General Stores, Butcher Shops and Bakeries

by

More Big Hill Country pg 36, 2009

General Stores

In partnership with Count de Journal, Joe Limoges built a Trading Post near the railway line in Cochrane around 1896. It appears to have operated for two years when it was sold to James Johnstone. The Johnstone store was operated from a lean-to built on his house on the corner of Centre Avenue and First Street. The home later belonged to Dan White and his family, later becoming known as the Grayson Home. In I 898, Mr. Johnstone built a new store on the corner of First Avenue and First Street West.

Alex Martin and his brother-in-law, Mr. Foley, who had a store in Mitford, moved to Cochrane and built a store, with living quarters on the corner of First Avenue and Second Street West. In 190 I, they sold to Mr. C .W. Fisher. Martin and Foley also operated a store out of the Andison Block, likely after they sold to Mr. Fisher. Mr. Fisher turned the building on I st Ave. and 2nd Street West into the Liberal Headquarters in 1904 and he bought the Johnstone store which he operated in partnership with Mr. Tom Quigley. It now appears that Mr. Fisher owns buildings on both ends of I st ( or Main Street) Street and 2nd Street West. By 1904, Mr. Fisher had build a large two storey business block known as the Fisher block on this location.

In 1905, Mr. Fisher was in partnership in the store with Mr. Stringer and Mr. W J. Simpson went into partnership with Mr. Fisher in 1908. Mr. Fisher ran the general store and Mr. Simpson, with the help of Mr. Rellinger ran the hardware business. Around 1910, Mr. William Andi son went to work in the Fisher Store where he remained until 1919. With the death of C.W. Fisher, Mr. Andison went into partnership with C.W. ‘s brother Tom Fisher. Tom Fisher left to live in California, selling his interest to Mr. R.A Webster in 1922.

In 1916, Mr. R.A Webster bought the Cochrane Hotel, which had been closed due to prohibition and established the “People’s Cash Store” on the main floor. In 1921, he sold to the United Farmers of Alberta and when he returned to take over the store from the UFA in 1923, Mr. Andison joined him in the Cochrane Hotel here they operated as Webster and Andison.

In 1925, Mr. Webster bought the Fisher Block and moved the store back to the Fisher Block. Mr. Andison bought out Mr. Webster and operated the Wm. Andison Store. The Fisher Block burned in 1928 and Mr. Andison had a new store built on the site which reopened in the spring of 1929. In the meantime, he operated his store out of the Curling Rink. Mr. Andison operated Andison ‘s Store until 1955 at which time he retired and the business was taken over by his daughter Alice and son-in-law R.E. Moore. They operated Andison’s store until 1961 when with Alice’s cousin Joe Andison they had Moore’s Foodmaster built on the empty lot between Andison’s Store and the Elite Cafe. The original store was now operated as Andison ‘s Dry Goods. In 1972, Mr. Fred Keller took over Moore’s Foodmaster and it became known as M&K Supermarket. (see Cochrane Foodmaster Story)

In 1909, the Quigley brothers leased space in the Howard Block. In 1910, Stringer and Pfiefer took over the Quigley lease and operated the store until 1912 when it was taken over by Hall and Werner. They only operated it for one month when it closed in 1912.

In 1903, Mr. Andy Chapman opened a branch store for Mr. Dave White from Banff, Alberta. This store was located in the Andison Block on 1st street. Joe Howard bought White’s interest in 1904 and Mr. Chapman’s interest in 1905. In 1906, Mr. D. White and his partner Mr. Bain purchased the store from Joe Howard. J. Campbell, who was married to Mr. D. White’s sister managed the store for Mr. White and apparently bought the store in 1908. In 1911, Mr. Fred Maggs entered into partnership with Mr. Campbell, buying out Mr. White’s interest in 1915. Mr. Maggs operated the store until 1938 when he retired and sold the store to Wm. Andison. The Store was operated by Mr. E. Simpson as Simpson’s General Store until Mr. Jimmy MacKay bought his interest in 1948. Originally it was operated as a Red and White Store but in 1958 it became J .A. MacKay General Merchant. Jimmy and his wife Chris began making ice cream, using his grandmother’s recipe and the name was changed to MacKay’s Ice Cream as ice cream took over from the grocery business.

Butcher Shops

In 1904 a Butcher Shop was opened in the Fisher Block with Mr. Ernie Andison operating the business. (See Story) In 1907 he sold his interest to the Towers Brothers but continued to work in the shop.

In 1910, Mr. E.C. Johnson opened a Butcher Shop in the Howard Block and in 1914, Mr. A. Clarke took over the Butcher Shop and operated it until 1935 when it closed due to the depression. In 1916, Ernie Andison opened his own butcher shop in a store built by the Chapman Bros. This building was east of MacKay’s store. Mr. Joe Andison, son of Ernie entered into the business with his father. When Ernie died in 1959, Joe continued the business until 1961 when he moved his butcher shop into the new Moore’s Foodmaster Store. The old butcher shop became a plumbing and heating shop. When Moore’s Foodmaster became M &K Supermarket, Fred Keller was known for the quality of his meat in his butcher shop. Fred sold the Supermarket to Ian Brooked who continued to operate the store and butcher shop. Jimmy MacKay also had a butcher shop in his General Store. In 1965 Mr. and Mrs. G. Prescott opened R &G Meats in the Locker Plant. They continued to operate until around 1969. When the first strip Shopping Mall was built on 4th Avenue in the late 1970’s Murray and Pat Johnson opened Murray’s Meats in one of the Bays. Murray also offered delicatessen meats and was a favorite stopping place for the High School kids at lunchtime. They would come down the hill and stop at Murray’s to buy one of his great meat pies (which he heated in the microwave for them) and then on to the Red Rooster at the comer to get a coke or a slurpie. That was lunch and the old brown bag went by the wayside.

Locker Plant

Locker Plants existed due to the fact that there was no electricity in the rural areas and no home freezers made. Individuals could rent a locker and store their frozen foods in it. They would have a key to access the locker inside the larger freezer area. Cochrane’s Locker Plant was built in 1947 by Patterson and Cummings. They sold it to J. Korman in 1949. In the 1950’s and 1960’s Bill Beirle operated the plant and butchered and sold meat. In the mid 1960’s most of the rural homes had power and home freezer chests had become available making locker plants outdated and so they disappeared.

Bakery Shops

In 1912, there was a Bakery operated by G. Pitter, then there was note of a bakery run by J. Baillie. The location of the bakery was north of Ben’s Cozy Cabin, later Longbotham’s house. Later J. Baillie moved his shop into the Russell Hotel when it was converted into stores after prohibition came in during 1916. Mrs. Allan’s Tea Room also had a bakery and she was known for her wonderful meat pies and baked goods. In later years Annie Raby was often called upon to make and decorate Wedding Cakes. She was also known for her Christmas cakes. Annie operated out of her home. A bakery existed in the 1950’s and 1960’s in the old Pool Hall on 1st Ave West. When Moores bought out the buildings housing the Seven Star Cafe and the Plumbing and Heating on First Street West, the new portion of the Supermarket included a Bakery.

In the 1970’s when the new Cochrane Valley Shopping Centre was built Harry and Clara Shroeder opened a bakery in the new mall. Rudy and Lottie Wenger bought the business and ran the bakery for many years until it was sold in the 1980’s to John and Donna Coutts. John and Donna turned the business into “Friends Coffee Shoppe” and opened into the Laundromat next door which they also operated. They sold the business in the mid-1990’s and although it has changed hands a few times it is still operating.

Scouting continues its long history in Cochrane

by

Written by Jason Crawford

Scouting began in Canada 100 years ago just one year after Robert Baden Powell’s experimental camp on Brownsea Island. It was introduced to the Cochrane area around 1912. According to an old picture currently in the Frank Wills Memorial Hall, Andrew Chapman was the Scoutmaster at this time and there were 16 Scouts.

Information about the Cochrane Scout Troop between 1912 and 1951 is a little sparse. Being that Cochrane was a small village with many ranches surrounding it contributed to the fact that some of the Scouts were mounted Scouts which meant that they had all the gear that the mounted police would have. The Scouts would swim and hike in and around the Jumping Pound Creek with their United Church minister as their Scoutmaster.

In 1951, the year many people on consider the beginning of the current troop, an official charter was signed by The Boy Scouts of Canada proclaiming the registration of the First Cochrane Scout Troop. Sam Peverell and Owen Philipps were appointed the first Scoutmaster and the first Cubmaster, respectively. Gordon Hall became Cubmaster after Owen Philipps and Roy Downs became Scoutmaster in 1955. After reading some articles from Gordon Hall and speaking with Roy Downs, it was apparent that for a village of just over 300, Cochrane had a sizeable and active troop. Most boys in Cochrane were Scouts and it wasn’t unusual to find up to 30 boys engaging in various Scouting activities including survival skills, camping skills, as well as various community service events. Many of the local men including, Graeme Broatch, Bill Lathwell, Clarence McGonigle, George Dutchik, Frank Wills, and Harry Coleman, gave their time, money, and support to the young men of Cochrane.

During the 1950’s there were several Scout troops in the area. Besides Cochrane, there were troops in Banff, Canmore, Exshaw, Morley, and Beaupre. The troops had many successful jamborees within the district. Camping, hiking, and several other activities kept everyone busy. In the late l950’s, Camp Whiskey Jack was established southwest of Cochrane (in the Sibbald Flats area). Another established camp was Camp Gibson which was northwest of Cochrane just off the forestry road. The camp was named after Guy Gibson, an oldtimer of the district. The Calgary Ice Stampede was another activity that was widely attended by the Cochrane Scout Troop. Certainly, some of the highlights of the early eras in Cochrane Scouting were the visits of Lord Baden Powell as well as the visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

The First Cochrane Scout Troop had two Scouts with the highest ranking in Scouting, Queen Scouts. One was Michael Simpson and the other was Malcolm Broatch. They both attended the 8th World Jamboree in 1955 at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario and the Jubilee Scout Jamboree in 1957 at Sutton Coldfield, England.

During the l 960’s the Scouting group remained active with several small jamborees consisting of groups from the Mountain Road district. Troops from Cochrane, Canmore, Banff, Exshaw, Beaupre, Westbrook, Bragg Creek, and Lake Louise joined together to celebrate the spirit of Scouting through competitive camps. The troop also became involved in the Musical Ride and continued their involvement in the Ice Stampedes. In 1967, Venturers was introduced. A program was now available for the 15 – 17 year olds. The motto was ‘Challenge’ and the program was designed to do just that – challenge the youth. No longer do the youth have ‘Leaders’ but instead an ‘Advisor’ to help them make wise decisions. It was up to the youth to plan their program and see to it that it is executed.

In 1969, Malcolm Broatch, district commissioner at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan drowned in an unfortunate accident at Meadow Lake. In Cochrane, The Malcolm Broatch Memorial Award has been awarded each year since then to the Scout who best exemplifies the Scouting principles (Duty to God, Duty to Others, and Duty to Self). The recipient has a positive attitude and a good role model to others

Throughout the 1970’s, Scouting in Cochrane continued to flourish with the troop participating in several camping experiences in and around Alberta. In 1974, Beavers was introduced. A program was now available for five to seven-year-olds. The motto was ‘Sharing’ and the program was designed to encourage a non-competitive approach to learning about scouting skills.

In the 1980’s, Scouting continued to be active, under the leadership of Colin Henderson, with groups attending the 5th Canadian Jamboree in Kananaskis, various hiking and camping trips throughout Alberta, and the Venturer Company hiked the West Coast Trail.

My time with the troop began in 1990. Duncan Strachan was our Troop Scouter (Scoutmaster). Several people were Scouting Leaders throughout the 1990’s including a variety of Troop Scouters. With an active troop we always seemed to be enjoying the outdoors whether it was winter camping with snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and building quinzhees, or hiking, canoeing, or camping in the spring, summer or fall months. The troop planned an outdoors activity each month and usually camped five to six times per year. The troop attended the 8th Canadian Jamboree in 1993 at Kananaskis, Alberta as well as the 9th Canadian Jamboree in 1997 at Thunder Bay, Ontario. During the 1990’s, the Venturer Company also canoed the Yukon River.

After several years, Maureen Wills and the Frank Wills Memorial Society finally achieved their dream. On April 15th, 2000 the Frank Wills Memorial Hall was officially opened. Scouting and Guiding groups now had a facility to call their own. An enormous amount of work went into the planning, fundraising, and building of this facility. Each week Scouting and Guiding groups use the hall for their meeting place. Their continued support of Scouting in Cochrane is truly appreciated.

Since the year 2000, the Scout Troop has attended the 10th Canadian Jamboree in 2001 at Cabot Beach, Prince Edward Island as well as the Pacific Jamboree in 2003 at the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia. This past summer, the First Cochrane Scout Troop attended the 11th Canadian Jamboree at Tamaracouta, Quebec to celebrate the centennial of Scouting. One tiring is for certain; the Scout Troop in Cochrane has always been busy.

While volunteering throughout the sections, it has become apparent that many volunteers have contributed to the involvement of hundreds of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Venturers. Over the last 18 years the Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts have participated in several sleepovers (Science Centre, Tyrrell Museum, Calgary Zoo, etc.), many camps (over 100), as well as numerous Scouting activities ranging from field trips, hiking, and canoeing to training sessions and community service events.

Since Scouting’s inception in Cochrane almost 100 years ago, numerous people have contributed countless hours supporting the programs. With the help of many leaders, hundreds of volunteers have worked with our youth in Beaver Colonies, Cub Packs Scout Troop , and Venturer Companies to teach them many Scouting skills. As Scouting enters into its second century it is apparent that many more will continue to contribute to this wonderful program for the youth of our town. Many people consider these programs to develop life skills.

Guiding in Cochrane

by

page 158 More Big Hill Country 2009

Guiding in Cochrane

Although the Canadian Girl Guide organization was not officially registered until 1913, Guiding in Alberta was underway as early as 1911. The first mention of this concerns two Girl Guides from the Cochrane District who went over to London for the Coronation of King George V. Unfortunately we have no record of who those girls were but it is probable they had close connections in Britain where the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements had just recently started. At first, the Girl Guide program was mainly based on the available Boy Scout manuals and information. The earliest uniform the girls wore reflects the Scouting influence. Guide Companies and Brownie packs got their uniforms, books and badges directly from England. An official Girl Guide Association was formed in Calgary as early as 1915 to support the Guide companies which had been operating there for several years; by 1924 Cochrane and Sarcee requested information and inclusion in the association.

Many girls were unable to attend regular meetings, however, and joined Girl Guides through a correspondence program known as “Lone Guiding”. According to the Canadian Girl Guide magazine of January 15, 1923, “The First Guide Company in Canada has been formed with its headquarters in Calgary.

 Many of the members are children from lonely farms, whose names were brought in to the Calgary Commissioner by members of the Royal North West Mounted Police.”

