Bottrel Store

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Page 50 More Big Hill Country

A. E. Botterell and his brother, E. H. Botterell, homesteaded and bought CPR land; SE Sec 28 Twp 28 Rge 4 W5M and E Sec 21 Twp 28 Rge 4 W5M. They were wealthy furriers from Montreal who came west in the 1880’s.

A. P. Patrick started a cattle ranch northeast of the valley which became Bottrel, with Jimmy Kennedy as his manager. About 1875, David Nesbitt built a log house featuring dovetail corners on the knoll. After one hundred years and many owners living there, it was moved to Parson, British Columbia and restored.

In 1892, Walter Jones became manager of the Dog Pound Horse Ranch, which was renamed Botterell Ranch, after its owners. In 1902, the ranch was sold to D’Arcy McDaniels and Angus Sparrow – a cattle buyer. Later Harry Cook bought the Bottrel Ranch (changed spelling) and sold it in 1905 to Mr. J. T. Boucher.

J. T., his wife and four sons came from Lind, Washington. About 1908, J. T. built a cheese factory. Jim Loughery, newly from Ontario, was hired as cheese maker. A few staple articles were brought in as local customers requested, such as flour, sugar, salt, yeast, baking powder, tea and coffee. These supplies were stored in a passageway to the cheese storage rooms. Around 1909, they needed more storage and the brick part of the store was built. About this time a petition for a Post Office was presented with the name Bottrel submitted and accepted. A Post Office was set up in the back corner of the store. Mail was delivered weekly by team and democrat the 19 miles north from Cochrane.

Around 1910, Bottrel Telephone Exchange brought telephone service to the Bottrel district with a rural party line serving 14 farms. The Exchange was in the Bottrel Store owned by J. T. Boucher and Miss Irene Atkinson was the telephone operator. Miss Atkinson was also bookkeeper, store clerk and post office attendant.

In 1919, the telephone line was extended to Atkins, (Cremona) and that Exchange was operated by Mrs. A. Mork in her home. The subscribers north of Bottrel became part of the new Exchange. Bottrel Store had a telephone on each line until Telus took over from AGT. There were long distance charges to phone neighbors on the other line, a practice which continues at the present time (2008).

There was a blacksmith shop built east of the store, run by Mr. Pitter from Cochrane Lakes area, then George Bunney, followed by Charlie Brown, who stayed for several years.

There was a corrugated iron implement shed built across the road from the store when an International Harvester farm equipment dealership was secured to handle a full line of farm implements, wagons, and buggies. For a number of years Turnbull Sawmill kept a stock of lumber there for sale.

In 1918, Bob Barnett took over Bottrel Store, followed by Mr. Chalmers, Wm. Bercov, Ephram Buschart (1923-27), Charlie Pearson (1927-28) and then the Tidballs (19291948). In 1926, Charlie Pearson bought the store. He was an agent for Essex cars, AGT, Bottrel Post Office and ran the general store. For a while, there was a beauty salon in part of the store run by Toots Larsen.

The cheese factory was changed over to a creamery and Jim Loughery moved to Cochrane to run the creamery there. Later on, the cheese factory and creamery were renovated and movies were shown there with Bill Houghton running the projectors.

William and Nellie Tidball with their five sons, Ed, Bert, Tom, Ollie and Bill, Jr. came from Minot, North Dakota to a homestead at Linden before moving to a b farm west of Carstairs. Then they came to Bottrel and bought the store when Charlie Pearson died in November 1928. When William and Nellie left Bottrel their son, Tom and his wife ran the store and post office followed by Tom’s brothers, Bill, Jr. and then Ollie in 1934-48. The parents had built a store in Madden replacing the store that burnt down in Sampsonton. The sons, Ed, Bert, Tom and Bill, Jr. had all taken turns running the Madden store.

Ollie Tidball and his wife, Nellie, had two daughters, Helen and Margaret, who attended the old Westbrook School. Ollie is remembered for coaching baseball in the Bush League and they won the trophy. He was umpire for many games and also active on the hockey scene.

Ollie Tidball and his brother, Bill, served in WWI. Bill was wounded three times. Ollie was decorated with a Military Medal and Bar in 1918.

Ollie remembered the hardships of hauling groceries after snow falls, plowing through snow that was higher than a cattle truck and also getting home with a load of groceries after a rain. There was very little gravel on the roads and they were not built up.

Ollie Tidball sold the Bottrel Store to William Milroy in 1948. Mr. Milroy’s daughter and son-in-law,Jean and Ted Hennig, joined him and helped out. Ted did trucking and hauling supplies. Mr. Milroy passed away in early 1955. His wife and son, Jim, ran the family business until 1958. They sold to Frank and Terry Gathercole, who operated the store until 1971. The Gathercoles were attracted to Bottrel because of the beautiful country setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. While they were operating the store, the Municipality of Rocky View straightened the road and changed the course of the Dog Pound Creek. A park was created and many campers came and enjoyed nature.

Electricity came into the area around this time. Having electricity made such a difference for people in the district. Now it was much easier to have running water. Terry talked about running out to the creek with a couple of pails and carrying it in to heat on the stove. She aid they were the first ones to get natural gas in the store and their home, along with Bishops and Patons.

The main events in the area were the Dog Pound Stampede, Dog Pound and Dartique turkey suppers, regular Saturday night dances, special events, fund raisers and plays and concerts at Westbrook School.

In 1971 William Roloff and his wife operated the store for about six months, before selling to Heine and Susie Lutchre. Lutchres stayed until August 1975 when they sold to Ray and Darlene Ford. Ray renovated the store exchanging bricks for wood giving the exterior of the building a completely different appearance. The Fords operated the store with the help of their two sons, Kurt and Warren. The boys attended Westbrook School and were active on the local hockey team. The Fords rented the store to Helen Warner who ran it for a couple of years.

