William Bradley Family

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By Shannon Bradley Green page 306 More Bill Hill Country 2009

It is with great honour and respect that I carry on the tale of my family, which began so long ago here in Big Hill Country. Like all pioneer stories, it is filled with determination, amazement and pride at what these folks accomplished with so very little. My grandfather William Henry Bradley, who referred to himself as “native son” of Cochrane, was born here on May 28, 1908, in the area known at the time as Brushy Ridge. His parents, William Percival (Billie the Strongman) and Mary Maude Bradley (nee Smith), were part of the great pioneer wave that populated the empty lands known then as Rupert’s Land. 

Mary Smith was born on May 14, 1887, in England, and she and her family arrived from Europe to Morley, where they found employment, according to my great, great aunt, Marjorie Bristowe, of Cochrane, who chronicled the early family history. According to Marjorie, the family arrived on May 24 in Morley, only to find three feet of snow on the ground! It was these kinds of hardships that the pioneer men and women of Cochrane had to face on a daily basis. 

Mary’s sister, Annie, was married to Sykes Taylor by the Reverend John McDougall at his church in Morley in 1893. Billie and Mary, who were just seventeen, were married in Cochrane on March 16, 1904. Little is known about the arrival of Billie Bradley 

Like so many others, the young couple began a family. First born was Mamie, who was born on March 28, 1905, then William Henry, in 1908, and finally, John was born on February 19, 1912. The next part of this story is as hazy as stories can become. It seems that the same year my Great Uncle Johnny was born, Mary Bradley left Cochrane, with baby John and his sister Mamie, for Prince Rupert, BC. She left William Henry with his father, and later married a Mr. Pierce in Prince Rupert and had ten more children. 

Billie and four year old Henry were now left alone, and Billie had to care for Henry in any way that he could. It is important to note here that as much as we remember the hardships of the pioneer life, the reality of what our ancestors went through is hard to imagine. Grandad wrote of his home, a canvas roof with boards up the sides, and remembered that it wasn’t so bad. However, I try to imagine the fear of a young mother with a brand new baby living in -20 to -30 below under such conditions, and I can begin to understand how some did not manage to remain in the inhospitable surroundings of early Cochrane. 

Like all pioneers, Billie needed to rely on his neighbors to help him with his young son. Henry was “farmed out” with Doogle and Storey, two old bachelors who lived east of Cochrane. One day, they decided to make soup and brought out the frozen beef to cut off a soup bone from the shank. Henry was told to hold the beef on a pine block. Doogle swung at the meat with an axe, the meat slipped, and he cut off Henry’s index finger on his right hand. In his own words, Henry wrote, “First aid treatment, 1913 style, was to put my hand in a lard pail of salt and water and then wrap it in an old towel. Next, they had to catch the team, go to the neighbor’s and borrow a democrat, then take me to Dr. Steele at the hospital in Cochrane”. He remembers the doctor having to tie him down to work on his hand. 

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Democrat wagon

It must have occurred to Billie that perhaps two old bachelors weren’t the best surrogate parents, so he soon had Henry boarded with Mr. and Mrs. William Sargeant in Cochrane. They were a childless couple who emigrated from England in 1910. There was also the matter of Henry needing to go to school, which the Sargeants made sure he did. They lived together in Cochrane, while Billie continued on with the pioneering spirit. He would often sign on with haying crews to help earn money, and while away in Claresholm on a haying crew in August 1915, he developed pneumonia and passed away. Henry was now an orphan, and continued to live with the Sargeants, who had decided to try their luck in Calgary. 

Henry finished his schooling in Calgary, and lived as a teen in Calgary in the 1920′ s. One day he found out his next-door neighbor had a toaster in a repair shop, and while offering to pick it up for them, found out the repair shop didn’t have a delivery boy. He was hired for the job, and so began his quest for knowledge about things electrical. It was during this time the great excitement of radio started. Two university students also worked at the shop while Henry was there, and they had a great interest in radio. They began building the first crystal sets at the shop. In his memoir he recalls how he would get his earphones on and listen in on the crystal set to W.W. Grant’s CFCN program the “Voice of the Prairies”. 

Henry’s fascination with things electrical stayed with him all his life. He was able to apprentice as an electrician starting in 1926. However, the spectre of the Dirty Thirties was looming on the horizon, and by 1930, there was very little work. Ever a son of a pioneer, Henry returned to his roots in Cochrane to look for work. He contacted Ernie Thompson of Cochrane to ask if he could sign on with Calgary Power. Ernie had a contract patrolling the lines from his farm out to the power plant at Horseshoe Falls on the Bow River near the Stoney Indian Reserve. Henry had known Ernie in his youth, when Billie had looked after Ernie’s farm. Ernie asked Henry if he could climb poles, to which Henry replied, “Sure”. It was awfully apparent that Henry didn’t know what he was doing, but, again, Ernie noticed that pioneering spirit, and he hired him on. Thus began Henry’s career with Calgary Power, and his return to his hometown. 

While at King George School in Calgary, Henry had met Ida Cooper, who had emigrated with her family from Scotland in 1913. John (Jock) and Jemima Cooper (nee Sutherland) had three children when they emigrated from Scotland to Canada: Francis Sutherland, Margaret and Ida. Ida was born in 1910 in Brechin, and loved to tell the story of how she stood at the bow of the boat and peed on her new leather boots on the trip to Canada! If you had ever met Ida, who lived her final days at the Bethany Care Center in Cochrane, you would not be surprised by that story! 

Henry wouldn’t marry Ida until he had steady work to support a family, so they were not married until Henry signed on with Calgary Power in 1931. They were married in Banff on March 28, 1931, which according to Grandma Ida, was the place to get married in those days. Her sister Margaret (Daisy) and husband Joe were the maid of honor and best man. They continued to reside in Calgary, but Henry, who was also by this time known as Hank, was becoming a “Cowboy Lineman”. It was his job to see that the people of Alberta got consistent and reliable electrical service. These cowboy linemen were tough guys who patrolled the lines and also repaired them when they found a problem. They ate and slept at farmhouses along the way, where the occupants, as the children of pioneers, were only too happy to extend the famous western hospitality to the guys who were responsible for keeping the power running! Hank had many stories to tell of staying with the families he had known in his youth in Cochrane. 

Grandad was ever a pioneer son, and in the 1950’s became very interested in calling square dances. He and Grandma were very involved in square dancing, and Grandad became involved with the Calgary Stampede where he volunteered calling each morning of Stampede at Rope Square with the Square Dancing crew. He continued on with this throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s before he retired himself in his seventies. Son Stu continued on with the family tradition of square dance calling for the Calgary Stampede during the 1980’s and 1990’s. The Bradleys made a significant contribution to Calgary volunteerism through both Hank and Stu that lasted for more than forty years. 

Hank and Ida had two sons: William Sargeant was born on August 18, 1932, and Stuart Cooper, on June 14, 1936. Both grew up in Calgary, attended high school at Crescent Heights High School, and met their prospective wives during their high school years. Bill married Maxine Oliphant on September 18, 1954, and had two children; Barth William, who was born on September 16, 1959, and Judith Maxine, born November 14, 1961. Bill and Maxine moved to Edmonton in the 1960’s, and have resided there ever since. Bill worked in finance, and Maxine, like most mothers of her day, created a second career after raising her children as a public school librarian. 

Barth married Karen Grand of Edmonton on February 20, 1982, and has four children; Allison Norma (born September 27, 1986), Derrick Barth (born October 5, 1988), Gavin Cooper (born January 23, 1991), and Connor Gary (born May 14, 1993). Barth is a partner in his own accounting firm, and Karen is a teacher. Judith married Dr. Fraser Armstrong of Edmonton on December 27, 1985, and had two children; Kieran William (born July 7, 1993), and Emily Grace (born October 11,1994). Fraser runs a general family medical practice, and Judy runs her own graphic design business. 

 

Stu Bradley

Stuart married Dixie Snell on June 29, 1957. They have three children; Shannon Marie, who was born on January 7, 1959, Laura Ann, who was born on August 1, 1961, and Jason Stuart, who was born on February 17, 1966. The Stuart Bradley family moved to Springbank in 1968 where all three children graduated from Springbank Community High School. Stuart carried on with the family tradition started by his Dad, and became a lineman with the City of Calgary Electric Service. The move to Springbank was precipitated by Stuart’s desire to start a dog-boarding kennel, and he ran Bradville Kennels in Springbank from 1969 – 1977. Like Maxine, Dixie started a second career after raising her children, and was the school secretary at Springbank Community High School from 1975 to 1997. Stu was also known as the local DJ during those years, and was a well-known community volunteer during his years as a Springbank resident. Dixie and Stu resided in Springbank until 2003, when they officially retired to Cochrane. 

 

Shannon married Dr. Bryan Green of Estevan, SK on September 3, 1988. They have two children: Kai Stuart McMillan (born April 1, 1989), and Tieran Lars Sutherland (born September 6, 1991). Bryan works in the training field with Alberta’s oil and gas industry, and Shannon teaches at Bow Valley High School in Cochrane. Bryan and Shannon have been Cochrane residents since 1998, and their boys have attended elementary, middle and high school in Cochrane. Laura married Patrick Smith of Medicine Hat on October 10, 1981, Laura and Patrick moved to Caledon, Ontario in 1994 and live there with their three children: Corbin Patrick Bradley (born March 10, 1988), Miranda June (born September 17, 1990 and Blake William (born May 25 1991. Laura runs her own sales business, and Pat is in upper management with ICI Paints. Jason married Marcia Degraw of Cochrane on July 15, 1989. Jason and Marci made Cochrane their home shortly after they were married, and their two children were born there. They are Cherilyn Mai who was born on September 4, 1992, and

Noah Jason Ward, who was born on April 28, 1996. In 1998 Jason and Marci moved to the Sundre area to manage Red Deer River Ranches. Marci teaches with Chinook’s Edge School Division. Marci’s family, Neil and Marilyn Degraw, have resided in Cochrane since 1985. 

 

This tale has been a fascinating journey back into the early history of Cochrane, and it was intriguing to find out that six generations of my family have lived in the area, from the Smiths, who first touched down at Morleyville circa 1880’s, through to Kai and Tieran Green, who have lived here since 1998. Although none have lived their entire lives in the area, every generation has lived in Cochrane and surrounding area for some time in their lives. We can only hope that someone from the next generation will continue this wonderful tradition that our ancestors started back in the first days of Cochrane!

Deep Dive

Claudia Edge Family

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Page 427 More Big Hill Country 2009

Catherine Claudia Lynn Edge was born on May 3, 1914 to Claude and Anne Lynn on a farm near Atlee, Alberta. Her father, Claude (Clyde) was born in Oklahoma in 1884 and came to Canada as a young man to drill water wells. When he switched to drill oil and gas wells he took out his papers to become a Canadian citizen. Her mother, Anne (Young) Lynn was born in Virden, Manitoba in 1894. Claude and Anne Lynn were married in 1911. Claudia was the second eldest of six, having four brothers, Clarence, George, twins Bill and Barry and a sister Audrey. The family moved to Black Diamond and later when Claudia was in grade one her family moved to Calgary. Claudia attended Killarney School, Sunalta School and Western Canada High School in Calgary.

Claudia’s summers were spent swimming and canoeing at Bowness Park with her best friend Nora Bailey. The girls joined the Bowness Regatta Club, winning medals for their rowing and canoeing. In her grade twelve year, she was president of the Calgary Girls’ Council for CGIT (Canadian Girls In Training). While attending Western Canada High School, basketball became an important part of Claudia’s life. The high school team went two years without losing a game. This passion lead her to join and play for a ladies city team named “Coca Cola Kids”. The Coca Cola Kids had the honour of being one of the exhibition game openers for another team that Claudia fondly remembers: the Edmonton Grads. The Edmonton Grads went on tour all over the world and only lost 50 out of 500 games. Claudia was one of the lucky people to be invited to the party when this team dissolved.. 

Claudia graduated from Western Canada High School and went on to attend Normal School in Calgary. Her first job came at a school north of Rocky Mountain House called Golden Heights. This was a very poor area moneywise, but had family wealth. Claudia remembers the pride on a small pupil’s face when she came to school and told her teacher, “My big brother sent me a nickel!” When asked what she intended to do with the nickel, the student stated very matter of factly she had given it to her Mother to buy eggs.

 So different from students today, who would just reply, “What would a nickel buy.” The area was remote enough that a horse was required to get around. The school was heated with wood in a round barrel stove, light at night came from a coal oil lamp and the teacher lived with the family of one of the students while being paid the handsome sum of $600 for the year. In September of 1936, Claudia came to teach in the Little Jumping Pound School, south of Cochrane. This area was an older more established area, but the school was an old granary located in Percy Copithorne’s bull pasture. After two years, she moved to Springbank School and taught there until 1940. 

While teaching in the Jumping Pound area, Claudia met Norman Edge. Norman was born June 12, 1904 to William and Sarah (Ellis) Edge, one of eight brothers and sisters. Norman, Ethel, Wilbert, Edith, Oliver, Harry, David and Laurie made up the “South of the River Edges”. The family still has the silver tea set that Norman’s father was presented with as first prize for showing a Clydesdale stallion at the Territorial Spring Show in Calgary, the summer Norman was born. Norman liked to say the tea set was really a prize for the best looking baby born that year. Being born in the age before automobiles took over, it was no wonder that Norman took a great interest in Rodeo. He spent hours honing his craft, often on the neighbor’s cattle or horses. He also worked for D. P. McDonald and T. B. Jenkinson breaking polo ponies. Norman and brother Ollie made the rounds of small local rodeos, and finally tried the Calgary Stampede. In 1925, Norman won the Brahma Steer Riding and Bareback Bronc riding events. In 1925, he went to the west coast with the Peter Welsh Stampede Company. Two years later in 1927, Norman won the Steer Riding event again. In 1928 he won the Bareback Bronc riding and he gained permanent possession of a sterling silver trophy donated by the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company. In 1929, a team consisting of Johnny Munro, Ollie Edge and Norman Edge won the Wild Horse Race in Calgary. In the years from 1923-1937, he had competed in rodeos at Jumping Pound; Calgary; Montreal; Columbus, Ohio; Sundre; Hand Hills; Toronto; Pendelton, Oregon; the stadium in London, England; Winnipeg, Vancouver; Medicine Hat; Buffalo and New York. Norman retired from rodeo in 1937. After marrying Claudia, he worked as a chute and chuckwagon judge at the Calgary Stampede until 1955. 

Claudia was staying with the Jack Copithorne family while teaching the local students. During Norman and Claudia’s courtship Claudia was careful to be considerate of the family by coming home at a decent hour and not making a lot of noise when she came in, especially going up the stairs. One night after saying goodnight to Norman and heading for the door leading upstairs, there was a sudden loud clashing and banging, and accompanying howls of laughter and giggles. The stairs had been covered with pots and pans, each dependent on those underneath to keep them there. Once the door opened the bottom pans fell, followed by the rest, causing the commotion. Everyone knew when “Teacher” had come home. 