In the early years there was great difficulty in finding women to lead the girls, and in training these leaders. “In the pre-war times many women felt they hadn’t the qualifications or experience to work with the young girls, besides having large families at home to care for … Even professional training as nurses, teachers or stenographers though useful, was only one small aspect of what a leader needed to know. It was also a challenge to test the badge-work the girls had done, as Girl Guides worked for proficiency badges, and a very high standard of workmanship was expected.”

The list of Badges was extensive and remarkable. The Cook’s badge of 1915 demanded, among other requirements, that the applicant be able to pluck a bird and truss it or skin and clean a rabbit, besides the ability to mix dough and bake bread. Many badges dealt with household tasks, from the “Domestic Service” one to “Decorative Needlework”. These did not all involve what was then considered “women’s work”: the Handywoman badge required that a girl know how to lay linoleum and re-pane a window; the Cobbler badge required one to be able to sole and heel a pair of boots. Several involved facets of farming from beekeeping to tending milk cows. Others involved a great deal of practical know ledge of first aid and nursing. From as early as 1938 there was an Airwoman badge. During the depression, uniforms were often made out of dyed flour sacks. The hats were also homemade. The biggest expense was the belt, since they were of leather. It was in the thirties that Girl Guides first started selling cookies as a fundraiser.

Many children from Cochrane no doubt attended the huge rally held in Calgary in 1935 for Lord and Lady Baden Powell, the leaders of Scouting and Guiding. The Baden Powells travelled across Canada several times; Cochrane Scouts and Guides would wait at the train station to see their heroes as they passed on the train. On the 1935 visit, Lady Baden Powell was made an honorary member of an Indian band and given the name “Otter Woman” at the Sarcee Indian Reserve. In 1939 out-of-town Guides and Scouts flocked to Calgary by special train to be hosted by the Calgary organization when Lord and Lady Baden Powell visited. Rural Guides were served dinner in the old Board of Trade rooms, while the boys were fed at Victoria Park. Though we know Guides everywhere were doing war work in the early 1940’s, there is no record of what if anything, was happening in Cochrane. 

However, by the early 1960s Girl Guide & Brownie groups were flourishing here again. Initially, they operated under the jurisdiction of the provincially administrated “Three Sisters District” which included Canmore, Exshaw, Banff, Cochrane and Westbrook. Eventually Cochrane and Westbrook became known as “Co-West” District which was registered in Calgary Area. Mrs. Maberly was Commissioner from 1959 – 1961.

In 1969 a Guide Company under the leadership of Lois Barkley was meeting in Westbrook School. Originally the 1st Westbrook Company, it changed its name in 1971 to Calgary Company 233. Laura Jahns, Myrtle Dewdney, Janet and Kathy Schneidmuller, Barbara Willoughby, Wendy Toole and Jackie Harbidge were leaders in that unit. A Brownie Pack was first registered in Westbrook in 1959 but nothing is known of the group until Barbara Miller became ‘Brown Owl” from 1969 – 1975. The girls enjoyed annual sleigh rides and skating parties along with other District events. The Guide Company closed in 1979 because there were not enough girls, however, Brownies continued there for a number of years longer.

From 1959 until 1978, Guide meetings in Cochrane were held in the Community Hall, then they moved to the Rebekah Lodge on First Street for some time. Guide Leaders included Rose Lee, Ann Hunwick, Dorothy Brickett, Dorothy Wiley, Frances de Vries, Sheila Wigton, Kass Beynon, Joan MacDonald and Joan Hutchinson, but the longest serving Guider was Melva Blood, who was Guide Captain from 1969 to 1983. Leaders helping her were Diane Edgelow, Alice Faye Watts, Pauline Schmid, Vi Ankerstjerne and Linda Moor.

The 232 Company (as it eventually became) participated enthusiastically in the Boy Scout sponsored Calgary Ice Stampede, an annual event in the city for over 40 years. They won first place in the Girl Guides Chuckwagon competitions in 1973 and 1974. They also won first place in the Barrel Racing Competition in 1976, the only year this event took place. Company 232 was an avid competitor in the Canoe Races, winning first place in 1980, 1981 and 1983, as well a second place in 1979 and 1982. The ‘canoes’ had flat bottoms and were propelled across the ice by four paddlers. The race began with a launcher giving the canoe a hearty push to get it going. The paddlers raced to the other end of the ice where they turned around and were assited by a second launcher to push off and race back to the finish line. The challenge was staying on the canoe. These events also required creative costume, for which the Cochrane Guides soon acquired a reputation. The Guides also competed annually in the Cochrane and District Ice Stampede from 1975 – 1979 when this event was discontinued.

As well as the successes at Ice Stampedes, some of the Cochrane Girl Guides received other recognition as well. In I 977 Heather Blood was chosen to attend the International Guiding Camp on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Lisa Ankerstjerne and Gina Spicer attended a camp in Ontario in 1979. Heather Lock represented Alberta at an International Camp at Herefordshire, England. Kari Brooks was chosen valedictorian at the All-Round Cord Ceremony held at Knox United Church in March 1983 for all Calgary Area Guides.

For many years the girls held their annual cookie sales plus a tea and bake sale. (Cookies in 1983 were $1.50 a box.!) The girls planted trees at the new Camp Jubilee and helped with campsite clean-up. They fundraised for both Olave House in England and the new Girl Guide Centre on Brownsea Drive in Calgary, also participating in the annual Calgary Area Bazaar, which helped finance the Calgary Area Girl Guide Camps. In Cochrane, they took part in the annual Remembrance Day Parade and in the Guide/Scout Week Thinking Day Service.

Brownie meetings in Cochrane were held in Andrew Sibbald School, then the Rebekah Hall, the Community Hall, St Andrews United Church, and later at Glenbow School. Pack 232 was first registered as the 1st Cochrane Pack in 1959 but closed in 1976 as Calgary Pack 95 was also operating then (as of 1973) and at that time two Brownie Packs were not needed. By 1979, however, Pack 4 was opened to accommodate the waiting list caused by the growth of the community, and another unit, Pack 44, opened in 1982. Helen Helfrich was one of the longest serving Brownie leaders, from 1959 – 1973. Peggy Lock and Joan Broatch were active in the seventies, Wendy Sedman, Carrol Moore, Betty Goodsell in the early eighties.

In March 1962, Brownies from Cochrane attended a Rally at the Stampede Corral honoring Lady Baden Powell. In 1974 one Brownie pack formed the Colour Party for the Cochrane Cubs Musical Ride at the Calgary Ice Stampede. The girls had an annual banquet, participated in the “Rangeland Frolics Parade”, and made gifts for the residents of Big Hill Lodge as well as other service projects.

From 1973 – 1978 there was a Brownie unit meeting at the Bearspaw Lion Hall under the leadership of Violet Johnston, Marilyn Wickes and Pauline Schmid. Pack 178 was a frequent participant in the Cochrane Ice Stampede, Rangeland Frolics and other District events. 

From 1977 to 1979 a group called “Busy Bees” operated in Cochrane, first at the Community Hall, then at Mrs. Matthews’ Day Care Centre. Their mandate was to provide an activity for girls interested in but not yet old enough to be, Brownies. The Hive made gifts for a little girl in the hospital and gave Christmas baking to a needy family. The Busy Bee program was disbanded in 1979 to be replaced later with Sparks.

Rangers are what once were called “Senior Guides”, older girls who continue to challenge themselves through Guiding. Girls from Cochrane have been involved in the program, usually as part of a Calgary unit. Peggy Schlosser, a leader from Cochrane, took a group of Rangers to an International camp in England in 1991. In the 1960’s, Air Rangers were active, in charge of Mrs. Ronald Smylie, a Calgarian, holder of a private pilot’s license and Rosella Bjornson, who at that time had a commercial pilot’s license. These girls enjoyed all the aspects of flying. The ten Air Rangers and their leaders used a Cessna 170 and the airstrip at Two Rivers Ranches, just west of Cochrane past what is now the Ghost River Dam.

In 1968 Calgary area was looking for a site close to the city for year-round camping and training. Calgary businessman Stan Pallesen was impressed with Girl Guides, appreciated what their program did for girls and felt he, too, could support them. Through his efforts, 90 acres immediately south of the new Highway 22 bridge in Cochrane were purchased and became Camp Jubilee. In the early 1970’s, as the site was developed, Lawland Gardens, a tree nursery in Balzac, donated over 100 trees and shrubs. Rockyview municipality, Brooks Horticultural Centre and an lODE chapter donated trees as well. Stan Pallesen took on the camp as his retirement project and spent countless hours there tending the new plantings and creating and maintaining the campsites. This popular facility continues to be heavily used by Girl Guides from Calgary and Cochrane. It has hosted a number of international events which draw girls and women from all over Canada and around the world. The Town of Cochrane also uses the site for children’s summer programs, so many Cochrane youth have benefited from this camp along the Bow River.

It would be impossible to list all the women from Cochrane who have been involved in Girl Guides throughout the years. Some stayed with the program only a few years, others stayed on as leaders or as Commissioners, helping generations of girls enjoy Guiding. Sheila Wigton was one, Helen Helfrich and Melva Blood were others – and there are many more, who gave time, energy and enthusiasm to promoting “the Great Game of Guiding” in this area. Many young women from Cochrane, Bearspaw and Westbrook benefited from your caring.

Deep Dive

Dewey Lee Blaney from More Big Hill Country

by

February is Black History Month in Canada.

Every year we want to recognize this important event. This is the second article we’ve published on Dewey Blaney from Big Hill Country and this time from More Big Hill Country. He is mentioned approx. 30 times in both books, more so than any person I’ve investigated so far.

Dewey Blaney was certainly a pioneer. His story is very moving and often inspirational, one worth the retelling. 

page 299 More Big Hill Country 2009

Dewey Lee Blaney and his twin sister were born in Roanoke County, Virginia in 1897. In 1906 his family moved to Salem, Virginia. His grandfather had been a slave. Dewey went to work for the Barnett family as a houseboy and he helped in their feed store. When the Barnetts moved to Bottrel, Alberta area in 1915, they brought Dewey with them. He worked for them until 1919. Then he went to work for the Morgan family, before taking various jobs in the Dog Pound and Bottrel areas. In 1927, he went to work for the Hogarths driving truck and taking care of their horses when they worked on the construction of the Banff – Jasper Highway.

Later, Dewey worked for John Boothby as well as other fanners and ranchers around Cochrane. At one time he held the job as a grave digger up at the Cochrane cemetery.

Dewey was well respected and a friend to many people in Cochrane and the surrounding area. He often was asked to babysit the neighbourhood children. They in turn considered him a friend. They also knew if they met Dewey on main street he would often hand them a coin to get a treat. Much of his money was spent on the children.

For many years Dewey was the town policeman on Hallowe’en night. He loved to dance and was always up for a game of cards, especially cribbage. When he was young he had an interest in boxing.

When he retired, Dewey lived in a small shack a mile and a half west of Cochrane, near the old race track. He would walk into town, almost on a daily basis, usually someone would make sure he got home each night. Dewey always wanted to return to Salem to see his family, especially his twin sister, but after living in a white community for so long he was afraid he may not be accepted by his family. In 1970 when Dewey passed away, many people attended his funeral “because he had no one”. Many students missed classes to pay their respects to their friend. Neighbours, friends, parents and children were surprised to see each other there “for Dewey”. A children’s park on Carolina Drive has been named in his honour.

Dewey Blaney Park

Deep Dive

Neilson Family Story

by

Written by Ann (Neilson) Beattie and John Neilson A War Bride's Story pg 246 More Big Hill Country 2009

Winifred (Win) lived in Cochrane from 1953 until her death in 2007. Winifred Mary Allen was the only child of Thomas Edward (Ted) Allen and Winifred Edith Davey who had married in 1917 in England. Apparently her birth, on July 12, 1920, occurred just a few days before the historic first trans-Atlantic two-way radio broadcast. Her father was in the British Navy during World War I and, after that war, he and Win’s mother worked as a chief butler and a head housekeeper in stately homes throughout southern England. As a child, Win rarely lived with her parents because of the nature of their work – today we would say they were “on the job 24/7”. Thus Win’s two grandmothers, Margaret Allen and Mary Ann Davey, nurtured and raised her – mostly the latter. In fact, at 63 years old, Granny Davey actually delivered Win at home in the small village of Iping, Sussex, having developed skills as a mid-wife to military families while raising her own family of nine in Victorian London. Win and her Dad shared a love of music and he had sung in the choir at Worcester Cathedral as a teenager. In her Dad’s later years, his love of gardening became his vocation another gift, he passed along to his daughter.

Win was the youngest grandchild and spent much of her life in the company of adults. She told us about visiting many aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of her family and being in awe of the elegant homes where her parents worked. Among her favourite relatives was Aunty Reece, her father’s sister, for whom she was a bridesmaid and who, together with Uncle Perce, loved her like a daughter throughout their life.

Growing up in the 1920s in England, Win talked about walking to school, no matter what the distance or the weather, nor how uncomfortable the itchy wool uniform. She changed schools frequently because her parents would find accommodation for her and Granny Davey near their current employer. She was reprimanded by a teacher who observed her long loose thick hair was “unruly” and unfitting for the classroom. After that, Granny Davey always braided her hair before school. Win had no siblings.

She excelled at school and studied both the violin and piano to become an accomplished performer and, later, a teacher. During World War II, she spoke of playing piano for hours at local pubs where everyone gathered for song and fellowship. She travelled to London on the train for the theatre and to visit historic places. Many of her cousins were in the military when she was growing up and she had a stamp collection with stamps from wherever the British navy and army had been engaged. The Brighton beach was a short train ride and, although Win loved the sea, she was terrified of being immersed in open water. For that reason, she encouraged her children to learn to swim.

World War II and Canada

Like many young women in England, the economic and social conditions after World War I leading up to, and during World War II, were integral to her upbringing. She took jobs following school that were the previous domain of men. Win traveled by bicycle as a letter carrier and worked for a local merchant who became the godfather to both John and Ann. Later, she worked in a munitions factory. Of course, wartime daily life was frequently interrupted by air raids and huddling in shelters until immediate danger passed. Food, clothing and other ration programs were the basis for many stories about hardship countered by stoicism and inventiveness like baking without eggs and snaring and roasting wild rabbits.

Not surprisingly, Win was one of the many young English women who met and fell in love with a Canadian soldier and farmer. Thomas Gilmore Neilson, born at Murray Valley west of Olds to Rob and Myrtle Neilson. He and his two brothers, Robert and Donald served in the same area of England and Win and the three brothers had a lot of fun together despite the war.