Rosa Prcic bought the business from Ray Ford in 1984 and operated it until 1999 with the hired help of local people. Rosa started the Stampede Breakfasts at Bottrel that were held the morning of the Dog Pound Stampede. She organized a homecoming celebration for the 125th year of the Confederation of Canada in 1992. Also, she held a teen dance, fundraisers and farewell parties at Dartique.

In 1999, Rosa Prcic sold the Bottrel Store to Mark and Betty Flamen, who in tum sold it in 2003 to Tim and Duane Needham.

From Hitching Rail to Gas Pump

Running a general store changed over the years. As the horse and buggy was replaced by cars, trucks, tractors and stationary engines, fuels changed. (Instead of growing their own grain and hay, fanners needed gasoline, diesel, oil and propane.)

Before the power was brought into the area, they needed kerosene and high-test gas for light. The creek or wells were used to keep milk and cream cool or they stored perishables in the basement. Blocks of ice were cut from lakes or streams and stored in an icehouse using sawdust for insulation. Most farmers kept a cow or two for their supply of milk, cream, butter, etc. and chickens supplied eggs and meat. Excess products were exchanged at the general store for staples that were needed. Most farmers went hunting in the fall to get a winter supply of wild game. In the summer there was a meat ring to supply a weekly source of fresh meat. The store would have canned meat, fish and milk, but only a limited supply of fresh produce before they had refrigeration. The store had big rounds of cheese which supplied wedges, fresh off the block, then wrapped in wax paper. Credit was extended to all regulars. Plastic cards were unheard of. News, gossip, weather reports, and just friendly chats were had with the store owner and any neighbours that may be in at the same time. Life was slower and a minute here and there was of no consequence if a cup of coffee was offered.

Deep Dive

Birchall Family

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By Betty Birchall Pg 294 More Big Hill Country 2009

Wes Birchall received an Honorable Discharge from the Canadian Army (15th Canadian Armored Field Regiment) in January 1946, having served for five years. In August of 1945 a German Sniper had shot Wes in the foot. After a brief convalescence, he rejoined his regiment. His brother Harold did not return with Wes from the war as he was killed in Germany in February of 1945. Harold is buried in a Canadian cemetery in Grosbeek, Holland.

John and Harold Birchall at the Cochrane train station (present day Home Hardware) readying to depart for England in 1942. Grant Birchall

During the war years, Wes’s other brother Clair stayed home and helped run the family farm in the Lochend district. After the war, Clair married Marjorie Shand from the Bottrel area and they moved to Edmonton and subsequently to Dawson Creek and Fort St John, B.C. where they raised two children, Norma and Ron.

Wes’ s savings from a combination of a generous army salary of $1.00 per day, together with his sideline business of cutting his fellow soldiers’ hair, and a loan from the Veteran’s Land Act, provided Wes with enough money to buy the farm from his parents, Heywood and Maude Birchall. Heywood and Maude then moved back into Calgary where they owned a home.

I had lived in various areas of the Cochrane district before, when my parents, Frank and Gladys Hanes, moved our family from the Medicine Hat area to Cochrane in 1924. At that time, my sister, Gertie (Hawkwood), was 15 months old and my twin sister, Lois (Hainsworth), and I were just nine weeks old. Having rented various farms in the Cochrane area, our family moved into Calgary in 1941. Wes and I were married in August 194 7. It was exciting to be moving back to the Cochrane district with my new husband.

The early years on the farm were tough as we had little money but we were young and had dreams and plenty of enthusiasm. We raised a small herd of beef cows, a milk cow and some chickens. Often times the only money we would have for buying groceries would be the proceeds of selling a few dozen eggs. We had a lot of hail in the fifties. On one occasion after a heavy hailstorm, we were sick to see many hens lying lifeless in the yard. In due time however, many of these hens were once again scratching around the yard. They had only been knocked unconscious by the hail. The crop, however, had been pounded flat.

I have good memories of helping Wes put up the hay. I would drive one team hooked to one end of a sweep and Wes would drive a team hooked to the other end. When the sweep was full, we would drive the sweep up onto a sHde where the hay would fall off the top. Wes would fork the hay into place and make a stack.

Wes put up a 9-volt wind generator on top of the porch. The electricity was stored in batteries in the cellar. It was great when the wind blew as we would have enough electricity for some lights and a radio to hear the news.

There was a flowing spring down the hill from the house which we used for our household needs and for the livestock. The bath water would be heated in pans on the wood stove. I remember one cold and windy winter’s night, Wes was having a bath in a round tub in the kitchen. I went outside to get more firewood. The door did not fully latch behind me and the wind blew the door wide open while I was at the woodpile. I returned with an armful of wood to see snow blowing into the kitchen and swirling around the tub. Wes made it “abundantly clear” to make sure the door was latched the next time I went out! I remember some very cold winters with lots of snow. The roads were not very good and sometimes they were impassable. During the winter of 1947 and 1948 we were snowed in for seven weeks. We had enough groceries and good neighbors. Mr. Jon Hutchinson brought our mail from Cochrane and we were grateful for that. We didn’t have a telephone at that time and we would ride on our horses to visit our friends in the district. I have wonderful memories of visiting and playing cards with Duncan and Margaret Hutchison who lived a short horseback ride away.