On December 23, 1940 Norman and Claudia were married in the living room in front of the fireplace in the new house Norman had built on NW Sec 35 Twp 24 Rge 4 W5M. They soon had their family of three boys, Garth, Barry and Lynn. With Norman involved in Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede, it wasn’t any surprise that each of their sons tried their hand at Rodeo; Garth as a bullrider, Barry and Lynn as ropers. Norman and Claudia had many friends from the rodeo circuit and from the neighboring ranches. Life was busy and full. 

In 1956, Claudia returned to teaching and traveled country roads into Cochrane daily. She taught in the Andrew Sibbald School and Cochrane High School. Claudia really enjoyed being a teacher and being around children. It was a high point when one of her students came to visit. She retired in 1972, but worked as a substitute until 1977. Claudia saw a lot of changes in the school system and usually a vocal reprimand was enough to squash a student that was out of line. 

Norman and Claudia traveled and wintered in Arizona enjoying their retirement. Norman passed away in 1996 at the age of 92. Claudia stayed on the ranch for almost another 10 years before moving into the Big Hill Lodge in November of 2005. Claudia was honored by the Cowgirl Cattle Company in 2001, when they saluted the role of women in Western Canada’s ranching history. Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole was on hand to present plaques to Claudia and Margaret McKinnon of the Airdrie-Crossfield area. This was a special evening for Claudia and she was very proud to be recognized.

Norman Edge Family

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page 423 More Big Hill Country 2009

Norman Frank Edge has sometimes been called “A Cowboy’s Cowboy”. He was born in 1904, in a log house in the Brushy Ridge district, south of Cochrane. He was the fourth eldest of a family of six boys and two girls born to William and Sarah Edge who were among the earliest settlers of this area. 

When he was four or five years old, Norman and his brothers started rodeoing by riding pigs before they progressed to calves, and then to yearling steers or cows. He was born in a place and at a time when the horse was an essential part of living and his life had been strongly influenced by an interest in, and a love for, horses. He remembered, as a small boy, sitting on his father’s horse and loving the sound of the creaking saddle leathers as the animal cropped the grass under the heat of the noonday sun. 

As teenagers, Norman and his brothers Ollie and Wilbert joined Sykes Robinson and other boys of the district to develop their rodeo skills on the neighbour’s steers, horses or even milk cows. The furious owners occasionally caught them snubbing-up an otherwise tame wheel horse.

Norman Edge

 In 1922, they started practicing on the XC Ranch, which was then owned by Dave Lawson. Dave encouraged the group to ride sale broncs, bareback and steers, as well as to rope. He built a chute which consisted of a hinged gate on each side of the horse with a small gate at his head. When the rider was ready, the gates were all flung back, called a shotgun chute. 

The first rodeo Norman entered as a competitor was held in Sarcee about 1921. Norman and Wilbert hitched a ride on the mail truck with Jim and Bill Bateman. It was in the early twenties that Norman won the Novice Bronc Riding at Bragg Creek. There were rodeos held also at Morley, Jumping Pound, Cochrane and Bottrel. 

The first Jumping Pound Rodeo was held in 1922. It was attended, among others, by Sykes Robinson, Peter Knight, Johnny Munro, Wilfred Sibbald, Eddie Bowlen, Horace Holloway, Percy Copithorne, Ollie Edge, Wilbert Edge and Norman Edge. Sykes won the Saddle Bronc event. Norman bucked off. 

The lure of the “Big One” took them to Calgary in 1924 and many years thereafter. Since they had no money, they slept in the stock barns and ate pancakes instead of steaks. In 1925, Norman got lucky and won both the Brahma Steer Riding and Bareback Bronc Riding events. His name was engraved on both of the trophies but they had to be won twice to be kept. However, he did win a trophy saddle for being the win- ner of the Bareback Riding event.

In 1926, Norman and a bunch of cowboys went to Winnipeg to a rodeo sponsored by Peter Welsh, who was President of The Alberta Stampede Co. Ltd. Peter Welsh put on a string of rodeos in such places as Ottawa; Montreal; Toronto; Winnipeg; Vancouver:

New Westminster Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Buffalo, New York. Welsh owned the most famous string of bucking horses including Midnight, Gravedigger, Tumbleweed, The Gold-Dust Twins, Five Minutes Midnight to and Bassano.Lad. While traveling to most of the Welsh rodeos, Norman missed the 1926 Calgary Stampede. 

In 1927, Norman won the Brahma Steer Riding at Calgary and since this was his second time to win the sterling silver trophy, donated by P. Burns Co., he won permanent possession. 

In 1928 he won the Bareback Bronc riding again and thus won outright the second sterling silver trophy, donated by Calgary Brewing and Malting Co. 

Norman competed in the Wild Horse Race several years. Sometimes he worked with partners Bert Young and Lawrence Parge. In 1929, with partners Johnny Munro and brother Ollie Edge he won a pair of spurs for first place in this event. 

In the years from 1923 to 1937, when he retired from active rodeo competition, Norman competed in rodeos at Jumping Pound, Calgary, Montreal, Columbus, Sundre, Hand Hills, Toronto, Pendleton, Vancouver, New Westminster, Hussar, Ottawa, Buffalo and White City Stadium in London, England. 

In the early thirties he won three major events at the Hand Hills Stampede. These included the Saddle Bronc Riding, the Bareback Riding and the Brahma Steer Riding. 

On May of 1934, a group of Canadian cowboys including Herman Linder, Jack Streeter, Pat Burton, Jackie Cooper, Clark Lund, Frank Sharp, George McIntosh, Harry Knight, Pete Knight and Norman Edge were chosen to travel to London to a rodeo spon- sored by Tex Austin. There were about twenty American cowboys who also went to this rodeo. Some of the Canadians had a contract to supply bucking stock, and to travel with the stock on the boat. To quote Norman, “It’s a damn good thing my contract included transportation home because I didn’t win a crying dime in England”. The English Humane Society was very strict. The cowboys were required to tape their spurs so that no rowel could be used. In the calf roping event, the first calf out ran into the fence and its nose started to bleed. That was the end of the roping. Fox Hastings, the cowgirl bulldogger, ran afoul of the law when it was decided that she was too rough on her dogging steers. 

The cowboys traveled principally by train, seldom had money, ate sparingly but enjoyed life to the fullest. When one of the bunch won some money, they could all eat, but they certainly did not win their fortunes

often not even a grubstake. In periods between stampedes, Norman went home to hay, fence, put in the crop or harvest. Rodeo promoters of the day included Guy Weadick, Tex Austin, Peter Welsh and the Calgary Stampede. 

On one trip to Eastern Canada, the train carrying the cowboys had just pulled into Montreal station where there were a few buggies and surreys lined up ready to take tourists in horse drawn carts to visit the high spots of the old city. A French driver was lying back in his rig sound asleep with his reins slack……….one of the bunch who had been in the “vinegar” and was well enough oiled to be looking for fun, saw the horse with its head hanging down, half asleep. He let out a war whoop and jumped astride the horse. The terrified animal plunged into a runaway gallop. The poor Frenchman went out over the back of his rig, landing on the cement. When the horse, with his rider, reached the streetcar tracks, he slipped and fell, break- ing the shafts as well as parts of the harness. When the horse got up he had suffered no injury but the French driver, now awake, came running, waving his arms, talking a mile a minute and calling for the police. In no time there were three or four streetcars held up and police coming from every direction. The cowboys were outnumbered about three to one and unable to understand a word of French. The cowboy who had started the whole fracas found himself with a police- man on each arm and two behind him, marching him off to the police station. In the meantime, some of the cowboys gathered up the pieces and set about getting the rig and harness fixed. The rest gathered around the French driver and persuaded him to go for a friendly drink. They thought that if they could get him feeling good, he wouldn’t lay a charge. Well, it sure worked! A few hours later, when they came out of the bar, they were the best of friends. He slapped the cowboys on the back and said, “You Wests is the best mens I meet”. When Mr. Welsh heard about the incident, he gave the boys a stern lecture. An incident such as that could hurt rodeo and cause a big drop in revenue. He fin- ished his talk by saying, “If they will just keep that cowboy in the jug overnight, I will know where at least one of you is in the morning.” On the front page of the next morning’s newspaper were these headlines: “MONTREAL BEING INVADED BY WESTERN WILDMEN HERE TO PERFORM IN RODEO”. This turned out to be the best advertisement the rodeo had and it was sold out by noon. 

In 1925, Bill Bateman and Norman went to a Peter Welsh rodeo in New Westminster. At that rodeo they saw Peter Welsh’s famous jumping horse ‘Barra Lad’,

with sixteen year old Louis Welsh up, clear the bars at eight feet one and one half inches, a new World’s Record. After making the jump over a top bar that was, for all intents and purposes tied down, Barra Lad land- ed safely, but fell forward on his knees and shoulder because of the tremendous impetus of the jump. He was up again immediately and received a standing ova- tion and a horseman’s wreath of flowers. Before morn- ing he died from internal hemorrhaging, probably brought on by the terrific strain of the jump. 

During the winters of 1925 and 1926, Norman broke polo ponies as well as remounts for the police at D.P. McDonald’s Mount Royal Ranch. 

From the fall of 1929 to the fall of 1932, Norman broke polo ponies for T.B. Jenkinson, who operated the Virginia Ranch north of Cochrane, and then moved his stock to a ranch in the sand hills north of Medicine Hat. Norman recalled that one of the greatest privileges of his life was watching those thoroughbreds, tails and manes streaming, powerful muscles flexing, racing across the open prairie, sheer beauty in action. 

By the time Norman retired from rodeo in 1937, he was already involved in a partnership with his brothers to run the ranch at Cochrane and at Bassano. 

In 1940, in a ceremony which took place by the fire- place in the house which they had just built on NW Sec 35 Twp 24 Rge 4 W5, Norman married Claudia Lynn. Claudia is the daughter of Claude (Clyde) William Lynn and Ann Lynn. She is the second of six children and was born near Suffield, Alberta in 1914. She start- ed school at Black Diamond, but during her first year moved with her family to Calgary where she took the remainder of her education, except for some time at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. 

In September of 1936, Claudia began teaching in the Little Jumping Pound School. After two years she moved to Springbank School and taught there until after she and Norman were married. From 1957 until 1974, when she retired, Claudia taught in the Cochrane Junior and Senior High Schools. 

Norman and Claudia’s sons Garth, Barry and Lynn rode their horses to a one room country school. They won many trophies at local gymkhanas and later entered in Little Britches rodeos. Garth rode steers, Barry and Lynn roped calves. Garth followed the rodeo circuit seriously for two or three years and won a fair number of bull riding events, but eventually decided that rodeo was not for him. He farmed the land at Bassano for several years and then sold it to go into business. Lynn roped in Little Britches, but found that University and rodeo do not make enough time for either. Barry has been able to rope for many years.

Garth and Barb Edge live in Columbia Falls, Montana. Garth’s son Marshall (from a previous mar- riage) lives in London, Ontario. Marshall and his wife Kristine have three daughters: Mackenzie, Julia and Jacklyn. Marshall is an engineer and works for a com- pany called Sonometics that specializes in computer- ized heart technology. 

Barry and Linda Edge ranch at Rimbey, Alberta and have two sons, Timothy and Dean. Timothy works for Euro-Disney in Paris, France and runs the Wild West Show. As a cowboy and an actor, he is “Wild Bill Hickok” in the show as well as a trick roper and stage- coach driver. Dean and his wife Jeanine live in Rimbey. Dean won the Canadian Auctioneering Championship and has placed third in the world. He has also been to the Canadian Finals Rodeo three times as a tie down calf roper. Jeanine works as a cosmetic con- sultant for Arbonne and part time at the auction mart. 

Lynn and Judy Edge live in Cochrane. Lynn worked in the oil and gas patch for many years and was in charge of the commodity trading floors for some prominent companies. Lynn retired from the oil and gas industry and now works on the family ranch with his cutting horses. Judy is principal of a school in Calgary. Judy’s daughter, Robyn and her husband Dean Bilsky live in Edmonton with their two sons Colton and Kaden. Robyn is a teacher and Dean is a heavy duty mechanic. Lynn and Judy’s daughter, Roz lives on the home quarter with her husband Gary Kossowan and their son Korbin. Gary is a framer and Roz is a Pharmacy Technician. 

Norman and Claudia thoroughly enjoyed their years as members of the Cochrane Light Horse Association. Besides competing in gymkhanas, they worked at such enterprises as building floats to represent Cochrane in the Calgary Stampede Parade.

In the spring of 1949, Norman got back to rodeo as a chute judge and chuckwagon judge at the Calgary stampede. He worked with old friends such as Frank Sharp, Percy Bennett, Don Thompson, Allie Streeter, Joe Fisher, Clark Lund, Dick West, Bob Carry, Eric Hodgson, Jiggs Boyce, Clarence Gingrich, Warren Cooper and many others. Norman worked at the Stampede up to and including 1955. 

During the 1974 Stampede Norman, together with Eddie Watrin and Peter Vandermere, were honoured as old time cowboys. Each was presented with a framed poster and silver cufflinks. The inscription below the poster reads: “Norman Edge; In Appreciation For Your contribution To Rodeo; Calgary Exhibition and Stampede 1974”. In 1975, Norman received the same honour from Red Deer. The inscription on the plaque reads; “To Norman Edge For His Outstanding Contribution To the World of Rodeo Over A Period Of Many Years; Red Deer Exhibition Association, 1975”. At the Old timers’ Rodeo in Cochrane in 1983, Norman, together with Frank Sharp, Warren Cooper and Lloyd Dolen, received a plaque which is engraved; “Thanks Norman Edge. In appreciation For Your Dedication To The Sport Of Rodeo”. 

Rodeo was a basic part of Norman’s life. There is a mystic call that speaks of our pioneer roots that certain- ly does not appeal to everyone. However, those who hear that call are willing to tackle a life of little mone- tary reward for the sense of accomplishment, in a sport which is strictly an individual effort.

Nagle Family

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By Gail Nagle Fraser pg 626 More Big Hill Country 2009

In 1949 our father Bertraem (Bert) Nagle and partner Doug Weyman purchased 5.5 acres from local farmer Lauritz Pederson out of one of the first subdivisions approved by the MD of Rockyview in the community of Bearspaw. The most scenic property along the Calgary to Banff highway, it overlooked the Bow Valley and the Rockies and Calgary’s skyline, a distant 10 miles east. Dad and Doug’s dream was to build and own their own restaurant and after two years of backbreaking labor while still holding jobs in Calgary, the Nag-Way Inn opened its doors as a dining room and lunch counter, serving lunches and dinners six days a week to highway traffic, neighbors and Calgarians. Its first function was a banquet for the Associated Canadian Travelers, who were sponsors of the annual Calgary Stampede Queen competition.