In late 1941, Win’s paternal Grandma Allen died and, while her Dad travelled to Devon in southwest England for the funeral, she and her mother went to London to buy her silk wedding dress with coupons they had carefully squirreled away and supplemented with offerings from relatives. In later life, we asked our mother if she was scared during the bombings that were so prevalent in and around London. She responded it was all they knew so everyone just ‘made the best of it’. That attitude characterized Win’s entire life

John was born in 1943 and baptized in a gown Win made from the silk of a recovered parachute. Soon after, with the war coming to a close and the death of her beloved grandmother, Win made arrangements to join her husband in Canada. Later, she related she considered this arduous trek just another ‘great adventure’. However, an English lass, who spent her formative years in the most populated and cultured part of England, likely had no idea what she was signing on for! Just imagine the trip across the Atlantic Ocean with a whole shipload of war brides, their children and all their worldly belongings, the emigration processing at Pier 21 on Canada’s eastern coast and the train ride for thousands of miles to Calgary! Then, imagine traveling to the remote quarter-section farm purchased through the Veteran’s Land Act. At first, she and John lived with our grandparents who farmed nearby. The early experiences in Canada must have been overwhelming but, true to her roots, Win made the best of it.

She did tell us the extended Neilson family and local White Creek, Bowden, Innisfail, Olds community was extremely welcoming to her as a new bride with a young child. She joked that everywhere she and our father visited, people would hear her accent, give her a cup of tea, and give my dad a cup of coffee. Win never really liked tea but her polite upbringing prevented her from saying so. When no one was watching, they would grin at each other and trade cups. She talked of travelling for hours to dances around the countryside and sometimes, even at Dartique Hall not far from Cochrane. When John was five years old, along came Ann, then David, then Shirley … in three years and not quite two months. Win recounted to Ann that an extremely heavy snowfall in the winter of 1948 caused concern about whether Win would make it to the hospital from the farm. In preparation, a team of horses and a sleigh took Win to Olds to stay with Tom’s aunt Lottie Logan for two weeks before her delivery date. Win must have had her hands full on a small farm with not a single convenience.

Win and Tom Neilson separated in late 1951. Win packed up all four kids and her belongings and sailed to England where she lived with her parents during 1952-53. John and Ann remember going to parades celebrating the crowning of Queen Elizabeth. When we were growing up in Cochrane, Win would find a way to get her children to any event featuring a visiting member of the royal family. She would dress us all ‘to the nines’ to cheer and wave.

After a short time living and working in southern England, Win decided Canada offered more opportunity for her children. So, again she made arrangements with Somerset House, the Canadian consulate, to set sail. Initially she rented a home on the reserve outside Morley. Then, after a winter in the foothills, with the help of Jim Currie of the Cochrane RCMP, we moved to Cochrane to Herman and Ethel Nelson’s cabins. She was so grateful for Jim Currie’s assistance that she later free hand embroidered a full RCMP crest for him to frame and display in his office when he was promoted. John had continued school by correspondence until we settled in Cochrane where he was glad to no longer wear short pants, a cap and a tie – the uniform required while he was in English schools!

Raising a family in Cochrane

In later life, we understood growing up with just one parent in the 1950’s was somewhat of an anomaly. The Neilsons may not have had an ideal childhood but, as children, we certainly weren’t aware of it. We were supported by the close-knit Cochrane community and we have mostly wonderful memories.

 John remembers coming into our cabin and ice on his shoes unexpectedly caused him to skate across the floor. He landed with both palms on the top of the hot old-fashioned cook stove and was severely burned. For weeks Vi Woods, a local nurse, visited to carefully change his dressings and ensure no infection set in. Her care ensured that today, John has not a single scar from that serious injury. Mrs. Nelson, widowed by then, took Win under her wing and remained a dear family friend for the rest of her life. Neighbours in the cabins were Catherine and Martin Hansen and their growing family. Irene Edge remembers taking Win and pre-school Shirley to a vaccination clinic. Across the road was the pool hall and blacksmith shop; of course we were not allowed to go near either! We did, however, deliver the odd casserole to Paul, the shoe repair merchant, who had recently emigrated from Hungary.

We have a photo of David and Shirley in costume for Alberta’s 50th anniversary as a province. Win’s mother had been a tailoress and Win was also a talented and creative seamstress. She decked the two of them out as a bride and groom for a big parade down the unpaved, wooden sidewalk main street in Cochrane. Heaven knows what John and Ann wore because only the ‘adorable two’ were photographed on that occasion! When Shirley and Ann were teenagers, Win always sewed special occasion dresses or remodeled hand me-down outfits from generous friends.

In Cochrane, about the time David started school in 1957, our mother rented the old brick McNamee house built at the turn of the century. Upstairs, the girls shared a bedroom on the west side and the boys shared one on the east. David and John would hang out their window or even sit on the roof to watch nighttime hockey games in the skating rink when they were supposed to be sleeping. We would slide down the bannister to answer the new telephone at the bottom of the stairs. Our telephone number was 29 and often the often the operator would pass along a message from someone who couldn’t reach us earlier. 

At that house, Win would often conscript John to babysit the three youngsters when she was volunteering or working at a local ranch. But, industrious as his mother, John also had a paper route. David loved to play with his tractors and trucks in the dirt under the veranda; he’d climb in by lifting a loose board on the steps. Somehow, John would manage to talk Shirley and Ann into joining David under the verandah. Then John would nail the step down and go deliver his papers knowing his child-care responsibilities were covered!

As kids, we walked everywhere because Win could never have afforded a car. In the winter, Win would send all four of us with two toboggans to climb the Big Hill. While she had some well-deserved quiet time, we would freeze our rears sliding down the gullies at breakneck speed. We always knew we would come home to a big roast beef dinner, complete with Yorkshire pudding, rich gravy from the drippings and, possibly a dessert of English bread pudding with fruit at the bottom. Each winter, John would flood the garden behind the house and we would all skate on it. But David was the one who spent the most time there, playing hockey and calling his own play-by-plays.

In the summer, the Neilson kids would pick berries so Win could can or make jam for winter eating. That meant hiking down the railway tracks along the Bow River for Saskatoons or travelling out Lochend road with Janet and Harry Jones to their quarter where we would climb across wind rows of brush to pick raspberries. Win always packed a humongous picnic lunch with fresh baking for these excursions. In the fall, Win and Annie Raby would travel northwest of Cochrane to secret cranberry territory. In winter, we rarely ate any fruit or vegetable that wasn’t canned, pickled, frozen or made into jam by Win.

The McNamee house had an enormous yard by today’s standards. Win always grew a huge vegetable garden and nurtured beautiful flowers. Ann, David and Shirley were often runners, delivering huge sweet pea bouquets fashioned with baby’s breath that grew wild in the ditch, to neighbours and friends all over Cochrane. She was generous with her flowers, but not so with her vegetables. Ann’s friend, Sheila McGonigle, remembers leaving the house after a visit and hopping into the garden to pick a few fresh peas. Sheila also remembers Win’s quick tongue-lashing about how every precious pea was destined for Win’s freezer!

Growing up, the Neilson house was always filled with music. Win taught violin and piano to local children to earn extra money to sustain our family. At night, we have a favourite childhood memory of drifting off to sleep while Win played from memory for hours those wartime melodies and other classical pieces.

Win thought a gainfully occupied child was a well-behaved child. And behaving well was expected of not just us, but of our friends too! Win was quick to correct our manners, our grammar and our general behaviour. To keep me out of mischief, she sent me to piano lessons before the age of six. 

Ann started in Cochrane with Marilyn Moore, a talented vocal and piano performer and teacher. Later, Ann went to Mount Royal College for weekly lessons. As Ann advanced to higher piano grades, playing fairly complicated pieces, Win could listen from the kitchen and would call out to remind her about missing a rest in bars #16 and #30! Under Win’s supervision, Ann was taught appropriate marches to play with O Canada or the Maple Leaf Forever at daily morning school assemblies.

David was destined to sing and took voice lessons at Mount Royal for several years. Shirley began with the violin and David would tease her mercilessly until Win interrupted them so Shirley could resume productive practice. The three of us often performed individually and together at community functions. We all competed in annual Kiwanis festivals and played at recitals in Seebe, Cochrane and Calgary. Win would barter her homemaking skills (catering, cleaning, sewing, gardening) with neighbours who would take us to Calgary for music lessons in exchange.

When Shirley became an elementary teacher, a highlight of her career was staging large musical productions that included the entire elementary school at the old Grand Theatre in Nelson. Win loved visiting Shirley to take in these events.

We were not allowed to play the rock ‘n roll music of our youth nor to listen to it when Win was around. I don’t think Win appreciated Elvis Presley’s talent until he was nearly 40 years old! We only listened to country and western music when John was at home and Win was out. One of us would be the lookout so we could quickly tune the radio back to CBC classical before Win walked in the door.

Win led several choirs at the Cochrane United Church for many years. There was never any question about how our family would begin our Sundays. David, Shirley and Ann all sang in church choirs. For almost a decade, Win was also the Sunday School superintendent. And, she led Explorers and assisted with CGIT as Shirley and Ann went through those church groups. Win also led Cubs for a time and was a willing and hard working volunteer when parent support was needed for her children’s extracurricular activities. She helped both John and David achieve their Queen Scout designation.

Growing up, there was always a cat member of our family and, while Win loved all animals, there’s no doubt felines were Win’s favourite. Even in the small two-roomed cabin we had a black and white cat with the very English name of Bunty’. John and Ann and many of their friend particularly remember a yellow tabby Win named Napoleon because he was “short and bossy”.

Long before the pronouncement ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, the Neil on kids lived it. At this time, Mr.

William Andison, the owner of Cochrane’s dry goods store, lived across the street and was a particular favourite of Win’s with his genteel English demeanour and pride in his expansive and beautiful garden. Win and Alice Moore were close friends for years – they shared a love of music, literature and fine crafts. The Jones’ and Annie and Ed Raby were very kind to Win and our family. The Claude Copithornes invited us to watch TV and his huge train/railway set up downstairs fascinated John and David. Our uncle Don and aunt Lorraine Neilson from Weyburn and great-aunt Lottie Logan from our father’s family frequently visited and helped us. Martin and Esther Aarsby, Don and Helen Patterson, Mrs. Colgan, the Desjardins, Ernie Andison, Graham and Mollie Broatch, Vi and George Woods, Don and Alice Thomas and later, Ken and Terri Thompson, Marilyn and Ray Whittle, Nora and Gordon Cohoe, Margaret Beattie’s family, Shirley Patterson and many, many others also helped. For years, Win worked in the homes of farming and ranching families and we grew up with the help of friends like the Edges, Copithornes, Kumlins, Harvies, Bowhays, Whitfields and the list goes on. Win had a special connection with other war brides in the Cochrane area … Betty Hrdlicka, Helen Helfrich, Chris McKay and Doreen Stanton, to name a few.

The Jones’ had a big Ford station wagon and would take us on picnics and camping trips to Banff. At Johnston Canyon Janet and Harry slept in their station wagon and John, after pitching a big canvas tent for us to sleep, would build a huge bonfire to heat rocks for our sleeping bags. Win, as always, prepared and cooked all the food. The Pattersons next door had a large rec room and, in exchange for Win’s housekeeping and sewing assistance to Don and Helen, gave us free reign to have teenage parties there. However, this was the early 1960’s and ours was a strict English upbringing, so, by today’s standards, the parties John and Ann hosted there were certainly tame. But, Win never stinted on food preparation and used her catering and organizational skills to ensure we and our friends had fun.

Win contracted to clean the United Church and hall, the Anglican church and the Legion Hall and sometimes the Rebekah and King Soloman halls for years. Her children were her crew. Like most kids, we probably whined even though we knew it would fall on thoroughly deaf ears.

Win’s love of Christmas

John would go into the forestry area to cut down an enormous Christmas tree every year. Decorating the tree was a prescribed ceremony at the Neilson house. John fastened the lights, each precious ornament was carefully placed and the boys were banished while Win, Shirley and Ann draped the tinsel. 

Win loved the look of surprise on her music students’ faces when they first saw ‘The Tree’. On Christmas Eve, she and John would ship the little ones off to bed early so they could carefully arrange gifts under the tree and stuff our stockings. The door downstairs would be locked so there was no chance of us peeking.

The Christmas morning ritual started with us gathering on Win’s bed to open our stockings although we had to listen to the Queen’s annual message before we could start. The dining room table was set formally with appropriate cutlery in exactly the right place the evening before and breakfast was a grand event. Only after a huge breakfast were we allowed to begin the gift opening ceremony. One person at a time opened a gift so that all could observe and appreciate it. Win would work for weeks on Christmas baking. We remember being sent to Mr. Andison ‘s carrying an egg cup for him to fill with just enough sherry for the Christmas cakes. Many gifts were hand made. Win would purchase small items all year long and store them in a secret place. When people were rushing around doing last minute shopping, she would laugh and say she’d finished Christmas shopping the previous August. When the Neilson family first moved to Cochrane, John and Ann remember the local fireman delivering a box of toys they had collected and repaired.

Between Christmas and New Year’s, John would go winter camping and trekking with Scouts . . . Roy Downs was the leader and some of John’s companions were Malcolm Broatch, Rod Fraser, Dave Beattie and Terry Morris among others. Win would bake and mend and then help John stuff everything in an enormous canvas backpack. Then John would sit on the lower back stairs and it would take several of us to hoist the heavy backpack on to his shoulders.

A simple life, well lived

Our mother, Win Neilson, was, in many ways, typical of her generation, especially those who lived through World War II. She simply “made the best of it”. She was hard-working, devoted to her children, fiercely independent and resourceful. What she was able to share with her family and friends, she did. Sometimes it was just laughter but, often, it was the fruit of her labour … home prepared food, fine needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, sewing, her musical talent or her terrific organizational skills.

As John recollects, Win was always a lady. Her English upbringing was evident in her presentation and her speech, although she never thought she had an ‘accent’. She insisted her children use the King English’. Vernice Wearmouth shared the memory that women of that era rarely wore pants.

 Win wore dresses to garden, to do housework, for afternoon tea and for special occasions. Ann remembers Eddie Edge and her mother purchasing matching skirts and wearing them to take the kids up the Big Hill for a picnic! And, until the last couple of years, Win’s shoes always had a proper heel because that was how a lady presented herself. In later years, Win didn’t frequently go to church but, in her papers, it was clear, that she maintained a very strong faith for her entire life. She wrote, in a note to John, that she wanted no dreary music or sad scriptures at her final service! She communicated across the miles with family and friends in long, descriptive letters written at night after the children were asleep or on Sunday afternoon when she supervised her children’s writing of obligatory thank-you letters for gifts or favours received.

Win had a sharp mind and, at times, an equally sharp tongue. She could be opinionated and demanding when it came to her expectations for her children, her students, her friends, her grandchildren and, certainly her community. While she depended on her relationships in the community for support to raise her children, she realized the importance of contributing back whatever she could.

Win made it her life’s work to raise four independent, resourceful children. She accomplished that and more. Life didn’t always treat her kindly, but she rolled with the punches and experienced much joy in the simplicity of her journey. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was one of her favourite pieces. It brought her comfort to know God was by her side through her life’s trials and tribulations.