The closest road to our farm in the early years was located at what is now the intersection of the Lochend Road and the Big Hill Springs Road. This would mean driving about four miles across country through neighbor’s fields to get on to the road. One nice winters’ day we drove into Calgary, sold a few dozen eggs at Naglers, got our groceries and some farm supplies and headed for home. As we headed out across country, we encountered a whiteout blizzard. As we crossed one of the neighbor’s quarter sections we became disoriented and lost our sense of direction in the whiteout. As we drove aimlessly about looking for a landmark, we encountered a fairly fresh set of tire tracks in the snow. We felt very relieved and followed the tracks which soon joined with another set of tracks. It was then that our relief evaporated as we realized that we were following our own tracks in a circle. It was about this time that our car became stuck in a snowdrift. A short while later, the storm passed and we were able to walk home.

Often times if the roads were snowy or muddy and we wanted to travel to town, Wes would take the tractor and I would drive the car. That way we could pull the car through the snow banks or mud holes. Wes would leave the tractor at the start of the road and we would carry on to town. We would pick up the tractor on the way home and once again use it to get through the nasty spots.

In 1958, we built a dairy barn and purchased a dairy herd and fluid milk quota. The milk was shipped in 8-gallon cans, which were cooled in a water filled concrete tank. Mr. Bob Gathercole hauled the milk to the Union Dairy in Calgary. Bob would come into the milk house with a big cigar and a hearty laugh.

Over the years our small farm house became crowded as four boys joined our family. Brian was born in 1951, Larry in 1953, Grant in 1957 and Kent in 1960. All of the boys started school at Westbrook School. Westbrook wa a great rural community school with plenty of spirit. We have warm memories of the Westbrook School Fair, the year-end picnics at Big Hill Springs Park and the elaborate decorations for the Westbrook Spring Prom

Although life on the farm was busy, we enjoyed beino involved in the community. All of the boys were 0 members of the Bearspaw 4-H Dairy Club and Wes was a leader of the Pee Wees for a time. Wes and I were both involved in the Westbrook PTA and Wes also served on the local school board for a while. Ruth Kline and Janet Jones started the Lochend Ladies Club in 1953. I was one of the Charter Members. It was a wonderful way to visit with the other women in the district and to help out with community service.

Modernization and mechanization improved the quality of life on the farm. Electricity meant running water and li ohts that worked without waiting for the 0 wind to charge the batteries. Electricity could power milking machines and household appliances such as a refrigerator, and that great fifties invention, the television set. The arrival of the telephone lines meant an instant connection to the outside world, whether we were snowed in or not. A new home, with central heating and a flush toilet, was added to the farm in 1960. Tractors replaced the teams of horses, and hay was put up, at first with a sweep on the farmhand loader, and then a square baler, although our first experience with a used, and very temperamental, hay baler left Wes wondering if this invention was a blessing or a curse. Eventually, the 8 gallon milk cans made way for a stainless steel refrigerated bulk tank and then an overhead pipeline to carry milk right from the cow to the tank.

Wes and I sold the Dairy herd and Quota in 197 5 and went back to raising beef cattle. Wes sold real estate for a while. We also had the opportunity to travel and enjoyed trips to England and Continental Europe, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Australia, Central America and Hawaii. Wes had bypass heart surgery m I 993 and later suffered from numerous strokes. We moved from our country home to the Edgemont Retirement Residence in June 1997. We had lived in the Lochend district for fifty years. Wes passed away November 3, 2005. We had been happily married for 58 years. I am still at the Edgemont and I am very comfortable here.

The boys are all married and have children. Brian married Pat (Jansen) from the Dog Pound area. They have two daughters, Alexa and Stephanie. Brian works in the oil and gas business and he and Pat raise beef cattle. They currently reside near Pat’s childhood home at Dog Pound. Larry married Ruth (Michor) from Calgary. They have four children: Scott, Curtis, Tyson (Gail) and Lauren. Larry and Ruth are in the financial business and live just east of Cochrane. Grant married Twila (Clark) from Boyle, Alberta. They have three children: Trevor, Justin and Chantelle. Both Grant and Twila are involved in the oil and gas business. They also raise beef cattle and live near Bottrel. Kent married Anthea (Nield) from Adelaide, Australia. They have two children, Hamish and Rebecca. Kent is a finishing carpenter and they live in Calgary.

St Andrew’s United Church in Cochrane has been a special part of our lives for many years. Wes and I used to help with the fall Turkey Dinners and enjoyed meeting so many friends there. I still go to the Sunday Services.

We have wonderful memories of raising a family on a farm in the Cochrane area. All of our family members have been enriched by the experience of loving family ties, wonderful neighbours and friends, a sense of community and a strong connection to the land.

Deep Dive

Richard Butters Family

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pg 348 More Big Hill Country 2009

Richard Butters was born on February 19, 1922 and was the only son of Gordon and Ester Butters. He spent most of his early years on the farm of his parents near the hamlet of Conrich, east of Calgary, where he demonstrated his ability to work hard.

Richard’s father passed away when Richard was quite young. He had to quit school in grade nine and was thrust into farming full time along with his uncles.

Richard’s uncle Carl much preferred ranching and working with cattle than farming and had purchased a parcel of land near Morley, called the Orphanage. He wintered his cattle at the farm near Conrich, but “summered” them at the Orphanage at Morley. Still in his teens, late each spring Richard trailed the cattle from the farm to the Orphanage at Morley and then back again in the fall. He could ride the distance without the cattle in one day, but it took two long days with the cattle.

In 1938 Richard purchased some Hudson’s Bay land at the south end of the Keystone Valley and on the north side of the Ghost River. His Uncle Carl then gave up the Orphanage at Morley and the cattle summer pasture was moved to a grazing lease on the Forest Reserve just west of the land that Richard had purchased. Richard kept up the tradition of trailing the cattle to the farm at Conrich in the fall, wintering them there, and then trailing them back to the summer pasture on the Forest Reserve just west of the Keystone Valley. He divided his time between ranching at his own place and the farming chores required near Conrich.

