge School. This school was located on the SW comer of present day Highway #22 and Township Road 252. Here Jim has the distinction of getting the strap on the first day of school, in grade one, for climbing on Ted Callaway’s haystack after he was told not to.