Win loved the Cochrane area, especially the beauty of the mountains and the foothills. She was always delighted to be taken for a drive in the countryside and was quick to sign up for seniors’ bus trips. She saved every penny so that she could travel occasionally in her sixties and seventies. She made her final trip to England at the age of 76 saying that she found airports just too difficult to navigate. Win spent her last two and a half years living in the Cochrane Bethany where she truly appreciated the care she received. She died September 13, 2007 in the Foothills Hospital from complications following a fall.

John Henry Neilson was born in England in 1943. John married Alice Mabel Cohoe in 1963 and, after initially living and working near Cochrane, they moved, in 1972, to establish their own farm in the Water Valley area south of Cremona. They have two daughters. Brenda Mary is married to Raymond Pereversoff and they live in the Water Valley area with their four children. Marilyn Ann Neil on married Henrik who took her surname. They live in Denmark with their two children.

Leona Ann Neilson was born in Olds in 1948. Ann married David Beattie in Cochrane in 1966. Both worked in the Pembina oilfield near Drayton Valley where their two sons were born. They returned to the Cochrane area in 1985 and recently moved to the Springbank area. Malcolm David Beattie (single) and Sean Thomas Beattie (married to Megan Jean Fenwick) live in Calgary.

David Thomas Robert Neilson was born in Innisfail in 1949. He married Jocelyn Doris Crosse of Hastings, New Zealand in New Zealand in 1985 and Jocelyn emigrated to Canada to farm with David in the Water Valley area. They have a son, Ryan John Thomas and a daughter Michelle Catherine, both single. David, a life-long sports, especially hockey, enthusiast, passed away suddenly at home on March 8, 2007.

Shirley May Neilson was born in lnnisfail in 1951. She married Kimberly Alexander Wik of Kimberly, British Columbia in 1975 and they settled in Nelson, BC. Shirley graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in Physical Education and was an elementary teacher. She excelled at athletics and created beautiful rock gardens featuring heritage and exotic rose at her lakeside home. Shirley passed away on December 16, 2005 in Nelson after a long battle with cancer. Her two daughters, Allison Claire and Lindsay Alexa, are both single.

Deep Dive

Passing the Torch 2024

by

Every year we reflect on lives well lived and remember individuals we lost in 2024.

Thomas Lawrence (Lorne) Woods

October 20, 1930 – March 17, 2024

Obituary
Article

Roie Iris Hilland

1943 – 2024

Obituary

Margaret Chalack

 

Obituary

To be published March 15th, 2025

Aileen Copithorne

November 8, 1928 – August 11, 2024

Obituary
Article

Clement Norman Edge

August 8, 1930 – June 15, 2024

Obituary
Article

Thomas Robert (Bob) Thomas

October 27, 1931 – August 27, 2024

Obituary
Article

Frances Lavina (Fenton) Dionne

1929 – 2024

Obituary
Article

David Joseph Beattie

October 13, 1943 – November 25, 2024

 

Obituary
Article

Richard Andrew Broatch

1942 – 2024

Obituary

Broatch Family had been planned to be posted March 8th, 2025.

Richard Mac Makowichuk

November 27, 1946 –

August 24, 2024

Obituary

You’re invited to read their stories and learn about their struggles and successes.

We apologize to any family whose loved one we may have missed.

BIG HILL COUNTRY

by

by Sonia Turner pg 9 Big Hill Country 1977

The Big Hill rises some 4,400 feet above sea level; its northwestern flank is wooded with spruce, poplar, willow, saskatoon and chokecherry. The Indians called the hill “Manachaban”, signifying “the place where you get bows.” The town of Cochrane is situated at the base of its southwestern slope. Below the town the tree-edged Bow River flows in an easterly direction through a terraced valley.

Wooded foothills rise in the west and we behold the Rocky Mountains with familiar peaks such as Mount Aylmer, the Devil’s Head, and Black Rock. 

The Ghost River, also known as Deadman River, forms our western perimeter. It was so named by the Crees because a ghost was seen going up and down the river picking up the skulls of the dead. Various creeks form the drainage system of the Big Hill country. In the northwest the Waiporous, Meadow, Owl, Le Sueur, Behanhouse, and Ranche Creeks flow through the wooded foothills of the Keystone and Wildcat Hills region. Historic and descriptive creeks, like Spencer, Beaupre, Coal, and Horse Creeks all eventually find their way to the valley of the Bow River. Big Hill Creek drains the Lochend districts and enters the Bow just west of Cochrane. The Dog Pound and Beaver Dam Creeks, both flowing in a northeasterly direction, form our northern perimeters.

The town of Cochrane is located in Sections 2 and 3, Township 26, Range 4, West of the 5th Meridian. It is 19 miles northwest of Calgary on Highway lA and is on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The main town lies at an altitude of 3,760 feet, at a Latitude of 51 11 ‘and Longitude of 114/28 W. The annual precipitation averages between 17-19 inches and droughts are rare. (This includes an average annual snowfall of 72.5 inches and a rainfall of 11.42 inches). Chinook winds which sweep over the mountains help to modify the winters with their warmth. Part of the Cochrane area is in the black soil zone; the soils in this zone are the most fertile in the province and have in their surface foot about 3 to 4 times as much nitrogen and organic matter as there is in the average brown or grey wooded soil. The frost-free season is approximately 100 days.

Generally speaking, extensive ranching, mixed farming and lumbering are the main industries. In the early days there were rock quarries which made use of the calcareous tufa deposits of Paskapoo sandstone along the Big Hill Creek, for building stone. Clay was used in the manufacturing of bricks. The sand and gravel industry is booming now. There are extensive gas fields in the Jumping Pound area, and oil explorations are being conducted in the Wildcat Hills region. Many producing wells are scattered throughout the Lochend and Inglis districts

Presently there are large dairy farms in operation on our eastern perimeter and scattered throughout the various districts.

The Big Hill country did not always have this same physical appearance. Although our local written history is only a few hundred years old our geological history: which is the history of our earth and its rocks, is millions of years old. Geological time is not counted in years or hundreds of years. but in ages, thus in geology, even a million years ago is considered a relatively short space of time.

During the Paleozoic Era, a geological time period extending from about 225 to 600 million years ago, great inland seas covered Alberta and our present Cochrane area. Various forms of marine life lived in the waters of these seas: creatures called trilobites (which were the first animals with a complex skeleton), primitive forms of snails, clams and corals, and various shells called Brachiopods. These creatures left behind their fossilized remains, so we know exactly what they looked like. As these creatures died their remains sank and came to rest at the bottom of the seas. These ancient graveyards of the dead and decayed remains of marine life were subjected to great pressure from overlying beds of silt and sand that had turned to rock. Through chemical changes and tremendous pressures occurring over countless millions of years, these vast marine beds became our present pools of crude petroleum and natural gas.

Between 70 and 225 million years ago the land became a marshy delta extending for thousands of square miles; this was called the Mesozoic Era. For part of the time the land was covered with warm marshy swamps with a dense growth of vegetation of tropical plant life, with ferns, figs, mosses and palm trees. It was a fetid world, the age of reptiles – teeming with crocodiles, turtles and huge dinosaurs. Horned, armorplated and duck-billed dinosaurs weighed up to 50 tons, and some were 20 feet tall; many were omniverous. Their skeletons became fossilized and some of their remains from the Red Deer River Badlands near Drumheller are in museums in Toronto, Ottawa, New York and Europe. From the ancient remains of these subtropical deltas comes the coal of the Drumheller Valley, of the Edmonton district, and along the outer foothills belt (e.g. Canmore mines).

Change is continuous and some 40 to 70 million years ago, the earth underwent a violent period of mountain building as the earth’s rocky crust was folded, bent, twisted and thrust upwards by great disturbances, some of them volcanic. The geography of Alberta began to take shape; the Rocky Mountains rose to form the backbone of the continent and inland seas were replaced by interior plains. This was the Cenozoic Era, and warm-blooded animals appeared: the small three-toed horse, the sabretooth tiger and hairy mammoths.

 

As the climate became colder, glaciers developed and flowed from north to south over the Northern Hemisphere. During their movement, rocks and debris were ground into soil. When the glaciers melted back this debris was deposited. A number of glacial and inter-glacial (when the glaciers melted back) periods occurred. There are numerous examples of glacial and inter-glacial action in Big Hill Country; the deep coulees carved out by rivers from the melting glaciers; the waterfall at the head of Big Hill Creek coulee; the terraces along the valley of the Bow River; glacial tills scattered throughout the area, and extensive gravel deposits.

Geology is part of our “living past”; it has made the Big Hill country what it is today – its rivers and lakes, prairies and rich soils, oil and gas. The Big Hill is made up of layers of rock of the Tertiary Age (Paskapoo formation). The Grade Six classes at the Andrew Sibbald Elementary School, Cochrane, study our geological past when they make their annual pilgrimage to Moose Mountain and gather fossil rocks containing Brachiopods, crinoids and other marine life of the Paleozoic Era. The Waiporous Crossing has a good example of sandstones and shales of the Cretaceous period. A rare event is finding fossilized “worm tracks” imbedded in rock belonging to the Cretaceous period, in the Ghost Diversion Dam area. The Jumping Pound gas field on the eastern edge of the foothills derives its gas from the thrust faults of the Mississippian strata, which was formed in the Paleozoic Era over 300 million years ago.

Gordon Hall of Cochrane has in his private collection, remains of prehistoric pleistocene animals. He has parts of an extinct western bison, Bison occidentalis, about 11,600 years old. The extinct Mexican ass, Equus conversidens was 11,600 years old. He also has the main beam of a woodland caribou, Rangifer caribou. All these were found in Clarke’s gravel pit at S. Cochrane and identified by A. Macs. Stalker and C. Churcher of the National Museum of Canada, Ottawa, in the 1960s. An ancient Bighorn sheep specimen was also found, which was over 11,000 years old; some others were recovered in the Griffin pits and placed in the museum at Ottawa.

It is generally believed that man first arrived in North America from Asia and Siberia over a land bridge in the Bering Strait during periods of glaciation. On other continents archaeologists, scientists who study the stone tools and skeletal remains of man, have found that man has been present over the last two million years or more, but in the Americas he has been a late-comer. Prehistoric man is believed to have journeyed down to Alberta through an ice-free corridor via Alaska and the Yukon.

In the Cochrane area, we have evidence of prehistoric man. Stone tools such as grooved mauls, stone axes and points have been found. 10  Teepee rings, which are signs of human habitation

along the Bow River as far west as Morley. Sites range from two or three teepee rings to as many as over 100. Many teepee rings are found in the Big Hill Creek area; others are scattered here and there. There were teepee rings on the Gilbert Flats, where the Cochrane Light Horse Association held their gymkhana for a few years, on what is now known as Cochrane Heights.

There are numerous buffalo jumps throughout the Big Hill country area: the Hutchinson buffalo jump, which was excavated and studied in 1972, the buffalo jumps in the Jumping Pound area and others in the Big Hill Creek perimeters, and still others further east. The Madden buffalo jump is known for its pictographs or rock paintings. It is the furthest north major jump that the University of Calgary has on file.

Medicine wheels are ceremonial rings of stone larger in diameter than teepee rings, sometimes reaching 50 feet or more in diameter. Some have large cairns in the middle, or spokes radiating from the center. Locally three have been discovered so far: one each in the general localities of Spy Hill, Bearspaw and the Big Hill Creek perimeters.

At Lake Minnewanka there is a very old site; the earliest remains are 12,000 years old. A Clovis point was discovered. It is the earliest evidence of man in the Rockies. Unfortunately this site was destroyed by the reservoir.

On the lA Highway at Coal Creek a horse was found buried in the cellar of building remains. This site was historic, and part of the Mitford Mines at Coal Creek. The prehistoric site had two teepee ring levels; one historic, about 1840 to 1870 (Stoney Indians), and the other was 2,000 years old and was a winter camp of three-plus tents.

In the Jumping Pound area archaeologists have found a number of prehistoric sites along the creek, such as buffalo jumps, teepee rings and camps. The remains of dogs were found at two sites on the Kumlin Ranch; one a kill dating to historic times and the other a prehistoric winter camp about 1,500 years old.

The Ghost-Morley area has yielded little information because of the Indian Reserve. There are teepee rings and campsites. A 10,000 year old point was found east of the Ghost River.

Professor Brlan 0. K. Reeves, Ph.D., Department of Archaeology, University of Alberta, states: “The oldest site in Western Canada is the Taber Child site, which is more than 48,000 years old. The second oldest is Old Crow in the Yukon, at about 28,000 years. Many archaeologists, particularly Americans, don’t believe it.”

Ironically, during World War I and World War II, tons and tons of buffalo bones were shipped in boxcars to be used for the manufacture of fertilizer, thus inadvertently destroying archaeological sites forever. Today many sites are being destroyed by rural housing and acreage developments.

Wearmouth Buffalo Jump

The first white man to come to our area appears to be David Thompson (1770-1857), the great explorer and fur trader, in November 1800. On November 17, 1800, he started out on an exploratory trip with five members in the party. He started from Rocky Mountain House (established in 1799) and travelled south to the Bow River, at the present site of Calgary, then on to the Highwood where he visited two Pikenow camps; on his return he travelled northwest, where he crossed the Jumping Pound Creek on November 28, 1800. Then, searching for Duncan McGillveray, they camped a short distance above where the Ghost River joins the Bow. Here they saw large herds of buffalo bulls but no cows. Traversing the present Morley area, they killed four Bighorn sheep at Old Fork Creek and then travelled west to the Gap. On their return on December 1, they crossed the Ghost and continued northwest over Spencer Creek, Beaupre Creek, and on to the Dog Pound Creek, continuing on their journey until they reached Rocky Mountain House on December 3, 1800.

(Reference: Alberta Historical Society Review, Spring 1965.)

The Indians, which David Thompson referred to as the Pikenow Indians, were the Piegans, who were part of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Old Bow Fort (or Piegan Post) was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company to encourage the fur trade with the Indians of the southern regions. It was situated at the junction of the Bow River and Bow Fort Creek (Township 25-7-5). Archaeological excavations conducted by Professor Paul Nesbitt, of the University of Calgary in 1970, reveal that Piegan Post was possibly first built in 1826, then abandoned and rebuilt again in 1833. It consisted of six buildings surrounded by a five-sided palisade With a bastion, or lookout tower. It was occupied until early 1834. John E. Harriot was in charge. The Indians proved too hostile, and as there were no enough beavers to make it a worthwhile project the fort was abandoned.

The Stoney Indians arrived in this area about 1845, thus they were comparative latecomers here. It is thought that the Mountain Crees preceded them by a few years, probably driving out the Piegans and some of the Kootenay tribe before them. Many of the local names are Cree or their equivalent in Stoney. It seems that the Stoney did not attach definite names to the features of the area.