After a time of living in a one-room log cabin Richard, along with his uncle and some friends, built a house, garage, and barn on the land that he had purchased. He then quit trailing the cattle from Conrich to his place, as he raised some feed on his land and trucked the rest that was required from the farm. In 1950, Richard married Donna Johnson, a local girl from a neighbouring ranch. By this time, he had expanded his place and had cleared enough land to keep the cattle here, and raise enough feed to make it through the winter. He did not farm anymore at Conrich after his mother died in 1951. He left the farming to his uncles.

Richard worked hard at the ranching business and built up a very fine herd of Hereford cattle, which was his favourite breed. He would often relate stories about a particular bull or cow that had a bit of a mean streak in them. The animals occasionally kept the neighboring townsiters (as he would call them) from the Guy Gibson hamlet of Benchlands, up a tree all afternoon.

Richard had the knowledge and mechanical ability to fix most anything that was broken, or make a new piece to fix whatever if required. If he wasn’t checking cows, fixing fence or putting up winter feed he was making or inventing some piece of equipment that would make life just a little easier. For example, when the 6-bale stooker was invented by industry, Richard didn’t buy one, he made one!

 

Richard always made time if somebody needed a helping hand. As the land he owned bordered the Stoney Indian Rabbit Lake Reserve, he always had a good rapport with the Indians (sic), and they respected him as well. He always enjoyed a good party or a good joke. He would be the first person on the dance floor at a party, and would not go home until he had danced with every lady at the party. He worked hard at everything he did. He and Donna raised three boys all of whom worked on the ranch until they finished their education, both primary and post secondary education.

Unfortunately, Richard developed a brain tumor which cut his life short in December of 1989.

Donna Butters continued to live on the ranch and work with her horses, riding in Dressage shows and continuing on with ranch life. At the present time Donna, now into her later 70’s still continues to keep her horse at an arena, and rides 2-3 times a week during the winter months. During the summer months, she keeps her horse at home and still rides most days.

Richard and Donna’s youngest son Ian passed away when he was just 19. Their other two sons, Lamont and Erik, both attended post secondary school and then continued on with life.

Lamont worked on the family ranch throughout his school years and then for about four years after graduating. He then attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology graduating from Mechanical Engineering. He worked in the oil and gas industry up until the present, and is currently employed with a Consulting Engineering Company as a Rotating Equipment Specialist.

Lamont has a keen interest in music, taking accordion lessons and trumpet lessons at an early age and then continuing to teach himself the piano, guitar, and banjo. He started playing for house parties and community dances with his uncle and then went on to having his own band for about 15 years.

He obtained his pilot’s license in 1985 and subsequently purchased his own airplane which he keeps at the family ranch. He uses it for various trips, which include looking for missing cattle on the summer grazing range.

Lamont picked up his father’s ability to repair broken machinery and quite often comes home to find some piece of equipment in the yard with one word scribbled on a piece of cardboard and stuck to the equipment – “fix”.

Lamont still has a keen interest in the ranch life. He has broke several horses and broke some to be trustworthy rope horses in a branding corral, although in the early stages he provided some entertainment for the branding crew. He still lives on the family ranch and is willing to help out when asked, either at home or neighboring ranches.

Dale Butters is the only son of Lamont Butters and the male grandchild of Richard and Donna Butters. He also has a keen interest in the ranch life and especially enjoys when “Uncle Erik” asks him to help move cows and help at the branding.

Dale excels in sports, with his biggest interest in playing hockey. He has always lead or been near the top in the scoring race in the league that he plays in.

Although at this time Dale is still quite young, he has a strong sense of where he is, and a sharp memory of land marks to ensure he knows where he is when he is out riding with his Dad in the bush.

Erik continued ranching on the family ranch, raising beef cattle and participating in many activities in the community and in the cattle industry. He married Wendy Fenton and they raised two daughters, Erin born in 1978 and Alyssa born in 1980. The girls attended school in Cochrane and also volunteered in community events.

Erin attended the University of Lethbridge for her undergraduate degree and has completed her Masters Degree in Psychology at the University of Calgary. In 2001 she married Darcy Scott and they ranch with Erik on the original Butters homestead. They have two children Katie, age six and Samuel “Sam” (named after his great grandfather Sam Scott) who is three years old. Alyssa graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Saskatoon. She presently works for Dr. Wayne Burwash in Springbank in Equine Veterinary Services. In June 2007, Alyssa married Jake Krol, from the Cochrane area and they live at Water Valley.

In 2002, Erik and his family were honored with a Federal Environmental Award for their constant care of the land, water and environment in their ranching operation.

Deep Dive

Shirley Klassen Dianne Klassen

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Shirley Margaret Klassen

Page 549 More Big Hill Country 2009

I was born in Didsbury in 1934 and was nine months old when we moved to Cochrane. I graduated from the Cochrane School in 1951 when W.K. Gish was principal and also a wonderful teacher. I belonged to the choir and C.G .I.T. of St. Andrew’s United Church, the choir being under the very capable direction of Miriam Callaway. One of our highlights was singing “The Hallelujah Chorus” at a C.G.I.T. gathering in Knox United Church in Calgary. Miriam’s primary classes always took top place in the Kiwanis Music Festival.