At the time Calgary was a city of less than 200,000 people, and its western boundary was 14 Street N. W. Calgarians were attracted to the unique location, a landmark log building sitting some 700 feet above the city with an unparalleled view of Rocky mountain sunsets. Photos from the early fifties show many noteworthy events being held at the Nag-Way, like then Mayor Don Mackay presenting his now traditional white hat to a visiting celebrity, and banquets honoring 1950’s Stampede Queens Edith Edge and Princess Wapiti. A 1950’s local television show featured western bands performing in the Nag-Way’s dining room. 

As the only restaurant between Calgary and Cochrane for many years, it became a tradition for Calgary families out on a Sunday drive to stop in for our Sunday buffet dinners. The Nag-Way Inn specialized in serving prime aged Alberta beef, roast beef, super-sized steaks and home style Southern fried chicken, served in a rustic mountain lodge setting where diners could enjoy the magnificent view from the large picture windows and a crackling log fire in the huge fireplace. The interior walls were made of upright quarter logs and Dad hung bearskins, deer heads, snowshoes and wooden skis on the knotty pine walls. A stage was later added to hold live bands who entertained diners on Friday and Saturday nights, when the large polished pine floor would be filled with dancing couples until the early hours of the morning. 

As manager and host, Dad made everyone coming through the doors feel like special guests, and started a tradition of hospitality that continued throughout his career as a restauranteur. Even in later years when he became the main chef and confined himself to overseeing the menus, guests would still come into the kitchen to greet him, as “Bert” and “the Nag-Way” were one and the same to them. 

Local artist Gerda Christofferson persuaded Dad to hang her portraits of natives from the Morley reserve which were offered for sale. Several of these artworks remained there until the restaurant was closed down, when Dad and Mom gave one to each of the family as a memento. Several other artists such as Duncan Crockford admired and painted the Rockies from that viewpoint. 

Within two years of its opening, Dad became the sole owner of the restaurant and later changed the spelling of its name to the Nag-Way Inn. He bought an old Chrysler limousine to haul staff and groceries every day to and from the city. For a few years, we saw little of our Dad, as he was gone from morning to late at night six days a week. In 1954 he moved Mom and our family of four children out to a home he built behind the restaurant. Between the house and the building were a series of wagon ruts crossing the acreage that we learned was the old Morley Trail, the main travel route since the late 1800s from the native reserve west of Cochrane to Calgary. Roger was 14 and Gail was 12 when they were bused by Cliff Gillespie to Glendale School, where Grades 6 to 9 were taught by Mrs. May Masters. Norman and Larry at 4 and 2 years old were too young to go to school yet.

Gail remembers: 

“We were some of the first “city slickers” to move into the farming communities of Bearspaw and Glendale, and we soon got used to the new experiences of having to take our lunches to school and learn together with several other grades in a one room schoolhouse ruled by the stern Mrs. May Masters. Every morning Roger and I would walk up the road for about quarter mile to the Bearspaw School, where we’d pile into our school bus van driven by Bearspaw serv- ice station owner Cliff Gillespie for the long drive to Glendale School. Cliff would drop off the first to fifth graders at Bearspaw School and pick up the sixth to ninth graders along the bus route to Glendale School. Some of our schoolmates still rode their horses to school once in a while and stabled them in the old horse bam behind the school. 

When we arrived at the school on wintry mornings, we would be warmed by the huge furnace in the corner of the schoolroom that had already been started by neighbors George or Mary Armstrong, the school care- takers. After storing our coats and boots in the cloak- room, we’d greet our teacher already seated at her desk with a “Good morning, Mrs. Masters”, and you knew what kind of a day it was going to be for you by whether she answered you not! Although she was only a little over five feet tall, she had no trouble keeping order in her classroom or disciplining the biggest of the grade nine boys like Bob Teghtmeyer or Bill Armstrong, who towered over her. 

Since the schoolhouses were also the community halls for the districts of Glendale and Bearspaw, we students would clear the room of our desks and polish the floor the last school day before a dance, when families would get together to socialize.

 We would have to be on our best behavior there, too, because our teacher was also part of the local orchestra and would keep a watchful eye out for us! We learned to waltz, polka, schottische, two step and square dance to the calls of Roy Teghtmeyer until midnight. Then, out would come the sandwiches and desserts that everyone would bring to share with coffee and tea before heading home. 

Christmas concerts were a highlight of the school year, and plays, poetry, music and singing were all practiced for many weeks ahead of the “big night”. Roger remembers: 

“We always played sports like baseball or games like ante-i-over or run sheep run at recesses. In the wintertime, we’d scrape off a nearby slough to play hockey every lunch hour, or if it was too cold outside we’d play ping-pong. We needed everyone in the school to make up teams no matter whether we were good enough at the sport or not. We all joined in, cooperated with each other and ended up becoming life-long friends. 

As we got older, we had dances at the Nag-Way and then the Lions Club sponsored a teen club at the Lions Hall where we’d hold meetings to plan dances, hayrides at George Biggars and skating parties at the Newsome or Hamilton dams.” 

In the 1950’s, Premier Ernest Manning’s government liquor regulations permitted drinking only in government approved beer parlours attached to hotels. Men and women weren’t even allowed to drink together in Calgary. Separate rooms in bars segregated men and women, except in rural hotel bars, resulting in people traveling to Cochrane, Okotoks and Airdrie in order to enjoy a drink together. Restaurants couldn’t get liquor licenses, and individuals or organizations had to apply for permits to purchase alcohol for their parties. The Nag-Way sold soft drinks and ice to diners to enable them to enjoy their alcohol with their meals that was brought with them in the form of a bottle of favorite wine or other beverage that was stashed “under the table” in a brown paper bag! The Nag-Way house band played weekends, and the large dance floor was a big attraction to dance to the “big band” music of the day like “In the Mood” or “Chattanooga Choochoo”. Supper club reservations were booked in advance, and New Year’s Eve was always a sold-out event. 

Norman and Larry walked to nearby Bearspaw School, another one room schoolhouse, for their first 6 grades and were taught first by Mrs. Bennett and then by Mrs. Helen Scott. Norman spent Grades 7 and 8 at Silver Springs School, then was bused by Bob Thomas to the Cochrane High School for Grades 9 to 12. Larry was in the last class to be taught at Bearspaw School

and followed Norman one year later, as he skipped a grade. After many years of neglect, the Bearspaw School has been restored and moved to a new location near the Bearspaw Community Hall. 

Norman remembers: 

“There were six or seven of us kids in the neighborhood who loved to play hockey, so we’d talk our parents into helping us build and flood a skating rink behind Cliff Gillespie’s Esso service station. We kids would help finance paying for the boards to build it by selling jelly beans, and some nice parent like Ed Cushing or Cliff Gillespie would make up the difference. After every practice, we’d flood the rink again from the service station water supply so it was ready for the next day, and Cliff would sharpen our skates on his old bench grinder any time we needed them done. The Lions Club bought us sweaters one year, and we played against a team from Glendale School once in a while. We’d be there every day we could and all day Saturdays.” 

After a couple of years living alone on the acreage, Mom moved in with Gail and her grandsons in Symons Valley for five years, and then moved into the city, where she lived independently until 2003, enjoying her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The four of us children have remained in the Calgary area. Roger married Sharon Hott in 1961 and has two daugh- ters, Andrea and Colleen, who is married to Greg Garnsey and has a daughter Eden. Gail married Allan Fraser in 1965, is divorced and has three sons, James, Timothy and Christopher. James and his wife Elizabeth live in California and have two children, Kimberly and Brandon. Tim is married to Karl Maria and lives in Victoria while Chris lives in Vancouver. Norman mar- ried Janis Godfrey in 1975 and has a son, Jesse. Larry and his partner Shannon McGowan have a daughter Jennifer, her husband Dwayne Hanson and two grandchildren, Josiah and Abbey live in Chilliwack. 

Norman, Janis and Jesse moved into the family home behind the Nag-Way in 1989 and still live there. After a series of severe falls and hospital stays, Mom died at 87 on November 21, 2006. 

Since the Nag-Way Inn opened, the city of Calgary has expanded to within a half kilometer of the former restaurant, something never imagined by our Dad in 1949! For over 58 years the Nagle family has owned and enjoyed the Nag-Way property, extending through four generations. Currently the land is up for sale, as most of us children plan to retire away from Calgary, signaling the end of an era for the Nagle family in the Bearspaw community, and the Nag-Way Inn as a unique landmark to Calgary and the surrounding district.

Deep Dive

Charles Pedeprat

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pg 640 More Bill HIll Country 2009

Charlie Pedeprat was born on March 12, 1873 in the village of Belloc in the lower Pyrenees Mountains of France. He was 11 years old when he and his 18 year old brother came to live with their Uncle Jean D’Artique on his ranch on the Dog Pound Creek, northwest of Cochrane. On the train trip from Winnipeg to Calgary, the train travelled so slowly that the two boys, for amusement, would get off the train and run alongside of it. 

Charlie worked for his Uncle Jean until he was seventeen then he worked on various ranches in the Cochrane district, including Cochrane Ranche, a major operation in the area. He used to recall that on spring

roundups they would have to go as far east as Gleichen to gather cattle that had drifted before the blizzards of winter. Mr. Pedeprat worked for one outfit after anoth- er, never taking up land of his own, and as he figured the pioneering life wasn’t for a woman, he never married. Charlie was in the Forestry Corps in the First World War and spent eleven months in Scotland before going to France. 

To Cochrane “Old Timers”, Charlie was a master axe man, they still talk of the way he could dovetail the corners of a log cabin. For a time he worked for the C.P.R. at Banff building the Mount Assiniboia cabins, He also built a number of cabins at Sunshine ten miles out of Banff. He once had a contract to cut 900 railway ties, he did all of the work himself, often cutting as many as 40 ties a day. 

In 1953 (at the tender age of 80), pneumonia forced his retirement. He lived with the Steele family of Cochrane the last twenty four years of his life. 

Charlie Pedeprat passed away on Sunday, May 2, 1965 at the age of 92 in the Colonel Belcher Hospital after being in the hospital for only two days. He is buried in the Field of Honour in the Burnsland Cemetery in Calgary.

Deep Dive

Walter Moodie family

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Pg 615 More Big Hill Country by Catherine Munn Smith

The Walter Moodie family arrived in the West via the Canadian Pacific Railway, in early September 1891. After a brief stay at the Alberta Hotel in downtown Calgary, they drove by wagon seventeen miles west of town to their new home on the Glenbow Ranche.

The land had been purchased in the spring of 1891 by Leslie Hill, Mrs. Moodie’s cousin, who had originally homesteaded in Montana. When Hill’s wife died, leaving him with two little girls and a newborn, Hill appealed to the Moodies to care for them in their home in rural Quebec. Now, three years later, Hill sold his horse ranch along the Mussleshell River in Montana and, with the help of eighteen-year-old Walter Moodie Jr. moved his herd across the Canadian/American border to eleven hundred acres of land west of the town of Calgary.

With his years of business experience in Quebec, Walter Moodie Sr. was to be the Glenbow manager. Young Walter took work on a nearby ranch and Janet Moodie and her daughters Margaret, Marion and Lucy kept house, looked after Hill’s three daughters and did their best to raise a garden. In a letter written in 1893 to a cousin in eastern Canada, Marion details the difficulties of gardening in a “dry and barren land” where there was limited water, late and early frosts and unfamiliar pests and predators. 

The children were another source of concern when they presented with cuts and bruises, scarlet fever and typhoid. With no doctor in easy reach, Marion took on much of the medical and nursing care of the children and later the care of her mother who was suffering from cancer. In fact it was Janet’s illness which finally caused the family to leave Glenbow and move into Calgary in the spring of 1894 where she died in August of that year. 

Leslie Hill remained at Glenbow for a time, finally reg- istering his brand in 1894, but by 1899 records show he had defaulted on payments for the land and shortly there- after his brand was no longer listed. In fact, by 1900 he had left the ranch, the west and Canada to take his three little girls to family in England. 

In Calgary, Walter Moodie Sr. found work as an accountant and young Walter took what work he could get as a surveyor. With finances uncertain, and the young women in need of occupation Margaret, the eldest, left for Regina for teacher training and Marion began nurse’s training at the Calgary General Hospital. With seed money left by “Jimmy Smith”, a well-to- do young Chinese immigrant who had worked in Calgary restaurants for many years, Calgary opened its first public hospital in 1890, a tiny woodframe house where bullet holes ventilated the front door and the dining room doubled as an operating room. This is where Marion Moodie entered nurse’s training in January 1895, the first and only student. After three weeks in this cottage hospital, Marion assisted with the move to a handsome new sandstone structure on 12th Avenue East, working twelve hour night shifts in order to relieve the matron and only staff nurse, and stocking supplies in the new hospital in her spare time during the day. Three years and six months later, on July 28, 1898, Marion was presented with a silver medal, the first nurse to graduate from the Calgary General Hospital and the first nurse to graduate in what would later become the Province of Alberta. 

Marion spent the next five years traveling throughout southern Alberta, wherever doctors requested she attend a case on a farm, a ranch or in town. Private duty in the home meant twenty-four hour duty with an hour or two off in the middle of the afternoon if she was lucky, and payment for her services if the family was willing to pay. 

In the spring of 1903 Marion gave up private nursing and went back to hospital work as the only nurse of an eight-bed hospital in the town of Frank in the Crowsnest Pass. There was no relief for night duty so

she routinely worked sixteen hours or more preparing special diets, keeping the fires going in the cold weather, milking the cow when the doctor was away and cleaning patients, instruments and the wards. All this in addition to diagnosing, prescribing and carrying out treatments in the doctor’s absence and serving as anaesthetist when the doctor performed surgery.

Her one consolation during this period was the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside and Marion spent what free time she had walking, learning the names of local plants and adding to her collection of botanical specimens. This had been a hobby from her youth in Quebec, and throughout the years at Glenbow, in Calgary, and around the province her ramblings often resulted in stories, poems or watercolour paintings. 

Early in 1905 Marion returned to Calgary to be with her father and sisters. While living at home she hoped to earn her living as a visiting nurse but found many of the patients who required the most care could pay the least, even fifty cents a visit being too much for some. In addition there were no street cars at that time and she found herself walking up to six and eight miles a day. After two years, just as home care was beginning to pay, exhaustion overtook her. Her health gave out and she withdrew from nursing for a time. 

It was during this relatively quiet time that Marion founded the Calgary Natural History Society and frequently displayed her botanical specimens at the Public Library in Central Park. 