“Our Stoney Indians are a branch of the great Dakota or Siouan Confederacy. They are Assiniboines, of which Stone) is an English translation.” Their name means “The people who cook v\ ith stones;” when it was translated into English this was shortened to Stone People and finally Stone) Indians or Stonies. The Athabascan Assiniboine had separated from the main body of the Assiniboine and settled in the Athabasca region a decade or two before the eighteenth century. Because of a scar-

city of game during the 1840s many of the Athabascan Assiniboine were forced to move south. Thus the group, which settled in the Bow Valley-Morley area, was called the Mountain Stoney.

In 1896 J. MacLean described them: “The Stoneys are of medium height, well-formed, of pleasing countenance and especially active in their movements. It is not too much to say that they are the most energetic of all tribes of the North-West. They are excellent horsemen and had the reputation of being great horse thieves. They were famous as scouts and were used in that capacity during the Riel Rebellion of 1885. Many were used during the survey of the C.P.R.”

In 1858 Dr. James Hector of the Palliser Expedition passed through the western perimeter of our area. He camped at the foot of Dream Hill; this is believed to be one of the more southerly Wildcat Hills, as he reached the Ghost River the next morning. Hector travelled southward over rolling hills towards the Bow River, where he noticed seams of coal in the shale and sandstone banks of the river (this would be around the mouth of Coal Creek). From their camp at Dream Hill Hector’s party could see a level plain that swept to the base of the mountains; the next day he realized that it was the valley of the Deadman or Ghost River.

It was Palliser’s report that had considerable influence on the decision to build the railroad to the north of the arid stretches. If this plan had been followed the growth of Cochrane would have been stalled for many years.

The arrival of Reverend George and Reverend John McDougall in 1873 at the confluence of the Bow and Ghost Rivers was of great importance, as they built a mission at Morleyville, and built a fort on a high hill north of the Bow River, approximately three miles north of the present McDougall Church. Here the families of Reverend John and his trader brother, David, were relatively safe from the prowling Blackfoot when the brothers were absent on business.

By 1875 on the flats north of the Bow River a small community appeared, consisting of a church, a mission house, a day school, a store and stables. In 1878 an orphanage for Indian children was provided. David McDougall brought his store supplies from Fort Benton, Montana, or from Fort Garry via Edmonton. Of this original historic site only the McDougall Church remains.

Andrew Sibbald came to Morley in 1875 to teach the Indians, and was the first schoolteacher in the West. That winter Rev. George McDougall lost his life in a blizzard. Andrew Sibbald left the school in 1879 to establish a small sawmill for the McDougalls, thereby supplying the first lumber for buildings in Calgary.

The settlement of Morleyville provided the first small nucleus for the large settlements that followed. In 1875 the establishment of the North West Mounted Police at Fort Calgary helped to keep order between the Blackfoot and the Stoney, and in 1877 Treaty No. 7 was signed. In the early 1880s many people came to settle in this region. The Cochrane Ranche was established 25 miles east of Morley, and many small ranches sprang up in between the two centers. Large-scale settlement became possible when the Canadian Pacific Railway came to Calgary and on through to Bow Valley and the Kicking Horse Pass (instead of 200 miles north through the Yellowhead Pass as some had expected). The towns of Cochrane and Mitford came into being after the coming of the railroad; Morley ceased to be the focal point of so many activities as these new towns expanded their influence.

Deep Dive

Top Stories from 2024 5 through 1

by

Here’s our top 5 stories from 2024. Let’s goto, starting with  number 5.

Click any image to get a better look.

Cochrane $20 Dollar Specimen featuring Norman Frank Edge

5 – Norman Edge

Click here

4 – Top Stories of 2023 10 – 6

Click here
Cochrane Cafe
Edith Edge Calgary Stampede Queen 1953

3 – Edith Edge Stampede Queen

Click here

2 – Wayne and Melva Blood

Click here
Lions Rodeo dedicated to Wayne Blood

1 – Sam and Helen Scott

Click here

That’s our top stories of 2024. We hope they encouraged you, enlightened you, and brought a smile.

Josh Traptow Featured Speaker Feb 19th, 2025

by

As a professional who continually gives back to Calgary, Josh Traptow is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Calgary which is a charitable Civic Partner of the City of Calgary.

Josh is an accomplished executive with experience on both sides of the boardroom. A sought after leader, communicator and advisor he has worked for both the municipal and provincial governments and has a unique understanding of the issues facing Calgary and our province.

He is an experienced political staffer at the both the Alberta Legislature and Calgary City Hall, having served in the Office of the Premier, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development and for two City Councillors.

He is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee & Platinum Jubilee Medals for his contributions to his community and Canada. In 2016, Josh was recognized as a SAIT Outstanding Young Alumnus. In 2023, Josh was recognized with the Calgary Award for Heritage by the City of Calgary for his sustained contribution to heritage in our City. In 2024, he was recognized as one of 20 Compelling Calgarians by the Calgary Herald.

Josh is a 10+ year volunteer with the Calgary Stampede and currently is the 1st Vice-Chair of the Western Agriculture Heritage Committee and a Past Chair of the Agriculture & Western Events Media Committee.

He sits on the boards of the Alberta Motor Assxociation as a Calgary Regional Advisory Board Member and on the AMA Board of Governors.

He is also an active community volunteer, serving on the boards of the Women In Need Society (WINS) as the board chair, the History & Heroes Alberta Foundation and is a past chair of the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC).

He has a diploma in Administrative Information Management from SAIT and a certificate in Public Relations from Mount Royal University. He also completed the ICD-Rotman Governance Essentials Program (GEP). He is a third generation Calgarian.

Recreation

by

Page 35 More Big Hill Country 2009

When the Fisher Block was built in the early 1900’s the top floor was used by the King Solomon Lodge for their meetings until the building was destroyed by fire. The Fisher Block was also used for social functions. In 1905, the Orangemen built a hall on the corner of First Street and Fourth Avenue West (present site of Addie’s Quilts). The Orangemen built an addition to this hall in 1924 but their organization folded in 1925.

In 1912, the Oddfellows Lodge was upstairs in the Howard Block. Their members converted the top floor into their meeting room and a social hall. When Sid Chester bought the Howard Block and turned the top floor into the Chester Hall, to be used as a dance hall and for social functions, the Oddfellows bought the Orangeman’s building to use for their group. The Oddfellows folded and sold the building to the Rebecca’s in 1966. The hall was rented out to the community for parties, movies, dances and other social events. 

Sid Chester built a bowling alley in 1912 for Moise de Repentigny on First Avenue West. This building was later sold and turned into the first curling rink in Cochrane. It took nearly 90 years before a bowling alley would appear again in Cochrane. 

In 1930, the Lodge for the B.P.O.E. (Elks, see their own story) Chapter built and opened their Memorial Hall on Second Avenue and Second Street West. This was the largest hall in Cochrane and was used for dances, Christmas Concerts, movies, meetings, banquets, minstrel shows, election polls, council chambers, library, bingos and extra school rooms. Wedding receptions, Remembrance Day Services and the Scout and Guide Groups met there. It became the centre of social activities and was known as the Community Hall. This building was renovated many times and due to its age and condition

was demolished in 2004.

Another milestone in Cochrane happened when the citizens and the Town got together and decided to build an outdoor swimming pool. It was a momentous occasion when the citizens watched their new swimming pool coming down the Cochrane hill in 1967. This pool was moved, in one piece from the Calgary location that built it. This was also the first time such a feat had been done. The pool was set up in the east end of town and in the winter an outdoor rink was located beside it. Many children and adults of the Big Hill Country used these great facilities for many years. In the 1990’s a lovely new indoor pool was built on 5th Avenue West by the Rodeo grounds and was welcomed by everyone.

In the early 1970’s an offer from an anonymous donor was made to the Town of Cochrane to match a named amount of funds to build a recreation arena. A group of citizens joined together to canvass the town and the surrounding farms and ranches to help match the funds. Although many farmers and ranchers did not have any cash to donate, they generously donated hay and truckloads of grain to this much-needed cause. Many donated cash so that the surrounding district residents would be able to use this Town of Cochrane facility. A new Arena was welcomed when it was built on the hill north of the new Cochrane High School. It opened in 1974 and is well used through the years by all. With the growing population in Cochrane these facilities became very crowded so a community group formed and raised the funds for the current Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Centre. This facility strongly supported by Spray Lake Sawmills in Cochrane has become the hub of recreation and wellness for the Town of Cochrane.

Cochrane pool 1960

Deep Dive

Top Stories from 2024 10 through 6

by

Every year we like to review the most popular stories of the year. We want to focus our articles on when you like to see. What was that this year? Let’s take a look at 10 through 6.

Stu Bradley

10 – William Bradley Family

Goto Article

9 – Cochrane Legacy Statue

Goto Article
Legacy Lady
IOOF Hall

8 – Grand Old Lady of Cochrane

Goto Article

7 – Lorne Helmig Family

Goto Article
L
Vern and Evelyn Lambert

6 – Vern and Evelyn Lambert

Goto Article

Were you surprised? We were, several of the articles were reposted from previous years. We’re glad to see you liked some of our older stories. They resonate with us too. Come back next week for the Top 5.

Some stories came from More Big Hill Country and A Peep into the Past by Gordon and Belle Hall.

Tim Harvie Family

by

More Big Hill Country page 494

I was born June 2, 1957 at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary. My parents are Neil and Robin (Williams) Harvie. I have three sisters, Pauli (1955), Carol (1959), and Katie (1962). We were raised in the Glendale area on Glenbow Ranch and attended school in Cochrane. My Dad began ranching in 1948, raising commercial Angus based cattle and later, Beefbooster Ml cattle in conjunction with the company that he helped found.

I attended grades I to 4 at the Elementary school which became Andrew Sibbald and is now Holy Spirit. Grades 5 and 6 were in the Old Brick School next door and then grades 7-12 were at Cochrane High School (except for Grade 10 when I attended Brentwood College on Vancouver Island).

I played minor hockey in Cochrane from the age of six where I learned the game from coaches Lorne Woods, Bob Beynon, Ken Raymond and Percy Alexander. I also was a member of the 1st Cochrane Cubs for six years, led by Den Mother Pat Woods. Because we lived out of town, I would leave my hockey equipment in the basement of Mrs. Neilson’s house (the old McNamee brick house). After school, I would pick up my gear, walk up to the outdoor rink and attend practice. On Monday nights, I would eat dinner with the Neilsons and then walk down to Cubs at the Community Hall.

At the High School, I played all the sports I could including football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, field hockey, and track. In my grade 12 year (197475), our school named the sports teams the “Cobras”. We also started playing tackle football that year in the new Rocky View School Division league and won the first title in a thrilling final at Foothills Park, defeating Airdrie 14-12.

Cochrane High was a perennial powerhouse in Badminton thanks to the coaching of teachers Mel Sly and Ron Bryant. Several players went all the way to Provincials during my years there. The Cobras would routinely win every title at Divisionals and Zones. Hal Henderson and I played Men’s Doubles and finished 5th in the province in 1975.

After High School, I went to New Zealand on an agriculture exchange program and worked on a sheep and cattle farm on the South Island for six months. When I returned, I went to the University of Alberta and completed a degree in Agriculture in 1980. Summers were spent on the ranch haying, fencing, riding and working cattle. In 1981, I returned to the ranch and decided that I wanted to be a grain farmer. I moved to the south side of the river in the north Springbank area where the ranch had a land base that was used for summer pasture. I started breaking land in the spring of 1981 and grew 100 acres of barley that year while continuing to break more land. By 1983, I had 1000 acres broken and was cropping barley, oats, rye and canola.

While at Unjversity, I learned to fly at the Edmonton Flying Club and obtained a private and commercial pilot’s licence. Once home, I began flying my Dad’s Super Cub that he purchased in 1961 to fly around the ranch to check on the cattle. I later took ownership of the Cub and still fly it today, hangaring it at the Springbank airport.

I bought a 50′ mobile home in 1982 and began building the farm shed, shop and granaries. In 1983, I married Jeanne (Harrison), whom I had met in Edmonton while at University. We were married at All Saints Anglican Church where I had attended Sunday School. We started building a house in 1984 and moved in on my birthday in 1985 with our first daughter, Jordan (1985) in tow. Our second daughter, Kelly was born in 1986 and son Ian in 1990.

My Dad, Neil, transferred the management of the Ranch to my sister, Katie and me in the early 1990s. He and Mom moved to Glen Eagles in Cochrane in 1997. He passed away in 1999 and Katie and I continue to manage the ranch and still grain farm. In 2006, our family sold a portion (3300 acres) of the ranch in the Bow River valley to the Provincial Government to create the “Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park”, fulfilling my father’s dream of protecting the native grasslands from development.

Deep Dive

King Solomon Masonic Lodge #41

by

King Solomon Masonic Lodge #41

King Solomon Masonic Lodge # 41 Cochrane was formed on December 4, 1908. Tom Wearmouth was one of the first members and he received his fifty-year pin in 1959. Through the years the Masons have been very active with their work and have many members. They also had some social functions held in banquet halls in Calgary to raise funds for their organization. In 2004, Richard “Dick”, Hugh and Walter Wearmouth all received their fifty year pins at a ceremony held at the Masonic Lodge.

The history of the Masonic Lodge building is interesting. Along with the All Saints Anglican church it was moved from the little town of Mitford, NWT to Cochrane. It was originally built as a saloon and in 1892 converted into a school by Lady Adela Cochrane. In about 1899, after Mitford closed down, it was moved to Cochrane.

The original historic part of this building is comprised of the front two-thirds of the main Lodge Hall. Many teams of horses moved the building from Mitford where it was set on land owned by the Bruce/Grayson families and used for many years as a second school for the smaller children in Cochrane.

When the new brick school opened in 1918, the little building was used as a gymnasium. In 1926 the Brick School was expanded and this building remained empty for the next three years.

Cochrane’s King Solomon Masonic Lodge# 41 was established in 1908 and met in rented space for many years. They were renting rooms in the Fisher Block when that building was destroyed by a fire on September 23, 1928.

In 1929 the Lodge purchased the old school house and lot from Mrs. Charles Grayson. The building was rotated to face east and west, anterooms and storerooms were added and windows closed off. Electricity was installed. The first Lodge meeting was held in this building on November 14, 1929.

In 1950, the Lodge Hall was extended fourteen feet to the east and a kitchen/banquet lean-to added to the north side of the building. The original wooden boards were removed and the outside covered with asphalt brick siding. Water and sewer were not installed until 1955.

In the mid l 990’s the front steps were rebuilt and a wheelchair ramp added.

The building still serves as the home of King Solomon Lodge# 44, G.R.A. and of Zenith Chapter# 85, Order of the Eastern Star. In 2005 the Cochrane Town Council designated the building as a Municipal Historic Resource.