Father J. Lessard was a great influence in Cochrane. He started the Girl Guides, appointing four patrol leaders, of which I was one and, after he was made an honorary Indian (sic) chief our summer camp was in a teepee. I recall that our parents had quite a time erecting those big tentpoles, but we girls had quite a good time. He also was instrumental in the sale of Canada Savings Bonds during the war, and in forming the Jr. Red Cross. He picked one representative from each of the four schoolrooms (Edward Sibbald, Shirley Klassen, Bill Beynon and Marian Allan) and took us to Calgary to present a cheque to Miss Pinkham of the Red Cross. Thanks to him, I enjoyed the Bing Crosby movies “Going My Way” and “The Bells of St. Mary’s” in Calgary theaters. I often stopped at the manse on my way to school for a game of crib or the card game “Russian Bank”, both of which I learned from him. He started publication of the Cochrane Old Timer and ran off copies on the gestetner in the manse. I received the grand sum of 35 cents every two weeks for delivering all the town papers.

I was attending Mount Royal College in 1951 when Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured. After I stood in line for over two hours just to watch their car pass by, I realized that I should have been in Cochrane to see them being presented with a Roland Gissing painting. I have a Gissing painting which he gave to Dad as payment for some work or repairs that he had done. His large paintings were also showcased on the Cochrane float which was entered in the Calgary Stampede Parade at that time. We used to visit the Gissings and marvel at his model train layout which Gissings and marvel at his model train layout which ran around the outside of his home.

One thing I really missed when I left home was the thick, thick cream that the farmer’s brought to the store every week, usually too thick to pour so it had to be spooned out. Corn flakes have never tasted so good, nor have I ever developed a taste for pasteurized milk!

I remember Dewey Blaney, Nick Cosis, Yee Lee’s Laundry, Brodie’s Barber Shop, the brickyard and creamery, Dave Murray’s blacksmith shop, George Bunney’s milk delivery by horse and wagon. I enjoyed visiting with our next-door neighbour, George Hope, well known for his large garden and lots of horseradish but especially for coloring Easter eggs with onionskins. He called me “Little Barney”. I also remember the burning of Mussolini in effigy after VE Day.

Upon completion of my secretarial course at Mount Royal College, I worked for Imperial Oil Limited in Calgary for five years. I married Derek Lowe from Natal, British Columbia in 1955. The shower and reception were in the Oddfellows’ Hall and the wedding in St. Andrew’s United Church with Rev. Thompson officiating. Lois Callaway was soloist and Dianne (ten years old) was junior bridesmaid.

We have five children: Susan (1957), Rick (1959), Brad (1964), Brian (1966), and Jeff (1967), and seven grandchildren. Derek suffered a fatal heart attack while we were vacationing in Hawaii in 1995. I later married W J. (John) Fenton and have resided in Kelowna since then.

Dianne Joy Klassen

I was born on October 27, 1944. I attended Cochrane School until the end of grade nine. One year our class was held in the Community Hall. School didn’t start until ome time in October that year because of the danger of Polio.

Most of my early memories of Cochrane involve wandering around the countryside with Sharon Phipps on foot, horseback, skis or bike. After moving to Calgary in 1957, I attended William Aberhart High School, and then the University of Calgary, where I received a Master of Arts in Elementary Education. In 1966 I married W.B.G. (Bill) Weeks. I was employed by the Calgary Public School Board as a teacher and administrator for 32 years prior to retiring in 1997.

Deep Dive

Spanning the Gap: The Mystery Bridge at Ghost Lake

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Can you help identifying this bridge?

In February of 2023 we published this picture from Big Hill Country. We soon were asked where this bridge was? Do you know?
Ghost River bridge 1927-28

The title said Ghost River Bridge 1927. But the structure and river level confused me. I did not recognize it.  Our go-to Cochrane resident, Gordon Davies, also came up with no answer.

I first thought this is a railway bridge which sent me down the wrong path for quite a while.

In 2024 we published this photo which looked suspiciously familiar.

Notice the water level is very different.

I used Google Earth for an aerial view. That confirmed what I thought I already knew. No such bridge currently exists.

Eventually, I thought about a trip out to the dam to investigate.

I took some pictures and video from the parking lot at the Ghost Dam Reservoir. I thought I may be able to match the hills in the background.

Then I saw this. The concrete pilings looked very familiar. The bridge length didn’t seem right, but the shape of those pilings was spot on.

Ghost dam construction Glenbow Archives PA-895-7

The photo from Glenbow clearly shows the location of the old bridge from the Dam construction site.

Then I typed a poorly formed prompt into ChatGPT and got the answer below.

Here’s what’s known about it:

  • It was constructed as part of infrastructure development around the creation of the Ghost Lake Dam and reservoir in the late 1920s. 

  • The bridge used a Pratt truss design typical of late-19th and early-20th-century engineering, and it was built between 1927 and 1928 — exactly when your image notes the construction taking place. 

  • It carried traffic over the Ghost River near the future site of the reservoir, before the lake filled following dam completion in 1929. 

Unfortunately, the original structure no longer exists in that form today (later replacements and highway realignments have removed or obscured many early bridge remnants), but historians and local heritage groups recognize the photograph as representing that early Ghost River crossing near Ghost Lake.

I believe this information came from the summer village, Cottage Club.

Deep Dive

Kline Family

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Page 550 More Big Hill Country 2009

Robert and Lavina Fenton came from Ontario in the late 1800’s, a United Empire Loyalist family with 13 children. There had been 14 children, but a younger sibling passed away as a very young girl. There was Gertrude ( our Great Grandmother), Gladstone (Slim), Lloyd, Dan, Wellington,Archie (who died as a young man cowboying in B.C) Ore, John (Lou Beadle’s Dad), Mary (married name Downs), Maude, Rose, Em and Mildred.

Great Grandmother Gertrude often stated she was a Pennsylvania Dutch, which indicates the Fenton family originally came from Pennsylvania. The people of the Pennsylvania Dutch were either of Irish or German origin.