By 1914 Marion was again involved in nursing, this time as a volunteer packing supplies for the Red Cross

war effort. By the following year she was once more on active duty as Assistant Matron of the Ogden Convalescent Hospital. (This building still stands on Ogden Road, S.E., Calgary.) When the Matron left to go overseas, Marion was made Nursing Sister in Charge under Military District 13 of the Canadian Army Medical Corps where she served until de-mobilization in 1919.

This was the end of Marion’s work in Alberta, although she continued to nurse in a sanatorium in Manitoba until poor health forced her to retire at the age of 60. In 1952 Marion returned to Calgary and the following March attended the opening ceremonies of the “new” Calgary General Hospital, wearing a copy of the uniform she had worn to her graduation. 

Marion Moodie died in Calgary in 1958 at the age of 91. Photographs of Miss Moodie and her silver medal are on display on the main floor of the Calgary General Hospital, Peter Lougheed Centre, and her outstanding botanical specimens are part of herbarium collections at Harvard and Stanford Universities, the Smithsonian Institute and the University of Calgary. Some of the specimens almost certainly come from the rolling hills and grasslands near the Glenbow Ranche where Marion and her sisters rambled. This same land, with its spectacular view up the Bow River Valley, will soon be open to the public as part of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park and, while the Moodie’s involvement with Glenbow was brief, may the history and the beau- ty of the land be protected forever. 

For more on Marion Moodie’s life and career, see Alberta History, Winter 2001, Volume 49, #1. 

Catherine Munn Smith is the great granddaughter of Walter and Janet Moodie.

Allister and Dorothy (Dolly) Moore

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pg 617 More Big Hill Country 2009

In 1976 Allister Moore retired from his position of superintendent at the Seebe Calgary Power Plant and he and his wife Dolly (nee Armistead) retired to Cochrane. They moved into the large brick house at 324 – 1st Street which belonged to her father, Bob Armistead or Gramps as he was fondly known by many of the old time Cochrane residents. The old house was in excellent shape structurally, but was in need of renovations to make it the retirement home Dolly and Allister wanted. These renovations became the first of Allister’s many retirement projects. 

The largest part of this renovation project involved the basement. At the time they moved in it was a dirt floor and did not have legal height. Allister, along with his son Gord and with the help of Roy Buckler, dug the entire basement down two feet carrying out the dirt by hand in buckets. This allowed him to pour a concrete floor. This gave space for things so important to this generation: a cool room for storage of vegetables harvested in the fall and a large area to store preserves made in the late summer and used through the winter. Dolly’s shelves were always full with canned fruit and jams made from fruit brought back from the Okanagan on one of their regular summer trips to the valley. Pickles were made from produce grown in their own garden. Crab apple jelly was a specialty made from crab apples grown on the trees in R.E. and Alice Moore’s large yard on Ross Avenue. Picking of these apples in the fall was an annual event for all family members, grandchildren included, who I think enjoyed more playing in Aunt Alice’s and Uncle R.E.’s wonderful huge yard. 

Bob Armistead died in 1980 and until then he enjoyed having Dolly and Allister’s many friends visit. The teapot was always ready and good company always enjoyed.

Allister was noted for his large garden which he put in every year. His greatest pleasure was to give friends and family a bag of vegetables when they left after a visit. He especially loved growing potatoes and onions. After his son Gordon bought an acreage just north of Cochrane, he added a large potato plot to his gardening. This garden created two other family events, planting and harvesting. Planting had to be done before May 24th and the potatoes must be harvested by Thanksgiving. Grandchildren again were a big part of these projects, in the spring dropping the seed potatoes carefully sliced side down in each hole and come fall grandchildren again helped, gathering them as they appeared like magic in the dirt of the dug up garden. Allister’s potato project grew and he decided he needed a root house. He built one under the front porch of the home in Cochrane. The root house. like the basement, was dug out by hand. In the fall the potatoes were carried in by hand a bucket at a time, to be brought out as needed, especially to be given away as friends visited. 

Dolly and Allister were active members of the United Church. Allister often helped with minor maintenance at the church and Dolly was a member of the choir. 

Retirement gave Dolly time to pursue a life long love of art. She became an avid member of the Cochrane Art Club. She enjoyed working in both oils and water colors creating beautiful landscapes and pictures with character, old farm buildings in rural settings. 

Today, her family and many of her friends enjoy the products of Dolly’s talent and have lovely pieces of art work in their homes. 

Dolly and Allister had two very special friends in their retirement years that were a part of everything they participated in. These were two wonderful West Highland Terriers both named Muffy. The first Muffy lived to be ten and died in 1992. A second Muffy joined the family shortly after and was their constant compan- ion for the rest of their lives. Muffy was a part of everything they did from visiting friends to attending choir practices with Dolly and sitting, usually quietly, in the church listening to the practice. 

Dolly and Allister’s family, both close and extended, were very important to them. During retirement, they made two trips to England to visit family. Both Dolly and Allister went on the first trip and then, Dolly and her daughter Pat went on the second trip. Staying in touch was something Dolly did diligently. At Christmas, Christmas letters went in every card, a big project which in later years became more difficult. Her daughter, Pat spent many hours helping with the letters so Dolly could keep these important bonds of friendships strong. 

In the later years, living in and managing their home at 324 – 1st Street became increasingly difficult for Dolly and Allister. They chose to move into Big Hill Lodge. They kept their house and although they lived in the lodge, they continued to have many happy occasions celebrated in their home. Allister planted a garden and cared for it until the year he died. 

Dolly and Allister were fortunate to enjoy the happiness of having five grandchildren and four great- grandchildren during the time they were alive and now, in 2008, there are four more great-grandchildren. Their daughter, Pat Richtie and husband Ken have two daughters, Debbie and Sheri. Debbie married Pat Feulle and they have a son Brennan and a daughter Breanne. They live in Strathmore. Sheri married Robert Armstrong and they have two daughters, Taylor and Stephanie. They live in Cochrane. 

Their son, Gordon and wife Carrol have three daughters: Tara, Kerri and Joy. Tara and Tristan Bodnar live on an acreage outside of Cochrane and have twins, Caiden and Olivia. Kerri married Christopher Ebbinghoff. They live in Cochrane and they have two girls, Kira and Cassia. Joy lives in Calgary and teaches High School in Chestermere. 

Dolly died in 2001 at age 86 and Allister died in 2006 at age 93.

Mae and Gordon Moir Family pg 614 More Big Hill Country 2009

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My first impression of Cochrane was from the cab of a Canadian Pacific Railway engine. My uncle was an engineer was on the run from Calgary to Banff and had a stopover at Cochrane for the brickyard. It was on one of these expeditions that I stayed in the engine and watched the fireman stoking up the boilers. It was thrilling to watch the amount of wood being consumed by the huge engine. I couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8 years old, but ever since, trains have always had a fascination for me. This trip was followed by a trip into Banff to stay in the bunkhouse right at the old Canadian Pacific Railway station. I remember a profusion of red, yellow and orange Iceland poppies and geraniums that were on the station grounds. The air in Banff was spectacular, cool and embracing. It was not until July 1950 that I had an opportunity to revisit Cochrane. I had graduated from Western Canada High School in June, attended my high school prom with a handsome young man that I had met in April on a blind date. He was from Vancouver and I was excited to have a new boyfriend. Enter Gordon Moir. He had recently acquired a car. It was a 1929 touring Ford and a friend had driven it from Vancouver over the old roads through the Kicking Horse Pass to Calgary.

It made it with no major problems. It had a canvas top and roll down curtains. The horn made a wonderful ‘Oogah, Oogah” sound. We had decided to take a trip to Banff and of course we had to go through Cochrane. The old road was very steep and more than one car had ended up in the churchyard at the bottom of the hill. However, the 1929 Touring Ford did well and we spent a couple of hours in Cochrane before motoring off to Banff for the day. 

Coming home promised to be somewhat different as we worried whether or not the old green Ford would make it up the Big Hill. We hit the bottom of the hill with some trepidation and slowly but surely we made it to the top. On the way up we passed several cars that hadn’t been so fortunate. One had a flat tire and a couple had overheated and steam was pouring out of the radiators. We were married in January 1951 and were blessed with four children, 2 girls and 2 boys, Debbie, 1952, Bonnie, 1953, Lindsay, 1955 and Bruce, 1956. Gordon was employed by the City of Calgary and in 1958 he was offered a position with the City of Lethbridge as Parks and Recreation director. It was a great time in our life and we enjoyed Lethbridge very much. In 1970 we returned to Calgary and shortly thereafter entered the Real Estate business. In 1970 we started Moir Realty Ltd, and never looked back. 

Our first major investment was the building of Tudor Mews on the corner of Shaganappi and Crowchild Trail N.W. This was a 70 unit condominium project, one of the first in Calgary. 

Shortly thereafter Gordon decided that Cochrane was the up and coming place and we bought the land on the triangular shaped piece of property as you entered Cochrane and applied for a building permit to build Cochrane Valley Shopping Centre. It was not easy getting a development permit as the current mayor, Caroline Godfrey was adamant that Cochrane should stay small town and the town did not need a shopping centre. Ray and Dave Whittle, and Dr. Ziegenhagel were also investors in the Cochrane Shopping Centre. The major tenants were the Royal Bank and the IGA. 

After the completion of the Shopping Centre in 1976 Gordon decided that Cochrane really needed a new restaurant and along with his friend Bill McConnick of Calgary they put the Kissin Kuzzin restaurant together. It was an instant success and had a specialty of apple smoked ribs and hot apple pie dessert with cinnamon ice cream and our own rum sauce. These were very popular items. The restaurant was on the second floor of the Cochrane Valley Shopping Centre. 

 

The next venture in Cochrane was the purchase and development of the Glenbow subdivision. This provided Cochrane with reasonably priced homes in a well- developed neighbourhood. It was during the late 1970’s that we purchased a piece of land on the comer of Highway 1A and Glendale Road. It was the original Washington homestead. We built our own home on this land and have been very happy for 28 years. During this time we have made many close friends. Cochrane is a vibrant community that offers many amenities. It is a perfect location for all residents that want the ambi- ence of a small town with peace and quiet, fantastic mountain scenery, fresh air, excellent schools and easy access to Calgary and major highways.

Don and Shirley Ramsay Family

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Mother and Dad came to Canada from England. Dad came in 1912, and Mother came later in 1915. They came to Strathmore, Alberta but they moved to Carseland, Alberta in 1927, where they farmed until they bought the Virginia Ranch at Dog Pound in 1930. I went to school at Dog Pound and then to Olds Agricultural College in 1936 and 1937. 

On March 17, 1939, my Dad passed away with cancer. Dad and Mother had a family of four: three girls, Lilian, Huberta and myself, Shirley, and one son Henry. Lilian lived at Carseland and Nanton. She had four children, two girls, both married and one lives in Nanton and one at Olds. The two boys ranched with her. Huberta married Tom Hayne and they lived and farmed at Carseland. They had two girls. Huberta has lived in Calgary since her husband passed away. Henry, known as Buster or Ike, married Diana Roberts. They have four children: Marlene, Lorraine, Harry and Patsy. All are married now. Buster farmed the home place, Virigina Ranch, for Mother. Buster passed away in 2001 and his son, Harry, now does the farming and raises purebred cattle. 

Mother liked to travel and went to Hawaii for the winters. On a trip to Buffalo, New York, she passed away from a heart attack in 1967. 

I (Shirley) helped at home with the work after Dad passed away. Then, in 1939, I married Don Ramsay from Bearspaw, near Calgary. Don was the third son of John and Caroline Ramsay. 

We stayed at the Virginia Ranch until 1949, when Don started trucking for the Bottrel store and we moved to Bottrel. I worked in the store for Mr. Bill Milroy. Don hauled groceries for the store, grain and cattle for the area farmers. In the winter he hauled lumber from the mills, west of Water Valley, to the lumberyard at Water Valley. Also, he hauled gravel for the Municipal District of Rocky View. He worked on Highway #22 when it was built. At the last he hauled gas for the Esso Bulk Station in Cochrane to the area farmers. He had an accident when a gas tank stand fell on him. After this he was unable to drive for the last thirteen years of his life. 

Don passed away on September 20, 1997, after being in the Fanning Centre in Calgary for two years and in the Bethany in Cochrane for two years. 

In 1959, Don and I moved to our own place, three miles east of Highway #22 in the Westbrook area. Some of the neighbors that were close by when we moved to this farm were Max and Katie Jahns, Karl and Bea Sammons, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Warner, Frank and Marty Dwelle, Judd and Peggie Pick-up, Walter and Margaret Hutchinson and Ivan and Ruth Nobles. 

Don and I have three children, two boys, Wallace and Donald, and one girl, Roxanne. 

Wallace “Tuffy” married Gail Nowlin. They lived in Cochrane for forty two years, before retiring to Sundre, Alberta. Tuffy was a fireman in Calgary for thirty years attaining the rank of Captain. He is a real outdoorsman and loves to hunt with his cougar hounds. He plays hockey and Old Timer Ball. Tuffy and Gail have three sons: Patrick, Douglas and Andrew. Patrick “Pat” works for the Town of Cochrane in the Parks and 

Facilities Department. He also works part time as a firefighter in Cochrane. He has a son, Quinn, who is two years old and full of life and energy. Douglas “Doug” works for Petro Canada. Like his father he likes to hunt and plays ball. Andrew “Drew” married a girl from Calgary, Krista. They moved to Bonnyville, where Drew works. They have a daughter Jaimie. She is my first great-grandchild. 

Donald, “Donnie/Tex” has two children, twins, Burke and Brooke. Donnie used to rodeo and now Brooke is in barrel racing. She has won many trophies. Brooke has three horses. She has been to the Canadia Finals Rodeo in Edmonton twice and in the Calgary Stampede four times. Burke played hockey in Cochrane and is now in rodeo as well. He went to Quebec in 2007 and is going again this year, 2008. In the winter, Donnie and Burke work up north, around Fort McMurray, driving truck. 

Roxanne married Murray Milan from Three Hills. They have three boys, Baillie, Tanner and Straws. Roxanne works at the “Old Trading Post Store” at Morley. The boys all rodeo, as did their father Murray. Baillie steer wrestles in the Pro circuit and also ropes. He has gone to the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton twice and to the Calgary Stampede many times. Baillie and Tanner won the Wild Cow Milking at the Calgary Stampede the last year that the trophy was given out. It is a beautiful trophy. Baillie was in the 4-H Club at Jumping Pound. Tanner is also a steer wrestler. He has been to the CFR in Edmonton four times and to the Calgary Stampede, too. He also goes to the United States to rodeo. He belonged to the Jumping Pound 4-H Club. Tanner is just a handy man, does anything and everything. Straws is the last of the boys, but the biggest. He followed the other two into rodeo and is just starting out as a steer wrestler. He plays hockey for the Cochrane Generals. Straws was in the 4-H Club and won some trophies there.