Deep Dive

Neil and Robin Harvie Family

by

by Robin Harvie, More Big Hill Country page 492, 2009

 I was born Joan Robin Williams in Calgary on February 28, 1933. My mother was born in Okotoks in December, 1904, grew up in Calgary, and won an I.O.D.E. Scholarship to attend the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She was eligible, as her father had died as a result of wounds received in W.W.I. She graduated in 1926, and worked as a laboratory technician prior to marrying in 1929. My father was born in Calgary in 1907, and became a Chartered Accountant, joining his father’s business.

I’m an only child which I never felt deprived me of anything. In fact, it had many advantages. I was always treated as their equal by my Mom and Dad. As I grew up, I lived in eleven different homes in Calgary, as Dad liked improving and redecorating houses in his spare time, and then moving on. I thought moving was fun, but I think I must have been spared all the stress and work involved.

I attended Christopher Robin Kindergarten, Cliff Bungalow and Elbow Park Schools, Rideau Park Junior High, King Edward School, and then Western Canada High School. I spent three years at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. I worked as an accountant during the summers and then full time in my father’s office until I married Neil Harvie in 1954. I then moved out to Bearspaw Ranch (part of Glenbow Ranch) along the Bow River west of Calgary, and began my rural education.

I had little experience with the countryside when I was growing up. All I remember of summer holidays was picnicking and fly fishing with my Dad on Alberta and British Columbia streams. During W.W.II, we saved gas coupons so we could go as far as Radium Hot Springs or Lake Windermere. We had no family living on farms. I did learn to ride horseback at a stable in Calgary so I wasn’t totally new to that when I moved to the ranch. At Bearspaw, I raised chickens, fed pigs, rode horseback for pleasure and to help with cattle work, drove a team on a hay rake one summer, and later drove tractor occasionally when needed. For forty years or so, I helped at branding and weaning time inoculating calves and keeping records.

Neil Harvie was born in Calgary, December 3, 1929, and grew up there. His father acquired the Glenbow Ranch in the early nineteen thirties, so Neil spent a lot of his childhood there, horseback riding, working and learning about the ranch. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1953 with a B.Sc. in Agriculture, moved out to the ranch to work there, and eventually took over full control. Over the years, he improved the hayfields and grain fields, and installed irrigation on the flats near the Bow River. He improved the Angus based cattle through keeping records and careful selection based on the cattle’s productivity and performance. Later he and some other ranchers developed the Beefbooster strain of cattle through cross-breeding, genetic testing and careful selection.

Neil was active and a director in the Western Stock Growers Association, Alberta Cattle Commission, Western Feedlots Ltd., Calgary Stampede, Calgary Airport Authority, and the Western Heritage Centre as well as many other organizations. He was honoured by the Cochrane Chamber of Commerce in 1996 by being named Ambassador of the Year. He also received the Cochrane Rotary Club’s Integrity Award in 1998.

Neil and I raised three daughters and a son, all of who attended Cochrane schools, have married, and have raised families of their own. Our oldest daughter Pauli ranches near Eckville, Alberta, and she and her husband Tim have two daughters. Jennifer is married and living in Edmonton, and has a one year old son. Lindsay married and is living in Sylvan Lake with her husband and their baby girl.

Our son Tim farms on the south side of the Bow River, east of Cochrane and he and Jeanne have two daughters Jordan and Kelly, and a son Ian. At this time, all three are finishing or pursuing further education. Carol and husband Terry pasture cattle on their ranch east of Cochrane, north of mghway lA. Their daughter Nadine and son Mason spent their school years in Cochrane.

Katie married and has three children, Braden, Kelsey and Curtis. They are also continuing their education. Tim and Katie continue to operate the ranch.

 

In the early 1960’s, Neil learned to fly an airplane and bought a Piper Super Cub which be hangared in a field close to home. The plane was very useful for keeping an eye on the cattle, fences, waterers, etc. on the ranch, as well as for recreational use. I also took lessons and enjoyed flying for several years. I found finally, that I couldn’t get enough hours in the air to stay current for my license because four young children took up most of my time. It’s like riding a bicycle – once you know how you don’t forget, but I haven’t tested it in a long time. I always felt, though, that in an emergency I could land the plane which was my reason for learning in the first place.

I joined the Glendale Women’s Institute in Cochrane in 1956, and have continued as a member to the present day. I’m an active member of All Saints’ Anglican church in Cochrane, and for fifty two years have belonged to the Samaritan Club of Calgary, which raises funds through rummage sales and other projects to help needy families in Calgary.

Neil and I built a home in GlenEagles in Cochrane in 1997 at the time when he was semi-retiring, and some of our family were becoming active in the management of our ranch. Two years later, Neil lost his battle with cancer, and I have continued to live in the home we built and settled in together. Our decision to move when we did turned out to be a very fortunate one for me as I continue to enjoy my home and my neighbours. I get great pleasure seeing my ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren grow and progress. My great-grandfather, Dr. Ritchie, and his family moved to the Jumping Pound district in 1904 (see Big Hill Country, page 735).

His daughter, my grandmother, is quoted in the original Vestry minute book of All Saints Anglican Church, and my grandfather was a visiting lay reader in All Saints. It is there where he met my grandmother. I find it interesting that a descendant of the Ritchie’s ended up living in the Cochrane area so many years later.

I feel fortunate to have been born and raised in a country where people are free and at peace. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to live in a rural area where I can appreciate the countryside, the animals, birds and wildflowers, and all the benefits of the wide open spaces.

Deep Dive

History of the Beaupre Community Association

by

pg 144 More Big Hill Country 2009

It’s 1961 and my story has just begun,

We tried for a community for everyone.

It took a full year with lots of hard work,

And it really paid off without a quirk.

The Beaupre Creek School was converted henceforth ,

It’s 1962 and we’re registered up North.

 

Prior to this, so I am told,

Grand Valley School and Beaupre were old.

They had served their purpose , so it seems,

So off to Cochrane went kids and their dreams.

A higher education these days is a must,

Then off to SAIT in a cloud of dust.

 

It cost 650 bucks to register the Title,

By 1966 the land/school buy was final.

It took all those years of paperwork,

Dealing with protocol and many a jerk.

But it all paid off, I’m glad to say,

 

And every dog doth have his day.

Now 35 years have come and gone,

With it, tradition, dances and many a song.

So many people each doing their bit,

Trying to make Beaupre a great big hit.

There were Eymas, Brooks, and Edges there,

Serving on the Board and doing their share.

 

If by chance I miss someone out,

Don’t get upset or even shout.

To be given the honour of this great task,

Is almost more than I can ask.

If I miss out one or seven,

You can bet you ’11 get yours in heaven.

 

Courvilles, Jamiesons, Macullo, Wasson and Wills,

Beatons, Simpsons, and the Ullerys from Wildcat Hills,

Richards, Dawsons, McKendricks and McCoys,

Beggs, Hansens, McDonalds and Uncle Roy,

Greenways, Butters, Bryant, Bowlen and Hess,

Poynters, Wirsigs, Johnsons, and Auntie Bess.

 

Colemans, Watts, LePatourel, McLenahans and Guy,

McLean, McNabb, McGillis, MacGregor, MacMillan and Vi,

Dutchik, Chapman, Stehr, Anderson, and Ebba K.,

And all the others who passed this way.

When Louis Beaupre was alive,

He never thought a community would thrive.

 

MacLeod, Metcalfe, Norman, Braisher, and Pepper,

Shapter, Tidball, who could do better?

Yoshimura, Hammond, Robertson, and Kendall ,

We all go by a different handle.

But the end result is always the same,

Bringing to Beaupre pride and fame.

 

We have dances, cards and the Beaupre Band

Playschool and the art club trying their hand.

Cubs and Scouts and Bible School,

All living up to the Golden Rule

Horseshoes, baseball and a fire pit ,

And every August the gymkhana is a hit.

 

My story has now come to a hollow,

Some have gone and the rest will fo1low.

What’s gone on in between Has been a life-long dream.

We’ve all loved Beaupre with veneration,

And now it’s all up to the next generation

The Beaupre community has always been a beehive of activity and not to mention the playschool with Miss Wendy would be remiss. At the Annual General Meeting, October 19, 2001, accolades were on the evening’s agenda, and Linda Thomas (who became president at this meeting) delivered the following tribute: “As everyone knows, we often take this opportunity to present a plaque to a member who has contributed to our community. This year we ‘d like to show our appreciation to someone who has had a huge influence on our community and beyond. She has been quietly going about her business for so long, and is so well loved by the younger members of our community that, she has earned the permanent title of “Miss Wendy.” Wendy Butters’ playschool has such a good reputation that people bring their kids out here from Cochrane. I can personally attest to the fact that the kids love Miss Wendy’s school and sometimes they even get to play her guitar. She ‘s been teaching our children for 25 years and it’s time to let her know how much we appreciate it. So, on behalf of the executive and all the members of Beaupre, this plaque extols a big thank you to Miss Wendy.”

Shockingly, just a few days after the Annual General Meeting, our gathering place burnt down on Halloween night, October 31 , 2001 , and devastated our community. We lost valuable treasures including the 100-year-old piano and precious artworks by local artists. Sadly, Beaupre’s mascot, the old brass school bell used as a dinner bell or to get people’s attention at meetings, was somewhere in the ashes. However, that cloud had a silver lining as Ben Cornforth , Cornforth Excavating , who kindly hauled away the debris, sifted through the ruins and found it. Frank Brooks restored it and the bell is back in business at Beaupre.

Beaupre President Maureen Wills, who delivered the welcoming address, conveyed sincere thanks to fellow directors and to all those who helped with planning and designing the new hall. She extended a big thank you to those who donated artifacts for the decor, artworks, and funds – relating that cash donations were being sent in before we’d even asked for help. She extended a special thank you to MLA Janis Tarchuk for her attention to detail and caring attitude respecting youth and adults in our community. “When the old hall burnt down, along with it went the artifacts, but we still have old memories, and, now, it’s up to the younger generation to make new memories with beautiful people and a beautiful view.”

Beaupre Community Association Presidents

Norman Edge, 1962-63

Pierre Eyma, 1963-68

Donald Edge, 1968-70

Bruce Boothby, 1970- 71

Charlie MacDonald, 1971-73;1974-76;1980-82

Lloyd Greenway, 1973-74; 1977-80

Dennis Courville, 1976-77

Frank Brooks, 1982-83

Larry Beaton, 1983-84

Monte Butters, 1984-85

Maureen Wills, 1985-90; 1996-2001; 2002-04

Erik Butters, 1990-92

Bruce Kendall, 1992-96

Linda Thomas, 2001-02

Mary Lou Brooks, 2004-Present

Our new hall, with a wonderful mountain view, is serving the community well; it’s busier than ever, thanks to a good Board of Directors and an ambitious social committee. The usual card parties, meetings, seminars, musical concerts, annual family barbecue, art club activities, cancer fundraising, garage sales, spring tea, Christmas craft sale, weddings, playschool, children’s Christmas concerts, New Year’s parties, educational courses, birthdays, cowboy soiree dances, and various other types of social events are in full swing.

Speaking of dances, I always remember the story Jack Poynter used to tell on his wife, Tootie. In the early days, after arriving home one snowy winter night from an enjoyable dance at Beaupre, Tootie was removing her boots and a mouse jumped out and scampered across the kitchen floor. With a yell, she said, “That mouse was in my boot!” Jack’s reply, “Yeah, and he’s still alive – but he is pretty well gassed!”

Deep Dive

THE JOHN (JACK) HENDERSON FAMILY

by

Big Hill Country page 652

The Jack Henderson family were all born in Northumberland County, England. Mr. Henderson was born April 18, 1899, at Workworth. He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in April 1917, and fought in the second Battle of Mons in Belgium. Later he was captured by the Germans and held prisoner for nine months. He served with the British Army for three years.

After the War he married Elizabeth Hogg who was born May 10, 1892, at Powburn, England. Their oldest son, James, was born at Ellingham Gardens in 1924, and John was born at East House in 1926.

In the spring of 1928, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson and their two sons, aged two and four years, came to Canada on a Settlement Scheme drawn up by the British and Canadian Governments whereby 3,000 families were allowed to immigrate to Canada with all fares paid.

The Hendersons settled on a farm nine miles north of Cochrane, the N½ 16-27-4-5, where they did mixed farming. When the boys were old enough they went to Weedon School.

Mr. Henderson joined up in the Second World War in 1940 and spent three months training soldiers for active service Overseas. John Jr., joined the Canadian Army in the fall of 1944, at the age of 18, and served 15 months in the service. After the War, he took flying lessons and received his pilot’s license.

After 22 years the farm was sold in 1950, and the Henderson family moved into Cochrane. The boys bought road-building equipment and contracted road work. Mr. Henderson bought a service station north of Calgary, at Wessex, but later sold it and built one in Cochrane.

John married Gladys Prosser in 1957. Gladys was born in Calgary on September 13, 1938. They have seven children: Hal, Kerry, Mellissa, Richie, Ross, Scot, and Angela.

In 1962 James married Frances Hewitt in England and brought his bride home to Cochrane. Frances was born in Amble, Northumberland, on April 21, 1936. They have one son, William. Frances loved to play the piano and James bought her a new piano as a gift shortly after they came to Canada. Frances died of cancer on June 7, 1964. After the death of his wife, James and his son went to live with James’ mother, but she passed away in July 1971, at the age of 79. James and his son now live in the Bowness district of Calgary.

Mr. Henderson Sr. remarried. They sold their service station in Cochrane and now live on Vancouver Island, near Nanaimo.

The Henderson farm is now part of Glenbow Ranches owned by Neil Harvie.

Map Overlay of South of Tracks

Weedon Pioneer Community Association

by

by Marion Powlesland More Big Hill Country 2009 pg 178

An Address Presented on the Occasion of the Weedon Pioneer Community Association 25th Anniversary Commemorating the Years 1950 – 1975 Location of the First Hall, NE Sec 22 Twp 27 Rge 4

W5M November 19, 1949, was the first meeting to organize a community club in the Weedon District. (The Weedon School District No. 1947 was established March 11, 1908, and the school site was 10 miles north of Cochrane. The district was named by J. Kenneth Hammond after his home village in England.) Mr. Fred Adams acted as chairman, with a great deal of help from Cyril Britton. Much discussion on procuring the land and the Old Weedon School (closed June, 1943) for a community hall took place. Cards were played and lunch was served. The following made up the executive:

Mrs. R. Adams President

Mrs. Mary Bansemer

Secretary Directors: Mr. Karl Sammons Inglis

Mr. George Sheriff Cochrane Lakes

Mrs. H. Perkins Horse Creek

Mr. George Webb Weedon

Mr. George Webb Janitor

With the help of all these people and the community at large, along with Mr. W. H. Webb, Bill and Harry Webb an agreement for sale was drawn up and the Weedon School, located in the extreme NE Sec 22 Twp 27 Rge 4 WSM was sold to the community for $300.00.