Great Grandmother Gertrude (Jenny Lynn) married Gus Culling in 1917 and homesteaded on Dog Pound Creek, which was Leask’s land and now owned by the family of Steel Jewellers (Pat Steel). Gus came from Sprague Washington through Crossfield to the Dogpound area where they homesteaded. Gus and Gertrude moved in the spring of 1920 to where Walter and Kay Wearmouth presently live. They had three girls. Bertha married Harry Irvine and had 7 children; twins Ron and Don, Gordon, Shirley, Trudy, Gail and Roberta. Bertha passed away at the age of 58 years old. Our

Grandmother Ruth married Ernest (Bus) Kline and had 3 children; Marie, Jim (our Dad) and Doris. The third girl was Mabel who passed away at between 6 and 9 months of weeping eczema and pneumorua. Mabel was buried in a beautiful pink coffm that Gus made for her and she was placed in the coffin in her christening gown. Mabel is buried in the Cochrane Cemetery.

Great Uncle John was a favourite uncle of Grandmother Ruth’s. He had a large family which consisted of; Ruby, Marie Luella, Viola (Toots), Eva, Robert, Elmer, Earl, Art, Jack and Jim. Great Uncle John homesteaded where Marion and Bert Powlesland now have their ranch.

Great Aunt Mary married into the Downs family and they had lots of children. The Downs family is related to the current family of Beynon’s in the Cochrane area.

Bus Kline, our grandfather, was born in Calgary and then his mother took him to the Madden district. She then moved to Crossfield and married Georoe b McLeod. Bus had two half brothers named Ben and Bill, and a full brother named Jim, who married Annie. Jim and Annie had only one boy, Ernest, who worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway and lived in Medicine Hat. Jim died of cancer. There was a full sister named Adeline who married Jim Mitchell and they had three children; Alec, Jim and Florence. The family lived in Nordegg and Adeline is buried there.

Ruth Mary Culling (born November 9, 1920) and Ernest Bus Kline (born April 17, 1908) met at the Dogpound Rodeo dance. Even though Ruth was young, Bus was in love on first sight. They married on July 9, 1938 when Ruth was 17 years old and Bus was 30 years old. Ruth was extremely headstrong and was very determined to marry Bus even with such an age difference between the two, no matter what her family thought. Bus was totally enthralled with Ruth, even though at the time it was quite scandalous the age difference between the two.

They lived in various places starting with:

1) Frank Hutchinson’s land for 10 years, where Bus trapped. He was famous for his trap lines and was often asked by Ranchers to trap animals that were causing problems. He made a living off trapping and had his picture displayed for years in the Fish and Wildlife office in Cochrane, where he had trapped six white muskrats.

2) Torn Morrison’s place outside of Madden for 2 years.

3) Burt Clayton’s place located 13 miles west of Airdrie.

4) They purchased the Elwood Quarter from Cleo Riley owner of the Sunset Ranch. The Elwood Quarter was purchased with a handshake agreement that Ruth and Bus would send their children to the Lochend School instead of boarding school. The first children to attend the Lochend School were Donald and Pat Hutchinson, Vance, Roger and Sylvia Riley and Marie, Jim and Doris Kline. One of their teacher’s was Miss Kulyk, who is presently known as Sunni, Bobbie Turner’s wife.

Marie has four children; Teri-Lee, Jackie, Bill, John and five grandchlldren. Marie is married to Arnold Elm and they live in Newbrook, Alberta.

Doris married Herb Holstein and they lived at Crossfield for at least 35 years. They had two children, Joe and Herb Junior, and five grandchildren. Doris and Herb bought a quarter section and retired in the beautiful country of Wildwood, Alberta.

Grandmother Ruth was creative, resourceful and had a knack of making a meal or a gift seem like it was beautiful and special. She rode horses all of her life and loved to compete in gymkhana events. Ruth rode almost to the end of her life on her well-trained black horse called “Lightning”. Grandfather Bus loved to participate in hockey and would walk for mjles with his equipment, just to have a chance to play his all time favourite sport! Many folks stated if there had been the NHL in Bus’s younger years, he would have played professional hockey. In Bus’s senior years, he would watch all the hockey games on TV and always knew the score!

Ruth and Bus sold the Elwood Quarter to Dennis Wearmouth who presently still owns and ranches the land. Then they purchased Charlie Robinson’s dairy farm which was located approximately 2 miles east of Cochrane on the top of the Cochrane Hill. Ruth and Bus purchased a beautiful retirement home in the west side of Airdrie. Bus continued to work for the Municipality of Rockyview on upkeep of the roads.

The bonds of love were so strong between Bus and Ruth that they passed away within a week of each other. Ruth passed away on November 30, 1998 and Bus passed away on December 3, 1998. The family believes that Bus died of a broken heart that he always wanted to be with Ruth. Bus had cancer. They had been married for over 60 years. They rest side by side in the Cochrane Cemetery, and it is a comfort to know that they will always be together. Bus and Ruth are survived by 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

James Ernest Kline (born November 11, 1941) and Jeannie Queen (born July 16, 1938) married on June 10, 1961, in Calgary. They had four children: Cindy Marie (born April 23, 1962), Donna Lynn (born August 22, 1963), Wendy Jean (born March 10, 1968) and Bradley James (April 8, 1969). All four children attended Andrew Sibbald Elementary School, Manachaban Middle School and Cochrane High School.

Jim and Jeannie Kline took over operation of the dairy farm that milked up to 250 head of Holsteins twice a day. The dairy farm was located where the wind blows so hard that once the tar/gravel roof actually blew off of the family home! The dairy farm was operated till 1980, and then the land turned into numerous acreages.

Jim Kline currently resides 4 miles north of the James River Store on a ranch between Sundre and Caroline. He has been working in Real Estate for the past 35 years, specializing in farm/ranch/acreage sales. He also works part-time at two transfer sites, one is the Crammond area and the other one is west of Sundre. He enjoys camping/horseback riding in the Ya Ha Tinda. Jim loves to curl, western dancing and traveling.