I am still on my farm, east of Westbrook School with my dog “Patches”. Don and I celebrated our 50th Anniversary at the Cremona Hall on November 15, 1989, surrounded by many friends and family. I belong to the Lochend Ladies Club, the Dog Pound Blue Birds Club and the Gold & Silover Club at Cremona. I do a lot of knitting, especially children’s mitts.

Lorne Helmig Family

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In 1930, Lorne’s father, William Joseph Helmig married Ethel McCreary in Lloydminster, Alberta. Lorne Otto Helmig was born August 4, 1930 in Lloydminster.

Between 1931 and 1936, Lorne’s brother Glen and sisters, Hazel and Fern, were born. During these years the family experienced some bad luck as they lost their home and all their belongings in a fire.

A granary was pulled up for them ot live in, but with winter coming, they had to find a house, so they moved across the river to the Spruce Coulee area. In early spring of 1938, Lorne’s Dad moved his family ot the old Helmig homestead in the Spring Lake area, approximately seven miles from the town of Daysland, Alberta.

After Robert Webb left his childhood farm, he went into the trucking business for a number of years. He then formed a partnership with John Milligan operating the Webb and Milligan Garage (Esso Service Station) in Cochrane. Barbara divided her time between her home and working at the garage.

Their daughter, Patricia Shirley Webb, was born February 12, 1933 at the General Hospital ni Calgary. After attending High School in Cochrane, Shirley took a one year course at Henderson’s Business School College in 1951. She then worked for her father as the bookkeep- er of the Webb and Milligan Garage.

During their “courting years” Lorne and Shirley were always on the go. They attended al the local dances along with their many friends and also enjoyed going ot “the movies” in the city. They loved to go to the wrestling matches ni Calgary and then to Chinatown for dinner. In the winter they spent a lot of time skating at hte old outdoor rink. Lorne was one of the best lead- ers for crack the whip and Shirley and her friends still talk about what fun they had in the summer, a favourite pastime was picnics and swimming at the Jumping Pound swimming hole with their friends as wel as Shirley’s parents and some of her relatives

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Lorne and Shirley were married on September 23, 1954 at the St. Andrews United Church in Cochrane. For a wedding gift, Shirley’s parents gave them a town lot right next to their lot. Lorne and Shirley then proceeded to buy the neighboring lot to build their future garage on. They lived in a 23 foot travel trailer on this lot while their house was being built. They spent many hours helping to build and finish their home.

Their first daughter, Jody Patricia, was born on February 28, 1960 and their second daughter, Julie Anne, was born on December 23, 1962.

Lorne left the Shell Gas Plant in 1964 and went into a partnership with Ed Raby at the Esso Bulk Station in Cochrane. He bought out his partner in 1967. In 1983, the office and storage warehouse burned to the ground in a spectacular fire. Lorne helped to rebuild the business until his retirement in 1985.

Shirley’s mother, Barbara, passed away in 1985 and was predeceased by Shirley’s father, Robert, in 1974. Lorne and Shirley took great pleasure in spending time with their family. They enjoyed numerous weekend getaways ot hotels in Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia and Banff, Alberta. These weekends always included swimming ni the Hot Springs pools and din- ing out at their favorite restaurants. They also loved to go camping and boating in the summer and enjoyed snow-mobiling ni
the winter.

In addition, the girls spent many winter days in the mountains down hill ski- ing. In the early 1980’s the family traded in their trav- el trailer for a mobile home located at Windermere Lake, British Columbia. This was one of their greatest pride and joys. at “The Lake”

In 1980, Jody married Stan Ferrot. Their son, Justin Riley, was born in 1985 and their daughter, Jenna Rae, was born in 1988. The family moved to British Columbia in 2004.

Julie married Joe Hofer in 2000. Their son, Jordan Michael, was born in 2001 and the family resides in Cochrane. Joe’s daughter Dallas, who was born in 1975, resides in Calgary.

Lorne passed away on November 25, 2007. Both Lorne and Shirley were Charter Members of the Cochrane Lions/Lioness Club but resigned in the latter years. Lorne was an Honorary Member of the Cochrane Royal Canadian Legion for many years and Shirley continues to be a long time member of the Cochrane Legion.

Ken Raby Family

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Page 661 More Big Hill Country 2009

My grandfather, George Raby, came to Cochrane in 1905. He registered four homesteads to three sons and himself in the Weedon area. In 1910 he ran the livery stable in Cochrane and Stage Coach for passengers and mail to Bottrel and Dog Pound. 

My father came to Cochrane in 1906 and homestead- ed nine miles north of Cochrane until 1928. He married Gertrude Filman in 1911 and they had three children. My sister Muriel was born in 1912, my brother Ed in 1914 and I (Ken) was born in 1922.

In 1927, we moved to Cochrane and I started school in Cochrane in 1928.
My sister Muriel took nursing training at the Lamont . Hospital in Lamont, Alberta. Ed went to school until grade eight. He was invalided with rheumatic fever at 16 years of age.

I finished school in 1939, joined the Air Force in 1941 and went overseas in 1942. I. served in England, Scotland, France, Belgium and Germany with the 409th Squadron with 148 wing tactical Air Force. I was repatriated in October 194

I married Ann Howes in 1947 and we had a son Mark and a daughter Roxine. 

Mark married Jackie Hilbert and they have two daughters, Julie and Candice. Julia has a daughter Rebecca Roderiques. 

Our daughter Roxine married Jim Wilson and they have two children, a daughter Amanda and a son Kyle. Amanda has a son Zander Wiklin. 

We have four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 

My wife Anne passed away on December 14, 2006, after 59 years of marriage. 

My brother, sister and parents have also passed away 

I am now 85 years old and live in Cochrane, Alberta These are the facts only, stories could fill this book.

Deep Dive

Legion Opening Ken Raby speaking

Sam and Helen Scott

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pg 698 More Big Hill Country 2009

Sam Scott was born July 5, 1905, in County Down, Northern Ireland. He was raised on a small farm where William Scott, Sam’s father trained horses to ride and show. Sam rode horses very young and rode often. 

In 1923, as a young man, Sam and his father came to Canada to work for the Canadian Pacific Railroad in Southern Alberta, building railroad beds and irrigation canals with horses. After two years working in Canada, Sam and William returned to Ireland for four years then they brought William’s wife Adelaide and Sam’s sisters Agnes, Charlotte (Lottie), Rose, and brothers Jimmy and Willy back to Alberta. 

While the family was in quarantine in Quebec, Sam learned to shoot. One of the staff gave him a .22 rifle and ammunition and told him to shoot rats. 

 

The Scott family worked on farms in Dalroy, Alberta. Sam returned to a large farm in the Big Bend area near Taber, Alberta where he had worked before. He farmed with up to sixteen horses. Two years later he joined the family working in the Dalroy area. In 1928, the Scott family moved to Glenbow Ranch, working for Chester de la Vergne of Glenbow, Alberta. Mr. de la Vergne sold the Glenbow Ranch to Mr. Eric L. Harvie in 1933 and the Scott family remained there. 

Helen Mary Rowan was born June 9, 1912, in Calgary, Alberta. Her father came from Ontario and her grandparents, the Lawsons, had ranched on the Crowfoot Creek northwest of Gleichen, Alberta. Helen’s mother Isabella was an early teacher at Springbank School. She was much loved by her students and their parents so they pooled their finances to buy her a horse to ride to school. 

Helen was raised and schooled in Calgary but her favorite holidays were spent on her grandparent’s ranch near Hussar, Alberta. She began working for her board and room while in Junior High School and continued through Normal School where she received her teaching certificate in 1932. 

Helen managed to get a school on the prairie, northwest of Hussar. Shallow Water School was quite a change from the doctors’ homes she had worked and lived in, in Calgary. Her living quarters were a dugout basement under the school and it was full of mice. To get away from the mice as best she could, Helen slept on the floor of the classroom until some of her pupils brought her some cats. 

Helen’s second school was Glendale School, northeast of Cochrane. Again it was a one-room school where she taught grades 1-9. While there she boarded at Thompsons and rode horseback to school.

Sam Scott, who was a neighbour of the Thompsons. was attracted to this good-looking teacher who loved to ride. One Sunday he arrived at the Thompsons, leading his favorite horse, and invited her to go for a ride. She accepted and suggested they go to visit her Uncle David Lawson who was now ranching south of Cochrane in Jumping Pound. 

Sam Scott and Helen Rowan were married on September 28, 1935. 

Sam and Helen’s first son David was born June 16, 1936. Sam was working on the Glenbow Ranch and farm chores were a very important part of their life. Milking cows and selling the cream was a major portion of their income in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1939, Helen joined the Glendale Women’s Institute and began her first chance at volunteering. 

One very cold November day Eric Harvie and a group went hunting with Sam as their guide. They wounded a deer that crossed the Bow River south, at Glenbow. Sam followed the deer to check on it and upon his return discovered the current in the river was very swift and high. The Ghost Dam had been let out three hours prior. As Sam on his horse crossed the river, the horse rolled in the swift water and Sam and his horse got separated. The horse swam to the south bank and got out so Sam called him. The horse returned to Sam and he grabbed the saddle horn and they both made it to the north bank some distance downstream. Sam rode three miles home, frozen stiff like a statue, and had to have help to dismount. He never got a cold or anything from this adventure and he never again rode the horse that saved his life. 

A second child, daughter Heather, was born on May 10, 1939. World War II broke out and Sam joined the Canadian Air Force. Their third child, a son Donald was born October 29, 1940. Helen moved herself and three small children to Calgary for a short time before finding a little house in Carstairs. Between the years 1940 and 1945 Helen taught Sunday School and a mid-week children’s group. She also played the piano in Carstairs United Church during this time. 

When Sam returned from overseas in 1945, the family returned to Glenbow Ranch. Soon they had a truck and Helen resumed her membership in the Glendale W.I. and became involved in St. Andrew’s United Church, Cochrane. 

While ranching with the Harvies at Glenbow, Sam was involved in the Calgary Stampede. He rode in the Wild Horse Race and was a Chuckwagon outrider until 1955 when he passed the outrider job on to David. David rode for Gordon Dingwall. 

Sam also participated annually in the Calgary Horse Show from 1933 on, a time he enjoyed very much. He usually came home with more horses than he sold. He bought colts unbroken or “bad”. He then rode them, trained them and sold them for his pocket money. 

William Scott, Sam’s father, and Eric Harvie, continued through the years as partners on the Glenbow Ranch until 1956 when William retired and the Sam Scott family were moved, three miles north on the Glenbow Road, to Spring Valley, (Mel Brown’s farm north on Glendale Road). This was a big deal, running water and a telephone! We moved six miles north out of the Bow Valley and saw sharp-tail grouse dancing for the first time.

Sam always had horses, saddle horses and draft horses that he trained and would trade down, a trained one for a green one. He fed cows with a team and hayrack until the 1970s. 

David, Heather, and Donald attended Glendale School and in December 1957 Helen returned to the classroom at Bearspaw School teaching grades one to eight until 1964. After Donald moved on to High School, she began teaching at the new Andrew Sibbald Elementary School in Cochrane until 1976. She enjoyed these years of teaching even more than the early years. After she retired she substituted with regularity often at Cochrane High where she again came in contact with former elementary students. 

In 1970, Sam retired from Glenbow Ranch and he and Helen moved into Cochrane. While Helen taught school, Sam worked part-time for Dennis Wearmouth, Jack Hawkwood and Bill Nugent. Sam filled his time with Bill Nugent as he loved horse sales. He had an eye for good horses and was often the middleman purchasing for neighbours. Many horses in the area had some part of Sam in their background. 

During his retirement, many a Friday afternoon found him at home with his brother-in-law Curly Rowan, some rum, and a cribbage board. Sam made extra pocket money by tending the jail at the RCMP Barracks in Cochrane. There he also played cribbage with the Mounties and Annie Raby, when there was a female prisoner. Sam passed away in 1992.

Helen found much fulfillment in volunteering at the Big Hill Lodge in Cochrane. She led exercise classes, sing songs and loved to take a carload of folks on drives in the country and to church. She loved to play the piano and had many wonderful times playing for dances, sing songs and church services. Soon after the Bethany Care Centre was built in Cochrane, Helen regularly played and led sing songs there too. 

Helen was honoured by the Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce as the “the Volunteer of the Year”. She was still enjoying playing the piano, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her many friends even at the age of 94. She enjoyed listening to “The Spirit of the West” on the radio as it reminded her of life with Sam and days on the ranch, both Glenbow and the Lawson ranch on the Crowfoot. 

Helen passed away in 2007 at the age of 95 years.

Vern and Evelyn Lambert – A story worth retelling

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Vern and Evelyn were mentioned on March 24th at the CHAPS AGM. We think the Lambert’s contribution is worth retelling.

My memory of  Vern is from Dad’s brandings. Vern was the life of the branding and the dinner afterward. Without Vern and a bunch of other cowboys, the day would have been a lot harder and much less fun. I only mention that because that was only one of Vern and Evelyn’s contributions.

Please read to the end of the article where CHAPS expresses our appreciation to the Lamberts.

By Evelyn (Beadle) Lambert More Big Hill Country

Having started his life in the Munson/Drumheller area, Vern and his brothers Ray and Gordon and their mother Daisy, took up residence in Springbank. Vern attended school in Bowness. 

On July 22, 1949, he arrived in the Cochrane area where he went to work with George Harrison at the Bar DL Ranch. Later on, he went logging with Bill Richards and from there to the Alf Scott Sawmill in Cochrane. In 1951 he, along with many other Cochrane men, worked on the construction of the Shell Jumping Pound Gas Plant, his foreman being Leonard (Shorty) Kinch. In 1951 Vern went to work for the Town of Cochrane, installing the sewer and waterworks, working with Jack Steel, Arthur Kirkland, George Morris and Ted Lee, to name a few. 

Vern and his brothers were very musical. In 1953 they started their own Country and Western Band which consisted of Vern, Ray, Gordon, Al McMahon and Fred Steinmetz at the beginning with Ted Westerson joining the Lambert Brothers later on. They played all around Alberta, keeping very busy every weekend. Finally, in July 1980 they decided to cease the band business. Then later on Vern played drums for George Fox for one year, before George moved down east. 

In 1954 Vern went to work for Precision Construction in Calgary, building and repairing buildings. His brother Ray and Ed Davies also worked there. 

In 1957 Vern and Ray started their own construction company (Lambert Brothers Construction). They purchased 2 acres from the Town of Cochrane and built their own shop. Some of their first hired help were Bill Postlethwaite, Jim Postlethwaite, Don Patterson, Alf Brown, Al McMahon, Phil Cook, Hugh Hillman, Jim Brodie, Basil Powers and Hank Bakker. They built many houses, R.E. Moores Food Store, St. Mary’s Church (later called Nan Boothby Library), Scott Lake Garage and numerous other projects. 

