CHAPS Cochrane Historical Museum
CHAPS Cochrane Historical Museum is temporarily closed
Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society
Virtual Tour
Learn more about the development of this exciting new exhibit
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.
We are grateful to so many
In writing this sequel to the Big Hill Country book, we have attempted to record, the future, the continuing advancements and growth that the descendants– of the pioneers in the early 1880’s and those that have come later, carried on their initiatives and built a town and industry to support themselves and the people of Alberta.
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Village of Cochrane 1903
Page 159 Big Hill Country Author not recorded In 1903, an application was made to the Commissioner of Public Works at Regina, N.W.T. for the Hamlet of Cochrane to become a Village. The following is a copy of the letter sent to the Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor. Regina, Wednesday, June 17, 1903 Upon the recommendation
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A Peep at the Area’s Pioneering Ranches
from a Collection of Historic Poems and Short Stories by Gordon and Belle Hall Volume II. It is very interesting to research some of the very early ranchers in Alberta. The Dominion Land Act of 1872 opened up the west to homesteaders. The north immediately began to settle. However, due to Blackfoot hostility, the area
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Jean Dartigue
JEAN D’ARTIGUE ALSO NAMED JOHN D’ARTIGUE PEYRON BROCQ – by Ellen Buckler Jean D’Artigue, known locally as John D’Artigue, was born in France in 1855 and educated to be a teacher. He travelled to Canada and answered an advertisement in a newspaper calling for volunteers for The North West Mounted Police. His experiences are recorded
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Dartigue Lodge
from Big Hill Country, Cochrane and Area 1977 pg 461 Before 1933 dances and parties were held in homes or the one-roomed schools. As the population in the district increased the houses were all too small for parties. Often all the furniture in the houses was set outside on party night, which was fine if
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Rose and Clarence McGonigle
Thanks to RW Dickason for becoming a member, volunteering for CHAPS and getting involved in the retelling of this story from More Big Hill Country 1945-1980 . Clarence McGonigle, the seventh child and fifth son of William and Kate McGonigle, was born in the homestead shack with Mrs. Bush as a midwife on December 30,