Jeannie Kline has resided in Cochrane for 47 years and is well known by many of the ranching/farming old-timer families. Jeannie currently has worked at the Cochrane Bethany Care for over 15 years in the residential component of the centre, working the evening shifts. She often knows the folks coming to reside in the centre and that provides them with a strong sense of comfort, belonging and a friendly face. Jeannie loves going to work and strongly feels she provides a valuable service to the people residing at Bethany Care Centre. Jeannie is an avid reader of western, war history, the supernatural/haunting stories, books/articles pertaining to the Royal family of England and any information regarding Scotland. Jeanie’s maiden name was Queen and her Mom (Elizabeth Wilson, who emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland) and Dad (Andrew Mitchell Queen, who was McQueen in Scotland but changed to Queen when immigratjng to Canada from Ben Hare, Lancashire, Scotland- known as the Highlands).

Cindy Marie Kline married Ronald William Renwick on July 6, 1985 at the Cochrane United Church, during a heat wave of plus 30 degree Celsius. Ron and Cindy travelled, backpacking style, for a year in 1987-88. They travelled on the South Pacific Tour, which included Tahiti Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii. Cindy completed a two-year diploma as a Rehabilitation Practitioner at Red Deer College and numerous courses at the University of Calgary towards an Education Degree. In 1980, Cindy had the honour of being the Country Days Queen of Cochrane an event that was put on by the Cochrane Chamber of Commerce. One of Cindy’s social and education highlights was completing a two-month practicum at the Western Comer project (a unique short-term respite home for children with disabilities) in Witney, Oxfordshire, England. Cindy currently is a Manager of Graduated Supports, an organization that operates 12 homes and leisure programs for adults and children with disabilities. 

She has worked with/for people with disabilities since the age of 18 years old. Graduated Supports was the proud recipient of the prestigious Premier’ s Award of Excellence Silver Award 2004 from the Government of Alberta. Cindy enjoys horseback riding, skiing, water skiing, camping, reading, travelling, boating and writing.

Ron completed a two-year diploma in commercial arts at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, a blacksmithing program in Mineral Wells, Texas and locksmith curriculum. He operated Grease Creek Ranch Firewood, Equine Ferrier Services (trimming and shoeing horses) and “No Worries Services” (handyman jobs and one-man construction jobs) in Cochrane and surrounding areas. Ron is the co-owner of Keywest Security & Alarms, which has operated in Cochrane/Calgary and surrounding area for 12 successful years. Keywest expanded in 2005 and has an office in Rocky Mountain House. Greg McCauig is the co-owner of Keywest and he resides south of Rocky Mountain House. Greg resides on an acreage with his wife Heather and two sons Colten and Cody. Ron enjoys golf, horseback riding, snowboarding, hockey, camping, reading, t:raveljng, boating, wake boarding and drawing. Ron’s parents are Shirley and Bob Renwick who came from Milestone, Saskatchewan to the Water Valley area to ranch in the fall of 1977. The Grease Creek Ranch was directly west of Water Valley and was known as the Salisbury place. Currently, Shirley and Bob live in Cochrane. Bob worked for DAN CAN Const:Iuction Ltd. for approximately 10 years. He is a Real Estate agent working for Mapleland Homes Inc. and Cochrane Remax West Real Estate. Shirley works at Bethany Care Centre on the residential side, mostly evening shifts for 15 years. I know when Mom (Jeanie) is working my second Mom (Shirley) is not and visa versa at the Cochrane Bethany Care Centre. Both Moms are a godsend in helping with all of their grandchildren.

Bob’s Mom and Dad were Mabel (maiden name Monson) and Harvey T. Renwick. The family descended from Scotland. Shirley’s Mom and Dad were Rose Brock (maiden name Bankey) and Willis Brock. The family descended from Hungary, Austria, Ireland and Scotland.

Ron and Cindy have two children, Montana Lynn born December 27, 1990 and Jesse James born June 10, 1994. Montana loves to play ringette! She was honoured with the Unsung Hero Award for the Junior team. Montana was awarded because of her dedication seen in few players as she is always at practice, never down on the team and always plays her best. Currently, Montana is the captain of the Cochrane Rockies Belle team. She enjoys snow boarding, swimming, snorkelling, wake boarding, horseback riding, traveling, music, drawing/painting, boating and the computer. Jesse loves to play both hockey and football and is very athletic in both sports. He enjoys snow boarding, horseback riding, golfing, wake boarding, swimming, snorkelling, traveling, boating and drawing. Ron and Cindy own a picturesque acreage west of Cochrane. The home was the original residence of Don and June Courville, who have lived west of Cochrane all of their lives. There is the Courville Road named in honour of the Courville family who have resided there since the turn of the century. The Courville Road connects off of the Jamison Road west of Cochrane.

Donna Lynn Kline married Philip John Rasberry on April 29, 2006 at the Beaupre Community Centre. They were married by the Cowboy Minister, Doug Richards. Donna has two beautiful girls; Victoria Emela Bergeron born May 11, 1994 and Danielle Elizabeth Bergeron born November 17, 1991. Victoria enjoys dancing, drama, drawing and camping. Danielle enjoys cross country skiing, snowboarding and camping. Phil has two daughters and two sons; Jay Alexander Rasberry born May 16, 1980, Bradley John Smith Rasberry born January 8, 1983, Victoria Tressa Margaret Rasberry born May 3, 1984 and Leanne Elizabeth Rasberry born May 30 1986. Phil’s parents are Gordon John and Margaret Helen Rasberry who reside in GlenEagles, Cochrane and originally came from Hamilton, Ontario. Donna completed a diploma in Medical Assistant Unit Clerk Specialist. Phil has had a lucrative and long-standing career in ales and currently works as Operations Manager for JNE Retail. Donna enjoys reading skiing, swimming, camping, horseback riding, traveling and time with family. Phil is an avid and successful hunter who ha travelled extensively to hunt in remote locations of Canada. He enjoys camping horseback riding, traveling and time with family. Donna and Phil own a home in Okotoks, Alberta.