During the mid-1960’s Vern and Gerald Tustian broke many horses. 

In 1967 Lambert Brothers sold their shop and Vern and I purchased a quarter section of land NW Sec 36 Twp 26 Range 5 W5M plus lease from Phil Austin in beautiful Grand Valley. We had a small ranching operation while Vern continued doing construction and playing in a band. 

During 1986 and 1987 construction of the Mountain View Car Wash and Chiropractic Building in Cochrane was done with the help of Mac Leask Jr., Dan Fenton, Jim Rutledge and Gordon Quinn. Then Vern teamed up with Ed Schmidt in 1988 doing more construction projects until September 1995 when he decided to stay home to look after his cattle and general ranch work and repairs 

Vern and I (Evelyn Beadle) were married in 1953. I was born in the Beadle house on the farm and was delivered by Mrs. Walter Beard, a friend of the family. I attended the Cochrane Lake School until they decided to bus us into the Cochrane Brick School in Cochrane. Our bus drivers were Eddie Rowe and Bill Gogs. 

In 1950 I went to work in the Cochrane Post Office for the summer holidays. My wages were $37.50 a month. I enjoyed the work very much and 29 years later I was still there. During those early years worked with Cyril Camden, Andy Chapman, Dorothy Springett, Bernice Reid, Bob Hogarth, Lloyd and Vi Des Jardine, Gordon Hall and Margaret McDowall, to name a few. 

In those days we had to push the mail cart to the Canadian Pacific Railway station to meet the train every day in order to pick up the mail. 

Wanting a change in 1979 I decided to work for Cochrane’s first I.G.A., later at Kerfoot and Downs Hardware and then to Lorne Helmig’s Esso Station. 

In 1981 I was asked to apply for the Rural Mail contract. which I acquired and did with the help of Winnie Conaboy, Jean Copithorne, Joyce Schmidt, Kathy Harbridge, Mary Anne Beaton, my Dad (Alex Beadle and nephew John Lambert. The two routes covered a distance of 100 miles. RR2 consisted of the Lochend areas and RR1 consisted of the Bottrel and Horse Creek areas. In September 1995 I decided to retire after 14 years of delivering mail, making a total of 43 years working for the Cochrane Postal Department. 

In May 2000 I joined the Cowgirl Cattle Company, an enterprising group of ladies from Cochrane and surrounding areas.

The Lamberts donated a considerable amount of money to CHAPS in their estate. The decision on how to eventually use this donation will be made by the general membership. We think this is the best way to continue the work of Evelyn and Vern and other Cochrane pioneers.

Deep Dive

 

Stories of the Wild West, a retelling

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CHAPS goal is to to identify, preserve, protect, and educate the public about historically significant properties and buildings in Cochrane.

Time is not on our side. We need people to help gather and record our stories. Would you like to help?

This blog was originally published in 2020.

While researching other stories this week I came across this delightful YouTube channel by the Heritage Resource Committee of the M.D. of Bighorn called the oral history project.

CHAPS has a similar goal of capturing these family stories while there is still time. When you watch this video you’ll understand why we feel this is so important.

Erik Butters tells the story of how his maternal great-grandfather came to Alberta. Along his travels, he meets some of the most famous (infamous) people of the wild, wild west.

You have to watch this!!!

Get involved in saving our local history!

Our stories are worth telling and remembering. Click the button to get in touch if your family has a story to tell or you want to help in capturing these wonderful stories.
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Read more

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  3. Sundance Kid Facebook
  4. Sundance Kid article – CHAPS also gets a mention

Countess Bubna and the Merino Ranch

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This article was originally published in 2020.

The Countess Bubna was one of Cochranes’ great characters. Be sure to read the links in Deep Dive to see her Kelowna – Vernon interests.

CHAPS first history book has a history of the Merino Ranch that used to exist west of town. I’d only recently learned of the Countess Bubna so its interesting to hear more of her story.

MERINO RANCH — by Margaret Buckley 

It is believed that J. A. W. Fraser homesteaded part of the property later known as the Merino Ranch.

In 1891, Frank White purchased the SE and SW14 of section 2-26-5-5. Here he raised a large herd of Merino sheep and gave the Merino Ranch its name. Prior to Frank’s purchase of land, he resided in a shack and had some sheep sheds built on SE114 13-25-5-5. It was here his sheep grazed on the hills and valleys near the Jumping Pound Creek in 1890 when the land surveyors came through the area. 

Around the turn of the century, Frank found it impossible to raise sheep profitably. Cattlemen were enjoying a boom, with over 1300 head being shipped from Cochrane in 1900 and 1901. The Boer War kept the horse market healthy. During this time Frank, the only sheep rancher of any size, disposed of his stock as he had been losing money steadily during the 1890s. He sold the ranch to C. W. Fisher in 1901.

Mr. Fisher imported a herd of Shorthorn cattle to stock the ranch but when he entered political life, he sold the ranch to A. McPherson. Mr. Fisher then purchased the property now known as the St. Francis Retreat.

In 1910, Mr. McPherson sold the cattle and went into the raising of horses. He was appointed one of the captains of the first Polo Club formed in Cochrane in 1909. W. Hutchinson was the other captain. Mr. McPherson also had holdings in the Argentine. He married Mary “Dumpy” Ritchie, daughter of Dr. T. Ritchie, and in 1912 sold the ranch to Countess Bubna for thirty-six thousand dollars. The McPhersons moved to the Argentine where two sons and two daughters were born. The children were raised in the Argentine but the McPhersons returned to Cochrane in 1929 to visit Mary’s sister, Rena (Mrs. Archie Howard). On this visit, they brought a parrot from Rio de Janeiro. The parrot swore in Spanish and was left with Rena in Cochrane when the McPhersons returned to their home. McPherson’s’ sons were killed in two separate car accidents, one year apart, in the Argentine. One daughter, Betty Risso, passed away in Toronto in 1974. Their other daughter, Lucy Feldman, resides in the U.S.A.

In 1912, the Countess Bubna appointed E. L. McBride manager of the ranch. She imported a number of English Shire horses, considered to be the best quality heavy horses ever brought into Alberta. She also owned the first tractor in the country. 

Countess Bubna had two very talented daughters and after arriving at the ranch the Chapman Brothers, from Cochrane, were hired to build their beautiful home. The ceilings were 16 feet high and the house had a skylight. The rooms were built in a circle, leading to a living room furnished with lovely furniture from England bearing the English family crest. 

During the time the Countess owned the Merino Ranch, she added to her holdings considerably. There were a number of homesteaders who wanted to move, so she bought their land from them and built the ranch into a going concern. She stocked it with cattle and proved a very capable businesswoman. 

Alex MacKay and his wife Annabell worked for many years for the Countess. 

Having come originally from London, England, the Countess was a very interesting person. She was the daughter of the Duchess of Sutherland and the step-daughter of the Duke of Sutherland. She married an Austrian Count and in 1911 came to Canada to buy a ranch, satisfying an early ambition. It was hoped that the Count would be able to join her in this country, but due to the International situation at that time, he was not allowed to enter Canada 

The Countess and her daughters spent the summers on the ranch and the winters in the U.S.A. While at the ranch, she made many friends in the district. After operating the ranch until 1922, she traded it to Malcolm McLennan for his 7000-acre ranch a few miles south of Vernon, British Columbia. In addition to receiving a substantial amount of cash, Mr. McLennan took over the 4500-acre ranch and 500 head of cattle. 

The Countess’ ranch in Vernon was known as the Postill Ranch and was considered to be one of the best properties in the Okanagan. She remained in British Columbia for a short time, then went to Egypt so she could be near her husband. She devoted herself to writing a play but died before it was finished. 

Mr. McLennan operated the Merino Ranch and during his ownership added another 2500 acres. He had bought the ranch for his son but the son was thrown from his horse and killed instantly. As Mr. McLennan had no further interest in the ranch after his son’s death, he sold the ranch to Ralph Coppock and on October 20, 1930, he moved to the U.S.A. 

Ralph Clifton Coppock was born in Merriam, Kansas, and ranched west of High River from 1911 to 1918 when he sold his property to F. J. Hartell. The village of Hartell was formed on the property later. He lived in High River from 1918 1927 when he and his family moved to Madden, Alberta, where he ranched until 1929. 

After purchasing the Merino Ranch in 1931, he built up the 7000-acre ranch into an enterprising concern. He bred up an outstanding herd of commercial Hereford cattle and in his feedlots, produced a quality product that found favour on the South St. Paul and Chicago markets. He also topped the market in Vancouver, in the 1940s with a shipment of 110 steers from his feedlot. Along with his cattle operation, Mr. Coppock developed a hog operation, where he marketed 250 bacon-type hogs annually. He cultivated 800 acres of his own land but every year purchased thousands of bushels of grain from neighbours in the Cochrane area for his feedlot. He also bought feeder steers to supplement the steers produced on his own ranch. Mr. Coppock was a member of the King Solomon Lodge A.F. and A.M. in Cochrane and the Western Stock Growers Association. 

Mr. and Mrs. Coppock had three sons, R. C Coppock Jr., Kenneth and Gerald and one daughter, Dorothy. Mrs. Coppock passed away in 1940 and Mr. Coppock in 1943. 

C. Coppock Jr., (Clifton) attended Palo Alto University and was a banker. He married Marion Crawford, daughter of Dr. Crawford and niece of Arthur and Ethel Crawford. 

Ken was secretary-manager of the Western Stock Growers Association and editor of the Canadian Cattleman magazine. He then owned and operated Kenway’s Saddle and Western Wear store in Calgary. 

Dorothy graduated from Palo Alto University and was a singer. She married Elwyn Bugge and they lived in Palo Alto, California. 

Gerald went to school at Cochrane, met and married Mary Rees, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rees. Gerald was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Corps and after the passing of his father, he managed the Merino Ranch until 1946. 

The Merino Ranch was sold in 1946 to the Federal Government Department of Indian Affairs along with the adjoining acres of Arthur Crawford. This area became an extension of the Stoney Indian Reserve. The original log house, built-in 1881 was still standing and in livable condition at the time of the sale. 

A big auction sale was held to dispose of the possessions on the ranch, thus ending the era of the Merino Ranch of the Cochrane District. 

Frank White, who was married to my great grandfather’s sister Annie Anderson, started the Merino Ranch a bit earlier than this article states. On July 24, 1886, they herded his band of sheep across the railroad bridge at Mitford to the land he was granted after the dispute with Rev McDougall over the original land grant at Morleyville was resolved by Sir John A. MacDonald. This was the beginning of the Merino Ranch, which by 1890 was running about 5000 head of sheep. Harold, their son, was born there on Dec. 17, 1888.

Lynn Ferguson Tweet
Cochrane Advocate July 1920

Deep Dive

Motorcycle Hill-Climbing Originally published 2018

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This article was originally posted in 2018. It’s such an interesting topic we updated and reposted. Look at the number of people it attracted. Click on the photo on the left to see a larger version.

Did you know Cochrane had Motorcycle Hill-Climbing in the 1930’s? Just like today, people from Calgary liked to visit Cochrane. One of the popular activities was hill climbing. We’re looking for photos of those races.

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Will Pratt supplied these images on our Twitter account. He describes the locations as 8 miles west of Calgary. Obviously, a popular event.

Not an image from Cochrane Thanks to Deeley Exhibition for this image

Thanks to Deeley Exhibition for providing this example image. For more on Hill-Climbing visit their site at https://deeleyexhibition.ca/brief-history-hill-clim

Foster Hewitt

When Radios werent taken for granted

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pg 43 Peep into the Past, Short Stories by Gordon and Belle Hall

Radios were just coming into use in the 1920s and 1930s. I remember I had two crystal sets which worked without batteries, but were never a success, at least mine weren’t. 

In 1929, ‘I bought a little two-tube set from Chapman Brothers, cost $11 and Harold Spicer took it home for me on his cart so it wouldn’t get broken. It worked with a dry B battery, and had just earphones and no speaker. I put up two antenna poles in the yard about 18 feet high, and the wire between the poles was about 50 feet, then a lead-in wire took it into the house and hooked up to the set. CFCN, the Voice of Prairie, W.W. Grant. 

 

Radio Development Cochrane Advocate June 1925
Radio Development Cochrane Advocate June 1925
Edison Rebuked Cochrane Advocate August 1925
Edison Rebuked Cochrane Advocate August 1925

One night a week, I think it was Saturday, there would be the Oldtimers with old-time music, music by Cy Ebener and the Kid, Cy Hopkins, Ma Trainer, and others. When the old-time music was on, we used to take the earphones off the headset and put it in a pail or some other deep dish, and the sound would amplify so that the whole family could hear the music, otherwise just one person son could wear the headset. 

On a cold still winter night, around 10 to 11 p.m. when all was quiet, we could get a number of radio stations south in the United States, such as Del Rio, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Spokane, Washington, Los Angeles, and a host of others. 

Our next radio was a cabinet model with of course a speaker, but still run by the big B battery which would last about a year. This was a big stride as the outside world was brought in, especially the hockey games with Foster Hewitt and his “Hello Canada” and so on. 

Foster Hewitt
Foster Hewitt

Then on to the Second World War when Churchhill would speak and Roosevelt for the States. Families would gather around the Radio to hear the latest news from overseas. 

Into the 50s and television, our folks used to comment they never expected to see things happening, taking place miles away on a screen in front of them. Nowadays our younger ones just take this for granted. So much for progress. 

Cochrane Light Horse Association

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pg 192 More Big Hill Country 2009

The Cochrane Light Horse Association was formed in circa 1942 for the purpose of ‘promoting the light horse and activities with horses,’ in the Cochrane area. The origins can be traced back to the Mount Royal Ranch, located northwest of Cochrane, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. D.P. McDonald. Neighbours were invited to picnics held at the Ranch as early as 1918, for a lunch always prepared by Mrs. McDonald. The popularity of the Mount Royal picnics grew rapidly; its development was further influenced by more settlers moving into the area. People would arrive at the Mount Royal picnics by horse and democrat and it was only natural, that activities involving horses be slated into the informal program of contests. This eventually developed into a full-blown gymkhana including events for the whole family. 

The word gymkhana has been defined as a display of athletics and equestrian events. Gymkhanas are performed by Western riding clubs today and it is still a competition of dexterity, quickness, and team work between horse and rider. Finesse and technique are important but what counts is your time when you cross the finish line. 

Some of the exciting events included: the barrel race, now referred to as the Stake Race; the Bending Race, now called Pole Bending; flat races such as the relay, the rancher’s race; and also fun events such as Musical Chairs, and even a Square Dance performed on horseback. 

Community involvement and an old fashioned good time for the family were two contributing ingredients to the Cochrane Light Horse Association’s overall success. The Gymkhanas and other activities were often the only entertainment available in the area. Three main events formed the group’s nucleus of activity: The annual Calgary Stampede Parade float, the Gymkhana, and the Cowboy Ball and banquet held at the end of the season.

