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.
Frank and Martha Brown
When the well reached a depth to use dynamite, Tom and Frank let Orr down the hole in a bucket on the windlass. Orr set the dynamite in a hole in the rock and lit the fuse. They pulled him up and sat at a safe distance from the hole then waited and waited. Finally, Orr, against the advice of the other two, persuaded them to let him down the hole again, as he was sure the fuse had gone out. When he got near the bottom of the hole he yelled, “Let me up! Let me up! It’s lit!”
Roy and Iris Buckler Family
At age 19 Roy was told by doctors he had two weeks to live.
Martin and Catherine Hansen Family
Catherine worked for the Nan Boothby Memorial Library for 25 years and enjoyed the books and the people that she met there.
The impact of Fire in Cochrane and Area
THEN ON NOVEMBER 19 A FIRE, WHICH HAD BEEN BURNING FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN THE FOOTHILLS, FANNED BY A 90 MILE AN HOUR WIND BROKE OUT INTO THE OPEN COUNTRY. BY THE TIME IT GOT TO THE BRUSHY RIDGE DISTRICT IT WAS NEARLY SIX MILES WIDE. WATCHERS STAND ING ON COCHRANE HILL SAID THAT AFTER IT CROSSED THE JUMPING POUND CREEK IT TOOK BUT THREE MINUTES TO COVER THE FIVE MILES TO BRUSHY RIDGE SCHOOL.
John C. and Aileen Copithorne Family
My husband, John, died in 1998. He had lived his life entirely for his family and his dairy farm. He had been Chairman of the Dairy Committee at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede for 18 years and was eventually awarded a Lifetime Membership to the Stampede. In 1980 he was awarded the Holstein Association of Canada Master Breeder Award. He was an avid curler and was part of the group that constructed the curling rink that was located beside the United Church.
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Cochrane Historical and Archival Preservation Society (CHAPS) is offering a summer employment opportunity as a museum assistant at the Cochrane Museum, Cochrane Ranche, #80 Highway 1A, Cochrane AB from May 7-Sept 1, 2025 This full time position (35 hrs/wk) requires the successful candidate to work weekends when the Museum is open to the public. Primary duties at these times