During this time the directors and community decided to name the organization “Weedon Pioneer Community Association” and on February 23, 1950 the community hall was registered.

Many donations were made to the Weedon Pioneer Community Association in order to buy the school and on July 3, 1950 the Calgary School Division received their cheque for $300 .00.

In 1950 an agreement was made with Mr. W. H. Webb to lease his land upon which the school was located (2.02 acres) for ten years with the rent being $1.00 per year. This carried on until 1960, leased again until 1964, when it was decided to sell the Weedon School and the outbuildings to Heritage Park, Calgary.

Many activities took place in the hall in the form of card parties, showers, farewell parties and many enjoyable Christmas parties. Gas lamps and coal oil lamps were the order of the day at this time, along with coal and wood stoves. At one time a ton of coal was raffled and tickets were sold for 25¢ each.

The first insurance policy was taken out February 17 1951 for a premium of $27.25.

Membership was $1.00 and admission for dances was set at Gents 75¢ and Ladies 50¢ and any lady bringing lunch was admitted free. Card parties were 35¢ and children 16 years and under were free. One particular dance was recorded to have been a huge success with the music and lunch supplies costing $24.84 and still making a profit of $26.95. The music was supplied by Dorothy Arndt, Dorothy Dombroski and Mr. Anderson.

December 23, 1950 a Christmas party was held and 50 bags of candy and nuts were made up. Supplies were purchased at a cost of $23.70. Incidentally, the order: 16 pounds of mixed candy, 14 pounds of mixed nuts, two boxes of oranges, one box of apples, decorations, one pound of coffee, two pounds of cocoa and five pounds of sugar.

In the ensuring years, many renovations took place such as painting and improvements. In 1954 the subject of electricity came to great discussion, but ended with Mrs. Rickey Adams purchasing another gas lamp instead.

Means of making monies for the hall was difficult. The ladies catered farm sales for Ms. Angus Wiesman, Mr. Dave Holstein, Mrs. Peppard and others. This always being a fun time, though working hard and hearing the local gossip, everyone enjoyed it.

In 1957, the cost of living was on the rise, so with a unanimous vote it was decided to raise the price of admission to Gents $1.00 and Ladies 50¢. Coal was donated to the hall and a new stove too.

Many activities were held in the hall through these years, our Christmas parties being a highlight each year. Long will we remember George Webb and his School Bus Choir and his wonderful singing of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and also the sisters, Mrs. Wes Wilson and Mrs. C. Bristow, singing “Star of the East”. All the children playing piano, accordion or reciting and putting on plays, one group putting on a play “Look Out Liz”.

Lunch was always served at Christmas parties, showers, dances, etc. Coffee was always cooked in a large copper boiler on a coal and wood stove. A large apple box held the coffee cups and the men passed these on to the crowd. Cream and sugar were served, also sandwiches and cake. While Mum and Dad danced, small children slept on the kitchen table and benches until it was time to go home. Floor manager for the dances and calling the square dances was Mr. Fred Adams.

February 26, 1964 was perhaps a sad day for many when a meeting was called to discuss the selling of the Weedon Hall and out buildings. Mr. Red Cathcart of the Glenbow Foundation spoke about Heritage Park and the preservation of old buildings built prior to 1914. At this time, he offered $1,000.00 for the purchase of the hall. A special meeting was called where Mr. Bill Pratt spoke about Heritage Park. Much discussion ensued. The decision was made to sell the hall for $1 ,000 .00 and all contents to be held and stored by the Association. The saga of the first Weedon Hall was coming to a sad end, but everyone was pleased to know it would be well cared for in the new Heritage Park in Calgary. Many fond memories are expressed when folks visit this building. They feel proud to visit it anytime at the Park.

Now it was time (1964) to replace our Old Weedon Hall with a new one, so with the kind help of George Webb, the Beaver Dam School was located and we were able to purchase the building for a cost of $300.00. Beaver Dam School District No. 1056 was established on July 8, 1904. It was named by the first school organizers after the Beaver Dam Creek, which loops around the school from the North West. The school was 1.5 miles south of Madden, or 14 miles -west and one mile south of Crossfield. The school was moved at a cost of $400 .00 plus $20 .00 for moving the telephone and power lines. A new location for the hall had been found and we received permission from the Rocky View Municipality No. 44 to exchange the old

Cochrane Lakes School grounds (Cochrane Lake School District No. 1947, 1909. The school, 6 miles north of Cochrane, was named after the adjacent string of lakes) with Stan and Barbara Wilson for the present site, NE Sec 34 Twp 26 Rge 4 W5M, near the junction of highway 22 and the Weedon Trail; receiving the land title from the Wilson’s. Costs included lawyer fees of $43.00, transfer fees of $18.00, and lumber and footings for the basement of $93.76. Difficulties were encountered with getting someone to put in the basement; consequently the basement filled with water and it cost $10.00 to have it pumped out.

In 1965 the Cochrane Lakes Snow Plough Club disbanded and they donated the balance of their funds to the hall. We also received a Recreational Grant from the Alberta Government for $800.00 so in 1966 we were finally able to hire someone to put in the basement. The cost of material was $544.42 and the labour amounted to $713 .50 plus many volunteer hours of work donated by several people in the community. A further cost of $200.00 put the building on the basement and many more hours of work by volunteers.

We finally were able to have a grand opening of the hall on February 10, 1967. With the kind help of donations and Calgary Power we were fortunate in having the electricity for the opening, the installation costing $390.00. That was some difference to having gas and coal oil lamps in our old Weedon Hall! District folks donated chairs, tables, dishes, etc. to help with the hall. In 1967 Centennial Year, the Westbrook 4-H Beef Club gave the hall a face-lift with a fresh coat of paint. In October the basement floor was poured and the ladies served the men a potluck dinner.

December 2, 1967 a farewell party for Mr. and Mrs. George Sherriff was held; they had sold their farm and moved to Cochrane. Everyone of course was saddened to see them leave as they had helped so much in the establishment of our original hall. That winter it was decided to have our “first” New Years Party. It met with such success it has been carried on ever since. In the spring of 1969 our first Spring Tea was held in conjunction with the Lochend Ladies Club. A raffle for a side of beef with tickets at 50¢ each, this has continued with much success. This past year we were honoured to have bronze bookends donated and made by Malcolm McKenzie and again this year a bronze horse and rider.

In 1972 the Lochend School was sold and the sum of $300.00 was donated to the Association for improvements. (Lochend School District No. 2732 was established in 1912 and derived its name from the same source as the post office and church. The road from Calgary to the centre of the district became known as the “Lochend Road”.) At this time I may mention the Lochend Ladies have donated benches, dishes etc. to the hall and the board has been most grateful.

Each year there have been numerous dances, bingos, farewell parties, showers, anniversary parties, family gatherings, films, upholstery courses, fabric sales, 4-H and now the Cochrane & District Historical group uses the hall for their meetings. Dances now cost $6 .00 per couple and orchestra costs are $100.00 or more.

Propane heat was installed in the hall but now we are progressing one step further with natural gas heat to be installed this summer.

Since 1949, when the first meetings were held and we received our hall charter, there have been many changes. Water still has to be brought to the hall, out houses still have to be used, but from gas and coal oil lights, coal and wood and a dirt floor in the basement, we have progressed very favourably to a better hall with electricity, gas and a new addition to be built with the help of a Government grant. An Auction Sale to be held June 14, 1986 to raise additional funds. Without the kind help of many, many people making generous donations for the purchase of the hall and power and all construction work of the past, it would have been impossible to have our 25th Anniversary of the hall.

Since the 25th Anniversary celebrations in 1975, many more achievements have been reached by the Weedon Pioneer Community Association.

In the late 1970s a new addition was added on the east side of the hall, all construction was done with volunteer help. John Grimstead donated the excavating of the basement and Bert Powlesland donated the hardwood floor. All interior and exterior work was done with volunteers.


A water well was drilled by Floyd Thompson and a sewer system installed and the hall plumbed. A kitchen was built and a new gas stove bought to replace the electric stove. A furnace was installed. Washrooms were added to the hall.

A lovely old piano was donated by Mrs. Gladys Baptie, for which the community was very thankful.

In 1978 a play school was organized. Many children attended and their most loved teacher was “Miss Wendy”, Wendy Butters.

Deep Dive

Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society

by

pg 183 More Big Hill Country 2009

The group was started at the instigation of the then Mayor, Lydia Graham and a newer resident of Cochrane, Anne Richardson. Anne heard that the brick house on First Street, known to locals as the ‘Chapman house’, was in jeopardy of being tom down for a small high rise. She approached several people including Lydia and a group of about twelve people met at the CPED (Cochrane Partnership for Economic Development) Boardroom in January of 1999. After several meetings a core group was formed . The first due-paying members were: Rick Green, Lydia Graham, Anne Richardson , Bernice Klotz, Alice King, Jackie Sheir, and Tony Turner.

On July 6, 1999 a meeting was held at the King Solomon Masonic Lodge, where the group decided on their name: Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society – a.k.a. CHAPS . The first executives were: President Anne Richard on Vice President Secretary Treasurer Members-at-Large David Beattie Gordon Davies, Bernice Klotz, Jackie Sheir, Gary Steven, and Doug Monro

Chapman Home
Chapmans Garage 1920s courtesy Glenbow Archives

On July 31, 1999 CHAPS received its corporate number and became an official Society. August 1, 2007 CHAPS became an official charitable organization.

CHAPS approached John Thomson and he was kind enough to design a logo for the group. The logo depicts a corner of a building with a brick foundation and clapboard siding. This is to commemorate the brickyards of the area and the small wooden shacks that were the first buildings. Then the name of the group was added, showing the acronym reading downwards along the side of the building.

CHAPS Logo

Eventually, it was decided the meetings would be held on the third Wednesday of each month. Since its inception several projects have been undertaken, the major one being the preservation of the first official hospital in Cochrane, “The Davies House”. In order to accomplish this goal, several steps have been taken, mainly fundraising and trying to raise public awareness.

A sample walking tour was compiled in 1999 and Doug Munroe volunteered to take interested parties on the tour.

January 2000, the Town of Cochrane partnered with CHAPS and commissioned Cathy Bosch to do a “Footprint” of Old Town Cochrane. This project was done in three parts over 2000, 2001 and 2002.

January 2001 , Anne Richardson left the Cochrane area, leaving behind the legacy of a historical group with definite ideas and a firm foundation to build on.

CHAPS started having Spring and Fall Dinners as their main means of fundraising, adding the sale of pins of their logo at the Spring 2002 dinner and collector plates with the Cochrane CPR Station on them at the November 2006 dinner. Later, Lydia arranged for the group to participate in the Government run Lotteries Program and they worked Casino dates at the Frank Sissions Silver Dollar Casino. Other fundraisers were an Old-fashioned Strawberry Tea held at Mount St. Francis Retreat in June of 2006 and a month-long raffle in July of 2007.

In September 2002, CHAPS member, Marilyn Whittle, suggested that a sequel to the Big Hill Country book would be a good project as the original only covered up to 1945. Marilyn laid the groundwork and in January of 2006 the work started on the book “More Big Hill Country” . A group of approximately fifteen dedicated people took up this challenge.

During the Cochrane Centennial year of 2003, CHAPS hosted ten evenings at the Nan Boothby Memorial Library, one each month (except July and December) to introduce a new historical display the group had put together. These displays were of Cochrane – An Overview, Religion , Lodges, Social

life, Business, Sports, Industry, Education, Organizations, and Services. The first six of these displays were reconstructed in the Cochrane Community Centre during the Heritage Days weekend, where CHAPS hosted a portion of the 100th Anniversary celebrations. The group recruited the three original churches to hold teas each afternoon. The All Saints Anglican Church held their tea on Saturday, St. Mary’s Catholic Church took on Sunday and St. Andrew’s United Church took Monday.

CHAPS had been working on a more detailed walking tour booklet. The finished product, “Under the Big Hill”, was launched over the August weekend of the Centennial celebrations.

Another project was to have plaques set up in front of some of the historic buildings in the community. This project was started by Gordon Davies in May of 2004 and the first phase completed in the Spring of 2008. Seven buildings were selected: The Chapman House, The Howard Block, The Cochrane Hotel, The Andison Block (MacKay’s), The Andison Store, King Solomon Masonic Lodge and St. Andrew’s United Church. The second phase of this project is to have a plaque placed on the Cochrane Ranche to commemorate the ranch, the brickyard, the creamery and the dairy that were all part of his property.

CHAPS has a firm foundation of approximately 45 members which include single, family and corporate members that transfers to between 60 to 80 members strong. The main body of this group show their support by attending the fundraising dinners faithfully each time they are asked. Not only the basic board members but also several of our members regularly attend the monthly meetings. Members are expected to give only as much time and effort as they feel comfortable with. For many this is the membership and to attend the fundraisers; others give many hours to each individual project.

The group attends the Cochrane Trade Fair, the Bearspaw Fair, and the Lioness Craft Fair in order to try and let the community know who they are and what they are trying to do for the community. Over the years members have presented the Society to each of the new Town Councils, and worked with the Town to organize a Heritage Advisory committee for the council. Often the Society helps to present local talent by having them entertain at the fundraising dinners. Some of the local talent that have accommodated the Society are: Jesse Fowler, Wayne Dolen, Bobby Turner, Wendy Vaughn and Brooks Tower.

It is not the intention of the Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society to stop progress, we only wish to retain some of our history and make sure it is passed on to coming generations. A community is only as strong as its foundation. Cochrane has a very strong foundation and we wish to retain and help build on it.

CHAPS 25th Anniversary

CHAPS 25th was celebrated on Aug 5, 2024.

Events included unveiling the new statue,  Stockmens Memorial branding demonstration, RCMP in Red Serge, vintage Fire Truck,  Wood Carving demo, Folklore Research info booth, Stoney Nakoda Elder speaker, Baggage cart restoration project presentation and Kids activities.

See the links below for local coverage of the event.

Wooden Sculpture by Widahl Woodcraft
CHAPS 25th Poster by David Sharpe

CHAPS named Parade Marshall of 2024 Cochrane Labour Day Parade

Message from Larry Want, CHAPS President

Hi everyone. Great news, the Cochrane Labour Day Parade Committee has asked CHAPS to be the Grand Parade Marshall in this year’s parade on Monday, September 2nd, 2024. We said YES.

This is quite an honour, privilege and compliment for CHAPS. This points to all the work our volunteers and members have done for the past 25 years. Congratulations CHAPS. More public awareness and free advertising brings CHAPS into the limelight!

I AM ASKING EVERY MEMBER TO COME AND JOIN ME IN RIDING, WALKING OR CRAWLING IN THIS PARADE. 

We will be carrying the parade banner as well as our own CHAPS banner.

  If you are able to wear historical western wear clothes, that would be excellent.