Deep Dive

Restaurants and Cafes (Republished)

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Restaurants and Cafes narrated by Gordon Davies

We were recently asked about early businesses in Cochrane. Here is a blog from years ago describing some of our favourite child hood haunts.

Elite Café 

George A. Bevan built this building and ran a confectionery and fruit store. Jack Beynon took over the building, made it longer and started a restaurant, serving meals but also maintaining the confectionary. Jack’s wife Annie did the cooking. Jack left to join the war efforts in 1915. There is mention of a Cochrane Restaurant in 1918 operated by Charley Sing and in 1924 there was a Club Café. These may have been in the same building as Jack Beynon’s restaurant. The Braucht family came to Cochrane in 1925 and they were operating the Elite Café when the Fisher Block burned down and almost took the café with it. This family also mentions they had the Rose Café in Cochrane after 1930. In the 1930s the Kwongs ran the Elite Café and in 1946 it was purchased by Bill Sinclair. The Elite Café was a family affair advertising “the Biggest Ice Cream Cones in Town, Take-out Fried Chicken Dinners and Deluxe Hamburgers.” The building was then sold to Gordon Hinther and run as a Chinese Restaurant “Seven Stars”. In the late 1960’s R.E. Moore purchased the café and old butcher shop, demolished them and added an addition to his Modern Supermarket. 

Elite Cafe

White Café 

Stanley and Ruth Waters came from Calgary to Cochrane in 1920. They rented a business section in the Chester Block (Howard Block) and started the White Café. Ruth stated, “We were busy from the first day.” They also enjoyed the Cochrane Races and ran a refreshment booth there. 

Mrs. Allan’s Tea Room 

In 1924, Sam and Marion (Minnie) Allan took over the Tea Room and Confectionary from Ruth Webster that was located in the Cochrane Hotel and later they moved the Tea Room to a Building right next store and to the west of the Hotel. (presently the Hotel Parking Lot). They advertised “Lunches Put Up For Tourists”. They operated Mrs. Allan’s Tea Room until 1942 when they sold it to Enid Gammon. She sold the business to the McCurdy’s in 1949 who in turn sold it to the Steinmetz family in 1955. The Steinetz’s renamed Allan’s Tea Room, the “Chinook Café – Home of Fine Foods.” They also made the café larger when Mr. Brodie sold them his barbershop space that was in their half of the building. The Chinook Café was then run by Ellen Bryant in the late 1950s. 

Range Grill 

This café was located behind the Cochrane Hotel and the building is still standing. It was built by Eustace Bowhay and he sold it to the Sailors in 1945. Later Laura Kells purchased the business and ran the Coffee Bar. Yvonne (Blow) Callaway worked for Laura and in 1952 Yvonne’s mother Mabel Blow ran the business while renting the building. Laura returned to operate the business in 1958 and renamed it the Range Grill. It was a popular place for teenagers and Laura was a wonderful mentor to them. Then the Fraser family ran the café for a short while. Laura sold the business to Gus Graff in 1966, who in turn sold it in 1967 to the Veselic Family and the restaurant was renamed the “Ponderosa”. 

Cochrane Café 

“Charlie’s” Café was located on Main Street on the west side of the Kerfoot and Downs Hardware and in the 1960s – 1980s it was a very busy place. Charlie Quon and his family operated this café until the early 1980s. Their son Harvey graduated from Cochrane High School. Later it was sold and expanded to the west and is presently called Cochrane Café. 

 

 

Cochrane Cafe

Kissin Kuzzin’s 

When the Cochrane Valley Centre was built in the late 1970s a lovely restaurant called the Kissin Kuzzins was located on the top floor. It had a lovely view and Banquet Rooms. It was a different kind of restaurant for Cochrane and much enjoyed by all. It remained for quite a few years and then was sold and became the Pheasant Plucker Restaurant. In the 1990’s it was closed and the area became the Cochrane Fitness Business. 

The Home Quarter Restaurant 

In the former Foodmaster Store Joan and Clarence Longeway opened the Home Quarter Restaurant on 1st Street. It was a great asset to the dining experience in Cochrane. It welcomed families with children, the day time coffee clubs and the afternoon tea crowd as well as opening early in the morning and catching the breakfast crowd. In about 1991, Joan and Clarence renovated the Home Quarter and added a Fine Dining Area to their already very popular restaurant. Saturday night roast beef and their great homemade pies were a favourite. The Dining Room was also booked for many weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. This restaurant is now HQ Coffee Emporium. 

With the increase of people moving to Cochrane due to the Jumping Pound, Petro Fina gas Plants and Spray Lakes Sawmills, the town of Cochrane businesses expanded. The 4th Avenue Mall added a new Drug Store and Dry Cleaners among other needed businesses and the Cochrane Valley Shopping Centre held a new supermarket the IGA, a Dress Shop and many other permanent businesses so that much of the shopping in the Town and surrounding districts could be done in Cochrane. 

A1 Drive Inn 

The first Drive In to come to Cochrane, the A1 Drive-In was opened in 1968 by Irene and Bill Hawes. It was a great novelty for the high school kids to leave campus at noon and go down and get a hamburger for lunch or even stop in after school. Take out was a new thing for the residents of Cochrane and area and very popular. The Hawes’ operated the Drive-In for a short time before selling it to Joan Wong in the early 1970s. Joan is still operating in 2008 on 6th Avenue and the highway, across from the IGA. Today there are numerous places to get a fast-food fix. A&W, Dairy Queen, Tim Hortons and most Gas Stations have food to go. 

CHAPS 25th Anniversary Celebration

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Our 25th is coming up. Won’t you join us August 25th. Looks like fun for everyone.

 

Our History

Lydia Graham, then Mayor of Cochrane and Anne Richardson, an interested resident of the town, instigated the idea of establishing an historical association in Cochrane.  In July of 1999 a meeting was held at which time the name of the group, Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society, was decided upon.  By the end of July, 1999 CHAPS received its corporate number making it an official Society. In August of 2007, CHAPS became an official charitable organization.

     The logo for the group was designed by John Thomson.  The logo depicts the corner of a building with a brick foundation and clapboard siding.  Brickyards played a very important role in the early history of the town and, initially, many of the buildings were small, wooden clapboard shacks.

CHAPS is preserving and restoring the first home that was built to be used as a hospital in Cochrane.  Built in 1909 by Thomas Davies for his family, the resident doctor at the time, Dr. Park, asked that part of the house be used as a nursing home.  Mrs. Davies, along with her daughter Annie Beynon, a nurse, operated the home until around 1915.
 
As of January 1, 2012, CHAPS gained ownership of this building.  The building has been relocated to the Cochrane Ranche Provincial Park.  It is set on a permanent sight, and is now the Cochrane Historical Museum.  We opened May 31, 2015. 

CHAPS’  MISSION STATEMENT

    To identify, preserve, protect, and educate the public about historically significant properties and buildings in Cochrane, Alberta

Frances Lavina (Fenton) Dionne

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pg 401 More Big Hill Country 2009

My Mom and Dad lived on Grandpa and Grandma Ferguson’s homestead. The homestead was nine miles east of Carstairs, Alberta. Dad was working in the Carstairs district, where my siblings and I would later be born. Grandma Ferguson was the midwife for my Mom, along with Dr. Williams. The doctor would come from Carstairs to assist my grandma with the births. By the time he got there the babies were already delivered and crying. Francis “Roy” was the first born on March 24, 1924. All members of the family said that Roy was a beautiful baby boy. Next, Tunis “Lynn” was born June 7, 1926. Then, along came me, born on March 1, 1929. They nicknamed me “Frankie” as that was also my grandma Ferguson’s nickname. Dad would never call me Frances, because he was very fond of my Grandma. The youngest baby of the family

was Gwendolyn “Joy”, born February 1, 1932. Mom and Dad lost a stillborn baby girl, whom they named Thelma in 1928. My Uncle Elmer, (my Mom’s brother) who was a carpenter, built the baby a little coffin, and my grandma lined it with satin. Thelma is buried at the Ferguson homestead under the big trees. 

Roy and Lynn started school at Tannybryn. They either rode to school on horseback or took a buggy driven by their cousins. It was about a two-and-a-half-mile trek. Mom and Dad moved to the Cochrane Lakes District, six miles north of the Town of Cochrane. My grandma Fenton (my Dad’s mother) and Uncle Orin lived just a short way from our new home. Their house is still standing; it is located just east of the biggest lake.

I started school at five years old, and attended the Cochrane Lakes School. Miss Jenny Anderson was my teacher. When my sister Joy started school, she also had Miss Anderson as her teacher. During those years at Cochrane Lakes, one of my favourite things to do during summer holidays was to stay with my Grandma Ferguson. Joy would go with me. When I was ten years old my Grandma passed away. I attended school at Cochrane Lakes until 1942 when the “powers to be” decided to close our beloved country school and bus us to the old brick school in Cochrane. Our first school bus driver was Mr. Gogo. On the first day of school the bus stopped at the correction line. All the older children had to push the bus to get it started again. This caused us to be late. It was not a good first impression to be late for our first day of classes with new teachers. Before the school year was out, we moved from Cochrane Lakes to Horse Creek, where Mom and Dad had bought the Hogarth place. After the move, Lynn would drive Joy and I in our old Model T truck to school in Cochrane. Roy had quit school to stay at home and work with Dad. Lynn finished school the next term, leaving Joy and I without a driver. Mom did not want me to quit school, so we both attended Horse Creek, originally called Chapelton School, just a half mile from our home. Our first teacher was Miss Peppard. She was an excellent teacher and had to ride about five miles from her home in the Weedon district to the school in Horse Creek. Joy and I did the janitorial work at the school. We were required to start the fire and warm up the school before Miss Peppard arrived. Boy, the winters were cold and she rode all that way! There was a barn for the teachers and students to stable their horses. The stable was well used as there were many that rode horses to school. 

 

In grade ten I attended school in Cochrane. Every morning I would ride my horse a mile to Jack “John” Perkin’s home where we would meet and ride the remaining three miles to the Weedon School to catch our bus to Cochrane. Our bus driver was Mr. Eddie Rowe. He liked his chewing tobacco and carried a spittoon on the bus, which he never seemed to hit. When winter came, the Dog Pound Road. now Highway 22, would be blocked with snowdrifts and the bus would have to veer through neighbouring fields. Eventually, the roads got so bad that the bus could no longer pick us up, and I was forced to quit school. I was disappointed that I had to quit because I wanted to become a nurse. 

Lynn and I stayed home and helped Mom on the farm with the cows, pigs, haying and daily chores, while Joy finished her grade nine at the Horse Creek School. Roy went with Dad to British Columbia where they worked on cattle ranches. 

Once I was finished with school I went to help various families with children, cooking, and cleaning. My first job was with the Weiss family in Irricana. I cared for their two children as the wife was waiting to give birth to the third. From this job, I went to Calgary to help my cousin, Lil Robinson, who had just given birth to a son, Allen. She was not well at the time, and eventually she developed Multiple Sclerosis. I remember teaching baby Allen to drink from a bottle. His Mom Lil taught me to knit diamond socks on four needles. After that Lynn was working for George and Mrs. Perrenoud. Lynn had me go with him to their place to help Mrs. Perrenoud cook for the men who worked on the farm. We traveled there with the team and rack. When I had finished working with the Perrenouds. I went to help Gilbert and Lucy Hallman at a small general store they had started just off the Horse Creek Road. The store was conveniently located a half mile north of my home. I then went to work for Jimmy and Chris MacKay in the Red and White Grocery Store on Main Street in Cochrane (which is now the location of MacKay’s Ice Cream). I enjoyed working for them until I married Alf Dionne on September 9, 1953. 

I met Alf when he was working for Chet Baldwin, and was an outrider for my Dad’s (Slim Fenton) chuckwagon team. He outrode for my Dad for eight years. After we were married we moved to Saskatchewan, where Alf worked on the rigs for Mobil Oil. We lived in a trailer, which at that time was located right on the oil lease. 

On June 10, 1954, our first child Mabel Lynn (Mabelyn) was born in Calgary, Alberta. I went back to Calgary and had her at the Holy Cross Hospital with Dr. Wilson. I stayed with my Aunt Anne McCool and Uncle Harve in West Calgary. Alf quit the rig and moved back to Alberta to work for Wilfred and Clarence Sibbald at the Jumping Pound. We lived in a small house at the Sibbald Ranch, while Mabelyn was a baby. We then moved into Cochrane so Alf could drive truck for Marlow Blatchford. We rented a house belonging to George and Herman Kinch. That house would be home to Margaret Gayle, our second child. She was born on September 27, 1956. Gladstone Alfred was also born while living there on November 18, 1957. We then moved down to the old Rattray place, which was owned by Bill and Louis Copithorne. The house was located south of the river near the old bridge. My mother Mabel Fenton passed away from cancer on April 23, 1960, at the age of 63. She was very sadly missed by all. We lived at the Rattray place for five years, then bought our first home in 1965 on William Street and Centre Avenue in Cochrane. That is where our fourth child Shirley Joy was born. Her birthday was December 16, 1967, at the new Foothills Hospital. Dr. McQuitty delivered her.

We sold our first home and moved to our present home in 1977. That same year, we lost our dear baby sister Joy Elliott to a heart attack at the age of fifty-four. She left behind her husband Kenneth Elliott, son Kenneth Roy born November 24, 1951, Rocky Lane born January 24, 1954, and Hector Marlow born August 5, 1955. Joy’s death was unexpected and a tragedy to those who loved her dearly. 

Since we have lived in our new home we have traveled a bit. We have been to Hawaii, Yuma, Arizona, and Mazatlan Mexico. We went to Alaska in 1992, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Alaskan Highway. My daughters and I have also vacationed in Cuba together. Alf and I have enjoyed numerous fishing trips to Toquart Bay off Vancouver Island.

I made my home and raised my kids in Cochrane. I helped look after my good friend Alice Blatchford, and my three Aunts, Mildred Thompson, Gertie Culling, and Anne McCool, while they were living at the Cochrane Bethany Care Centre. I also worked for 19 years as a Matron for the Cochrane RCMP Detachment. When Alf was released from the hospital in November of 2004 after his wagon accident, I quit my Matron job so I could care for him at home. Dr. Foster and the excellent nurses from Home Care located at the Cochrane Health Centre came to our home and helped me get Alf back on his feet. 

I have enjoyed numerous hobbies. I belong to the Cochrane Art Club. I have participated in and sold my art in various shows in Cochrane. I belong to the Cochrane Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. My grandchildren also want me to say that I am well known for my garden, flowers, and baking,

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Joseph Alfred (Alf) Dionne

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Page 399 Big Hill Country 2009

I was born August 23, 1924, in Pincher Creek, Alberta to Joseph Frederick Dionne and Marguerite Dionne (Cyr). My father, Joseph Frederick was born February 15, 1896, in the Flathead area of North Dakota. He passed away on November 22, 1973, in Vancouver, British Columbia. My mother, Marguerite Dionne, was born June 1, 1900, in Pincher Creek, Alberta. She passed away in May 1976 in Parksville, British Columbia. My parents were married in Pincher Creek, Alberta on October 23, 1921. Their eldest son, Tedual (Ted) was born August 2, 1922, in Pincher Creek and passed away February 24, 1999 in Nanaimo, British Columbia. My sister, Louise, was born November 25, 1926, in Quesnel, British Columbia. My youngest sibling, Henry, was born April 17, 1929, in Lundbreck, Alberta and passed away on January 17, 1996 at his residence in Cochrane, Alberta. 

My grandparents on my Dad’s side were Joseph (Joe) Reme Dionne, born February 14, 1866 in St. Norbert, Manitoba and Rosalie St. Armant, born August 8, 1868 at St. Boniface, Manitoba. Joe and Rosalie were married June 1883 at the Turtle Mountain area of North Dakota, U.S.A. Granddad passed away in the winter of 1935 in Cowley, Alberta. I remember how cold it was when I helped Dad dig the grave. Grandma passed away in the summer of 1935 at Cowley, Alberta. 

The first school I attended was Heath Creek, Porcupine Hills. I had to ride a horse to school. My first teacher was Winifred Porter. I learned to ride quite young therefore I rode and drove horses all my life, whenever I got the chance. I worked on Granddad’s sawmill and ranches in the area for a while. 

In 1942 I joined the Canadian Army at Sidney, British Columbia. I was in the army for a short time and then went back to Heath Creek. I got a job at Burns Ranches at the Waldren. The foreman was Alf Cody. After I left Burns, I went to work at the A7, one of the Cross Ranches. Casey Casselman was the foreman. My Dad and Casey were together in WWI, members of the Spokane Rifles of the U.S. Army. Casey was the foreman at the Bar C Ranch north of Cochrane for a while. 

While at the A7, I put my application into the Alberta Forest Service. I was accepted and was stationed at Jumping Pound in the spring of 1943. I have lived in the Cochrane area ever since. 

I left the forestry in the late fall, as an opportunity arose to work for Frank Copithorne at the XC Ranch, also located in Jumping Pound. I fed the cattle on the ranch with horses and hayrack all that winter. In the spring, I calved out the cows and did the rest of the work around the farm on a Model D John Deere tractor. 

In 1945, I went to work for Chet Baldwin on a hay crew. We hayed for Clem Gardner, Sibbalds and Jack Buckley. I also helped Chet and Velma Baldwin move their two children to Horse Creek, Alberta in the fall of 1945. We moved about forty head of cows and calves across the Ghost Dam. One calf was crowded through the railing, but luckily it was on the top side which allowed Chet to rope him and saved him from plunging into the Old Ghost. With no housing on Baldwin’s new property in Horse Creek, I had to live in a tent all winter along with Chet and Velma, their two children, and Chet’s Dad, Frank. It was a very cold winter. In the early spring, Chet bought the old Horse Creek School house from across the road and we moved it over with horses and fixed it up to be their home. We had to cross a creek with the horses pulling the school; it was quite an undertaking. We then cleaned out the old well on the land and put a new cribbing in it. This provided Baldwin’s with an excellent water source. 

At this time, Slim Fenton started practicing with his horses to use on a chuckwagon. Slim asked Chet and I to help him. We were outriders for Slim for several years, participating in the Calgary Stampede, and different rodeos throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. 

Most years, I would hay in the summer with Chet. But, in July 1951, the crops in our area were hailed out. As a result, Chet and I got a job at Shell. At that time. they had just started building the gas plant on the Jumping Pound. Next, I went to the oil rigs and worked for the Lofton Brothers. We drilled gas wells for Shell in the Cochrane and Jumping Pound area. 

On September 9, 1953, I married Slim’s eldest daughter Frances Fenton. We were married in Calgary at Knox United Church. Reverend Rex Brown was the Minister. Some twenty five years before, Reverend Brown had married Frances’ parents. We subsequently had two girls Mabel Lynn and Gayle, then a boy Gladstone, and finally our last daughter, Joy.

For a few years, I worked for Chet in the summers, and on the rigs in the winter. After that, I went to Griffin’s where I helped build roads with Caterpillars in the summer and made seismic graph lines in the winter. Afterward, I was employed by the MD of Rocky View for two years operating heavy equipment. We also built roads. The Shell plant was still under construction, so I went back to work for Leonard “Shorty” Kinch. After a year, I was hired permanently at the Shell plant. I continued to work there for 23 years. My last position at the plant was safety man.  

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I used to take my holidays with Chet Baldwin and Clarence and Wilfred Sibbald. We would go elk hunting in the Elbow River area. We had many fruitful and cold trips with our packhorses and tents. 

I retired from Shell in 1980 and went to work for Alberta Parks in Bragg Creek for eight years. I fondly remember maintaining and driving vehicles and buses for the Alberta Transportation Department in Canmore during the 1988 Winter Olympics. I retired from Alberta Parks in 1990 and took an adventure up north to be a Big Game Guide for different outfitters. I guided in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Alberta. I would hunt in the fall, and then go on covered wagon trips or packhorses in the summertime. I took many trips to the mountains with Mac MacKenzie. I was also Pack Sergeant with the Sam Steele Scouts during this time. With the Scouts, I took many treks to Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Montana. I led a very active life driving and riding horses. 

In April 2004, I was on a trip to the Hot Springs in Fairmont, British Columbia. I went to visit a friend, George McLean. We went for a ride in his Democrat wagon. He was driving a newly broke team of horses. The tongue on the wagon broke and the horses spooked and ran away. I was thrown from the wagon hitting the hard rutty ground. George ran a mile and a half to get me help. Stars Air Ambulance picked me up at the hospital 

in Invermere, British Columbia, and flew me to Foothills Hospital in Calgary. My wife Frances followed by car expecting the worst. My family tells me that I am lucky to be alive after such a severe accident. My accident was on Friday, April 29th and the doctors did not think I would make it through the weekend. I guess they haven’t met many tough old cowboys! After seven and a half months, in which I had three operations and a long stay in rehab, I was ready to come home. I came home to find out that a staph infection I contracted at the hospital had moved into my bones and that required that I have my entire hip bone removed. After the operation, I got to go home. I was left without a hip replacement for the doctors feared the infection would return and I would lose my whole leg. It has been quite a challenge for me, but I am able to get around on arm crutches and a walker. I am also able to drive my van, which allows me to visit my friends at the local coffee shop. In spite of my disability, I try to maintain a very active life by visiting my friends and repairing harnesses and hunting equipment in my leather shop. 

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Buffalo slaughter left Indians in dire straits

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Pg 13 A Peep into the Past Short Stories by Gordon and Bell Hall Vol II

After the last of the buffalo were slaughtered on the plains, the Indians (sic) were in dire straits for meat and hides – their main sustenance. In 1880 Chief Bullshead (sic) with his band descended upon the little outpost of Calgary. The natives were starving and had come to the village from Blackfoot Crossing to demand what they believed to be their rights. They argued that the white man not only had killed all the buffalo but had taken their country as well and left them to starve on their reservations. About 400 strong, they pitched camp in front of the I.G. Baker Trading Store and threatened to burn the place down if the food was not produced immediately. 

In the treaty of 1877, the Sarcees were granted land at the west end of the Blackfoot nation, they got along like cat and dog, due to the fact that they hated one another. Having notified the mounted police of their intention to quit their reserve in October 1880, they proceeded to strike camp and headed for the Little Fort on the Bow. Inspector Cropier of the mounted police in charge at Macleod, offered to feed them during the winter, explaining that there were no cattle available at Calgary. Bullshead responded that the Elbow district was their hunting ground and that they must have a reserve in that district to be happy. At the time of the Indians arriving in Calgary there were only two policemen occupying the fort, two traders, G.C. King, manager of the I.G. Baker store and Angus Fraser, manager of the Hudson’s Bay Co. Three ranchers lived in the district. John Glen on the Fish Creek, Sam Livingstone, and Mr. Votier up the Elbow. 

The Sarcees took advantage of the traders, they shot off their guns in the stores and threatened to burn down the buildings. G.C. King loaded on his wagon two sacks of flour to appease the Indians, but Bullshead took his knife and cut the sacks, letting the flour run on the ground. Of course, he was right as how could two sacks of flour appease the appetites of 400 Indians who were accustomed to eating 10 pounds of buffalo meat per day, per man. A messenger was sent to Fort Macleod police headquarters. No time was lost in sending relief and a Capt. Denny with a sergeant, eight men and two wagons loaded with supplies made the trip back in two days. The natives still declined to go to Fort Macleod for the winter and after three days of parleying, Capt. Denny decided to put on a bold front. Denny told Bullshead that if his tents were not down at a certain time they would be pulled down. The order was not obeyed, so Denny with 13 men, who with loaded rifles, commenced pulling down tents. The natives swarmed out like bees but when confronted by armed police, proceeded to leave. 

During the winter of 1880 and 1881, they were fed at Fort Macleod. They got their reserve on the Elbow in 1883. By this date, the Cochrane Ranche had a large herd of cattle at Cochrane and supplied the reserve with beef through a government contract. 

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The Draft Horse Industry in Cochrane

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page 37 Big Hill Country 1977

As soon as a Cochrane area homesteader filed his claim, he needed workhorses. In some parts of the West, oxen and mules were the forerunners of the horse, but few were used in the Big Hill country. Heavy horses were in great demand; in almost all of a farmer’s work, his horses were his essential helpers and partners. 

In many localities in the West, the quality and breeding of work horses did not matter too much, as long as they could do the job expected of them. However, at Cochrane, farmers and ranchers took a pride in the pedigree and quality of their horses. This tradition may have been due to the fact that several of the area’s early ranchers were able to afford imported foundation stock. Some of their progeny was sold to other local horse breeders, and Cochrane became well known to dealers throughout Canada for the quality of its horses, and hundreds were shipped out. The popular breeds were Clydesdale and Shire; later on, Percherons and Belgians were also raised. 

The first pedigreed draft horses were brought to Cochrane in the 1880s by Senator Cochrane. A number of other early ranchers either imported breeding stock from Britain or purchased them from other parts of Canada during the era “when the horse was king.” Several Cochrane breeders showed successfully at provincial and dominion fairs and brought home an impressive collection of awards. R. W. Cowan, D. P. McDonald, Charles Perrenoud, R. J. McNamee, Cook Brothers, Donald McEachen, Andy Garson, Frank Brown, Stuart Walker, Earl Paterson, Walter Thome, Frank Postlethwaite and Frank Tindal were among those breeders through the years whose fine stallions and mares helped to maintain the quality of horses in the Cochrane area. 

Until the tractor caused the downfall of the heavy horse industry, many farmers kept pedigreed stallions. Some owners “traveled” their stallions around the district to service farmers’ mares for a fee. To own a stallion was a mark of prestige; perhaps the proud bearing of these beautiful animals helped to give their owners pride of possession. They were a familiar sight as they pranced along, from farm to farm, led by a rider. 

As tractors became more efficient and more plentiful, the demand for workhorses gradually decreased; the shortage of manpower during and after the Second World War hastened farm mechanization until few farmers even owned a team of horses by the 1950s. 

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Pleasant Memories

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By Anna Robertson pg 689 Big Hill Country 1977

My dad, James Robertson, crossed the Atlantic several times in charge of groups of immigrants to Western Canada. Later he took up ranching. In 1898 he purchased a ranch west of Airdrie from Andy (Shorty) Smith and later, from 1901 to 1906, added many fine grazing sections. This ranch was always called the “Smith place.” Dad also grazed sheep and horses on his Bow View Ranch, west of Cochrane. 

Dad passed away on March 21, 1917, after a brief illness. Mom carried on with the difficult task of running the ranches. Mom was Vice- President of the Southern Alberta Pioneers and Old-Timer’s Association at the time of her death in a tragic bus accident at High River in 1933. 

Unfortunately, I remember very little of my father. He died when I was quite small, having contracted pneumonia after attending an auction sale. I do remember a few precious things about him that keep his memory close to my heart. Once, my parents left the four of us youngsters for a few days in the care of close neighbors, the Harringtons, while they went by team and democrat to Cochrane to attend a funeral. I was absolutely heartbroken at the separation and spent almost all the time under the stairs, crying my eyes out. I’ll never forget the joyous reunion that occurred on their return. I ran pellmell down the road on my fat little legs to meet them. 

I remember Daddy returning in the cutter from a trip to Crossfield in the winter. Excite- ment knew no bounds when he came into the warm kitchen where we sat around the friendly old coal stove. The older girls landed in his arms while all I could do was hug his knees and feel the lovely softness of his huge coonskin coat, then look up and see the frost on his eyebrows and the icicles on his moustache. 

One day I was allowed to go with him in the buggy while he looked over the cattle and dropped off blocks of salt. I was delighted and felt so important sitting up there beside him on the seat, as we children were usually relegated to the floor of the buggy at the feet of the driver. I asked him if the cattle belonged to him. 

“No,” he said, “They belong to us.’ 

Music was always present in our home. My father had a beautiful singing voice. Each member of the family contributed something, playing a musical instrument, singing or dancing. 

I was forever asking Daddy when I would be allowed to ride a horse all by myself. One day he measured me on the side of the barn and then put a distinct mark several inches higher up. 

“When you’re as tall as that mark, then you may have your own pony.” How I stretched and waited for the day. 

Scotty and Doug McDonald and Angus Perry were cousins of mine who worked for us. Ernie Archibald was our first foreman and Jock Herron often looked after our south ranch until my brother Angus moved there. Deaf Scotty looked after the sheep at Bow View. 

Mother started a library at Abernethy School and was often on the school board. She was an avid reader. She expected us to know as much about the classics and world events as she. She had a deep appreciation of the theatre, and we were fortunate in being taken to all the best shows that came to Calgary. 

From time to time we had a Chinese cook; Charlie was my favorite. He was rather difficult to understand, but he cooked sumptuous meals. One day my sister and I noticed him packing a huge box of food. We asked him why he was doing this and he replied, “Oh, I send this to Beljim.” The Belgians were starving at that time and all were encouraged to send them food parcels. We thought it wonderful of Charlie  until we learned later that it was for Jim Ballentyne at the Smith place. Charlie was using the Chinese custom of reversing names! 

I loved the early morning roundups on the ranch at branding time, the Crossfield Sports Day on July 1st, and the Dog Pound Picnic. Mom usually accompanied us to the dances at Crossfield. With moonlight sleigh rides, and skating parties and hockey on our lake in McPherson Coulee, the winters slipped by with fun for all. These are some of my memories of “Home on the Range.”

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