2024 Labour Day Parade Marshalls Photo courtesy Tim Hall

Deep Dive

Cochrane and Area Heritage Association

by

by Sunni Turner pg 176 More Big Hill Country 2009

The Cochrane and Area Heritage Association was formed on July 1, 1978 primarily to raise funds for the Cochrane Ranche and promote our local heritage and history. It was duly registered in Alberta on August 30, 1978.

Original signees were: Marjorie Spicer, housewife: Ellen Buckler, teacher; Margaret Buckley, housewife; Daryl Downs, store clerk; and Alice Graham, nurse. Over these three decades we have held our meetings in various places: the town office, the Provincial Building the Westerson Cabin, Mrs. Marjorie Spicer’s sunroom, the Big Hill Lodge, Turner’s Inn in Turner Valley and the Perrenoud Ranche House.

The original Westerson Cabin in Cochrane (opposite the original Nan Boothby Library) was restored by the Cochrane and Area Heritage Association with the assistance of the Town of Cochrane and funds from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation. It was used as an Information Centre during the 1988 Winter Olympics and a mini museum and Tourist Information Centre in the summer months.

Our association presents the Heritage Art Award and an Honourable Mention Award at the Cochrane Art Club’s Annual Art Show and Sale. To win this monetary award and certificate the artwork must depict the historical and natural aspects of the Cochrane area.

We also sponsor the Social Studies 30 Award at the Cochrane High School. It consists of a cash prize and certificate. One year five CHS students achieved the same high provincial score in their Social Studies 30 exams.

With the partnership of Cochrane town officials, we assisted in the naming of parks, streets and local special areas in Cochrane named after local pioneers and ranchers such as Mitford Park, Kerfoot Park, Copithorne Park, Fenton Park, Wearmouth Park, Crawford Park, and Samuel Spicer Park. The Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society (CHAPS) assisted us in later years.

Some of our other projects were: the purchase of wooden log benches at the Cochrane Ranche, the Memorial Garden at Big Hill Lodge and helping to buy a large tent for the Cochrane Ranche, etc. On August 9, 1989 we accepted the Perrenoud Ranche House, an Alberta Historic Resource property lease with provisions: “The Cochrane and Area

Heritage Association and the Alberta Department of Culture will work together to help allocate funds from available grants”. Our association catalogued over one thousand historical artifacts in 1990 (P.H .90) for Alberta Culture.

Mrs. Marjorie Spicer was our president for many years. Some Cochrane and Area Heritage Association members past and present are: Marjorie Spicer, Edna Copithome, Ava Lewis, Walter Lewis, Jr., Walter Hutchinson, Gordon Hall, Amy Begg, Debbie Baire, Kathy Bosch, Belle Hall, Keryle Amidon, Jean Copithorne, Irene Copithorne, Norah Schmidt, Margaret Buckley, Faye McLeod, Marjorie Richmond, Jill Richards, Judy MacKenzie, Charlene Gale, Pat Birchall, Rick Green, Stan Phelps, Bobby and Sunni S. Turner.

For many years we have sold a substantial number of silver “Men of Vision II charms which were designed by the renowned local artist and sculptor, Malcolm J. MacKenzie. Proceeds are used for restoration programs. Times change. In the late 1990’s we felt that the Perrenoud Ranche House program and other “outside events” were our main projects and we suggested that another historical society should be formed in Cochrane itself to preserve and interpret the history of the rapidly growing town; and therefore the then heritage-minded mayor, Lydia Graham and forward looking individuals formed CHAPS (Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society) in 1999.

Currently our major project is to restore, preserve and interpret the Perrenoud Ranche House Site, an Alberta Historic Resource which is an historic horse ranche northwest of Cochrane. The site consists of the 1910 family ranche house, the original log homestead, a log blacksmith shop, granaries, a log barn, a sawmill and a garage on ten acres of land.

Charles Emil Perrenoud was born in 1863 in Bescancon, France. His father was a jeweller. Charles came to Canada in 1886 and in 1888 he started ranching in Mortimer Coulee. On April 2, 1902, he married Laura M. Phipps in All Saints Anglican Church, Cochrane. They had three children, George, Emma and Agnes. Charles was a rancher who raised cattle and horses.

His son George never married. Emma married Ed Young of the Ingles district and Agnes married Frank Hutchinson of the Lochend area – all are now deceased. The heirs of the estate donated the Perrenoud Ranche House Site to the Provincial Government of Alberta.

The Perrenoud Ranche Art Centre had its grand opening on September 17 and 18, 2005. Many of the Perrenoud descendents were at the gala opening which had over 500 in the two-day period. The attendees included government officials, local dignitaries, municipal Councillor, friends and neighbours as well as cultural representatives from Edmonton and Calgary.

At present we have an artist-in-residence at the Perrenoud Ranche Art Centre: Stan Phelps. We hold art shows, craft sales, art classes and other community affairs. The site is open by appointment only.

Our latest projects have been the Jumping Pound Historic Building Survey 2005· The Big Hill Country Historic Building Survey 1 and 11, 2006 and 2007 and the Dog Pound/Bottrel Historic Building Survey 2007.

In the future, we plan to replicate the old log homestead and restore the spacious garage to accommodate an artists’ studio/children’s art classroom and open a museum and interpretive centre. Further restoration are ongoing. Our aim is to preserve the past and the present for the future.

Only time will tell what the future brings.

Deep Dive

KERFOOT SHOT THE LAST OF THE COCHRANE AREA BUFFALO

by

pg 12, A Peep into the Past Vol II, Gordon and Belle Hall , 1990.

When my family moved from Calgary to Springbank in 1916, the first world war was in full swing. We moved onto a quarter section belonging to Frank Young. The quarter was about a mile east of the Red Dutton Arena in lower Springbank. The countryside in those days were covered with buffalo bones. The bones were gathered into piles and hauled to Calgary where they would be ground up for fertilizer and I understand they were also used in the manufacture of explosives. My dad had gathered a huge pile of bones and they sat in front of the house. One day mother heard a noise outside and in going out, she discovered two wagons with Sarcee natives helping themselves to the bones. In her best English she told them to leave and leave the bones alone. Promptly one native told her he didn’t understand English. Going into the house her eyes fell on dad’s double barrel shotgun. Picking it up she went out again, pulling the hammer back. The natives hastily unloaded their wagons and in 10 minutes were gone. This was one language they understood.

By the 1920s and ’30s there were not many bones left laying around, some however were being dug up in gravel pits and excavations. There is a spot in the Jumping Pound area called the Pile of Bones Hill. The oldtimers would tell you that they were the bones from Cochrane Ranche cattle lost in storms in the 1880s. The last buffalo was shot in this area in the 1880s. W.D. Kerfoot and his men ran an old bull into the the Cochrane Ranch corrals with a herd of cattle, where Kerfoot shot him.

In later years buffalo jumps or kill sites have been discovered along Jumping Pound Creek and also Big Hill Creek, one site was found at Big Hill Springs in 1968. It was excavated in the spring and summer of 1972 by students from the University of Calgary archaelogical division, with the permission of the landowner Jonathon Hutchinson. A number of arrowheads, spear points and other artifacts were found. The site is now catalogued as the Hutchinson Buffalo Jump “EHPO7”. Archaelogical evidence to date indicates that the Huchinson Buffalo Jump was primarily a jump site and butchering station that was used mainly in the fall of the year. There are teepee rings in four or five nearby locations, Some were on the high ground east of the springs. They were located there I would imagine as lookouts for the presence of other tribes. The dating of the Hutchinson Jump was somewhere between 300 AD to 1500 AD. There are three or four other sites along Big Hill Creek, but with the advent of acreage people, permission to explore the land is almost impossible.

Deep Dive

    Men not horses pulled fire rig

    by

    pg 28 A Peep into the Past Vol. II, Gordon and Belle Hall 1990

    Cochrane Fire Hall Heritage Park

    When you visit Heritage Park and you stand in front of the Cochrane firehall, you read on the sign how the fire horses pulled the Cochrane fireman’s rig to fires around the village. It makes an exciting story but it never happened, not in Cochrane anyway, because at no time did horses pull the Cochrane outfit. In the first place the village was too small; you could run around the whole village in about 10 minutes. The rig was pulled by manpower and so was the ladder wagon. In later years a hitch was put on the rig so it could be pulled behind a car or truck.

    Chas. Grayson, the Imperial Oil agent, had a big white horse he hooked to a dray with shafts; on the dray would be 100 gallon tank loaded with gasoline. Chas. would be heading for the garages to replenish their supply (not much gas used in those days). Ed Raby worked for Grayson and Ed got his start in the oil business when Charles retired. Then I remember George Bunney delivering milk and cream around town. He had a white horse also. The horse was almost human. As George would take a carrier load of milk and service two or three houses, the horse would bring the buggy around to the other street and stop and wait. The buggy was painted black and had a box built on the back to hold the milk. The dairy at that time was where the Franciscan Retreat is now.

    The school barn was part of th school system in the 1920s and ’30s. The barn at the Cochrane School held about 20 head of horses. Some kids came by horse and cart, but most rode saddlehorse. Big and small, bronco and quiet horses, they brought the kids to school and for the most part stayed tied up in the barn for about eight hours. Sometimes the barn didn’t get cleaned out regularly and some of the horses were nearly standing on their heads.

    “Rattlesnake” Pete Dixon, the local poundkeeper, had a big buckskin saddlehorse. The horse was kept in a barn on Powell Street. The buckskin was used more than once to pull cars up the muddy hill, and he was used to round up stray cattle and horses that found their way into town. Billy Johnson, the mail delivery man for rural route number one to the north and also Bottrel mail, had a small fast team. A democrat for the summer and a cutter for when there was snow on the ground, you could set your watch by his schedule; Billy was nearly always on time. Besides the mail he would bring any medicines from the drugstore in a desperate situation groceries. Billy’s outfit was used at funerals to get a coffin up to the graveyard when the snow was two feet deep and drifting.

    Fire Truck and Crew

    Deep Dive

    Local Pioneer and Rodeo Champion

    by

    pg 12 A Peep into the Past Gordon and Belle Hall

    Clem Gardner was the second son of Captain and Mrs. Gardner. He was born in Russel, Manitoba in 1885. The Elder Gardners came to Pirmez Creek the following year in a democrat with their two sons Clem and Teddy. Clem and his brother received some private schooling at home, later he attended school at Springbank for a few years. At Springbank School Clem met Helen Hutchinson, who was later to become his wife.

    Clem’s first job at 17 was to break 70 head of horses for Goddard at the Bow River Horse Ranch. The ranch was situated on the south side of the· Bow River between Cochrane and Calgary. Clem was paid $5 per head for breaking. Captain Gardner felt at this time they were being crowded out so in 1905 Clem and his brother Teddy and sister Ruby headed for the Hand Hills country east of Drumheller. This proved to be a disastrous venture. In June of 1911, Clem married Helen Hutchinson. Helen was born in 1884, she and her parents came from Lanardshire, Scotland to Quebec and in 1887 they moved to Calgary. Helen and Clem’s first child, a boy, died as an infant and is buried on the ranch. Later three more children were born, Noel, Audrey and Joan. I believe Noel is the only one alive today.

    Clem Gardner had to be one of Canada’s best all-round cowboys. He has a long list of accomplishments illustrated by the many trophies he has won, He rode in his first rodeos in 1907, and won bronc riding honors at the first Calgary Stampede in 1912. Clem had a chuckwagon of his own, and at Calgary, driving his own wagon, he had a penalty-free time of 1.10.1 He was the first driver to use Throughbred horses for chuckwagon racing, competing from 1923 to 1946. He owned and rode his own steeplechasers to many victories on the old Cochrane race track and at Millarville races.

    Gardner’s favorite sport was polo and he played twice a week for the Calgary team, often trailing his ponies 25 miles each way, with the help of his two daughters. Clem competed in horse shows for more than 40 years. Clem Gardner was honored in 1952 by the Calgary Stampede Board for his many years of dedicated competition. In 1908 the Grayson place north of Bragg Creek was added to the home range, along with 300 head of cattle. He then added the Whittley place and six sections of the Rick’s ranch. Clem was well known in Cochrane and area. On Easter Sunday, 1963 Clem, who had been to St. Steven’s church in Calgary died of a heart attack on the way home. When Archdeacon Swanson conducted his funeral service, Swanson said “I say this of Clem Gardner, There was a man.”

    1921 Races - Cochrane Advocate

    Deep Dive

    Woman uses resources to help with Bootlegging

    by

    A Peep into the Past Vol II pg 23 Gordon and Belle Hall

    For Albertans who liked their beer and hard liquor, July 1, 1916 prohibition was welcomed with all the enthusiasm of an earthquake or a prairie tornado. For the members of the Temperance and Moral Reform League, T.H. Miller, W.F. Gold and A.T. Cushing and authoress Nellie McClung and many others, it was a day for celebration, without liquor of course. For some bold men who were eager to make a fast buck – it was a day of challenge. With liquor and beer over 22 percent alcohol declared illegal, they would have to see that, somehow or other, burning thirsts were quenched. A bit risky, perhaps, but with huge profits involved, well, they would just have to take a few risks. 

    Results of Prohibition Cochrane Advocate Sept 1923

    Bootlegging was not new in Alberta. It predated the arrival of the North West Mounted Police in 1874. It waned for a time but bloomed again with the arrival of the construction gangs building the Canadian Pacific Railway. Of all the members of the oldtime mounted police who struck terror in the hearts of the makers and distributors of illicit hootch, probably none surpassed Sergeant Thorne who with a detachment of mounted police were assigned the task of keeping the western end of Alberta section whiskey free. 

    It was no easy task, for hundreds of thirsty construction workers with money burning holes in their pockets, were clamoring for booze and dozens of eager bootleggers were doing their best to see that they got it. 

    For quite a time one lovely blond woman led Sgt. Thorne and his men a merry chase. Time after time she would show up at one camp or another, with the story she was looking for her brother. As sure as the sun rises in the east, after each visit, singing shouting and sometimes fighting would break out in camp and many of the men appeared to be intoxicated. None of the Mounties could ever recall her bringing anything more sinister looking than a batch of cookies into camp. Yet the evidence pointed to the fact that somehow the lady was sneaking booze into the camps. Finally, it dawned on Sergeant Thorne that the lovely lady appeared considerably thicker around the middle when she arrived than when she departed. He quickly summoned a police matron and waited for the next time the blond appeared at one of the camps. The resultant arrest and search revealed a rather startling development. For around her waist the young lady wore a rubber tube that held a gallon of hootch. A nozzle protruding from an ingenious belt buckle made dispensing quick and simple. A flip of the buckle, a slight contraction of abdominal muscles and presto, out came the booze, a stream sufficient to fill a two-ounce shot glass in a couple of seconds

    Deep Dive

    William Bradley Family

    by

    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. 

    t 

    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

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Tripadvisor Yelp Youtube

    want more details?

    Fill in your details and we'll be in touch