Wendy Lynn Kline married Dennis Brandt September 4th 1999. Wendy completed a two-year diploma in Hospitality and Tourism with a major in marketing and minor in accounting at Red Deer College. Wendy has been the Office Manager at Big Hill Veterinarian Services for the past 11 years. She currently i in her third year of her Nursing Degree at Mount Royal College. Wendy enjoys reading, horseback riding, swimming, boating, hiking, camping animal/nature music and traveling. Dennis’s Mom was Karen Brandt who passed away in November 1996. The family i originally from Rosebud, Alberta. Dennis is a very successful and established contractor who has completed numerous large construction project through out Alberta and British Columbia Dennis enjoy quading, camping, reading, golfing, boating and traveling. Dennis and Wendy own a home in Tuscany Calgary.

 

Bradley James Kline married Corinne Lee Flasha on September 17, 2005 at the Royal Alberta Museum.

Glenora one of the first areas of Edmonton. Corinne’s parents are Debra Lee Flasha (maiden name Kowal) and Clifford John Flasha originally from the Boil area. Both were born at the Athabasca Hospital. Brad and Corrine are the proud parents of a gorgeous baby boy, Brock Bradley Kline, born on May 30, 2006. Brock is a good-looking boy who is strong boned and a risk taker like his Dad! Bradley has been a longstanding police officer for the Edmonton City Police since 1995. He currently works in the forensic department. Brad completed a Bachelor of Psychology with a minor in sociology and arts at the University of Calgary. Brad started playing football with Bearspaw Lions bantam football League. He also played with the Cochrane Cobras during his High School years. Brad won the most valuable football player for the final winning game and the best defence player for the district of Rockyview in 1986 while playing for the Cobras. He went on to play with the Calgary Colts, winning the Canadian Championship A.J. Gillespie trophy in 1988 and 1989 when they won the Canadian Bowl and received champion rings. He also played for the University of Alberta Golden Bears in 1987 and went to the western final league.

Corinne has been a police officer for the Edmonton City Police since July 2001. She has a two-year diploma in Police and Security with a police major at Grant McEwen College. Brad enjoys travelling, keeping fit and watching sports, mainly football. Corinne enjoys traveling, snow skiing, reading, keeping fit and looking after her family. Brad, Corinne and Brock own in a home in Edmonton.

Joseph and Alice Boston

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Page 357 Big Hill Country 1977

Joe Boston and his brother came from Cheshire, England, in search of their father, whom they found working on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway line at Canmore. Joe went to work as an engineer on the railroad, then worked in the Canmore mines before homesteading at Grand Valley on the SWÂĽ 36-26-5-5 in 1894. The Betsy Line which ran through Joe’s homestead was in operation at that time, and he was the engineer of “Old Betsy”, the little locomotive that hauled logs to the sawmill, and clay to the kilns, at Mitford. Joe bought the NEÂĽ 25 from the C.P.R., south of him, and altogether he had some excellent hay land.

Alice Coomber, a sister of Mrs. Dicky Smith, came over from England as Lady Adela’s maid, and she and Joe were married shortly after. T

The Bostons raised horses, cattle and pigs. During the Depression Joe kept his steers, mostly dairy breed with horns, until they were five or six years old, hoping the price would go up. Most of the steers looked like Texas Longhorns. He once kept a sow until it was so big that he had to take the end out of the building to get her out.

Having no children of their own, the Bostons took in orphans to help with the work. The boys found Joe to be an ornery old customer, but that changed when Walter came. He took it out of Joe’s hide down in the stable, and from then on Walter could do no wrong. He was the whitehaired boy, and took the name of Boston. Joe filed on the NEÂĽ 18-27-5-5 for Walter.

Walter attended Grand Valley School, and joined the 16th Field Ambulance Corps during World War I. He was killed in action on April 16, 1919, and was buried in Siberia.

 

We may insert photos from our collection or from other sources from time to time. This is the case with this article.

Mark Boothby
BOSTON, Walter Photo Veterans Affairs

Joe and Alice were hospitable people and made all visitors welcome. On a hot summer day during the Depression, they would bring out the supreme treat – a large, cool tin of tomatoes.

Joe was a great admirer of William Aberhart. With his crystal set and headphones he listened to every Prophetic Bible broadcast. And – Aha Twenty-five dollars a month with Social Credit elected!

Although they lived beyond their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Alice Boston did not have an easy life.

Although the first car in the Cochrane district was a small steam car owned by the Cochrane Ranche, Joe Boston was the first to have a car in Grand Valley. In 1907 he bought a two-cylinder Maxwell. It would go ten to fifteen miles an hour, but did not have much power in high gear. When Joe came to a hill he turned the car around and backed up. The car was sold to Ken Cohoe for ten dollars in 1945. Ken renovated it, and it is now in Stan Reynold’s Museum at Wetaskiwin.

It is believed that Joe was one of the first members of the Calgary Volunteer Fire Brigade before the Calgary Fire Department was organized. Presumably he must have been living in the city at the time.

Alice Boston passed away in the Canmore Hospital in 1944, and was buried in Canmore. Joe remarried, and he and his wife, the former Violet Emily Aellen, lived in Calgary. Joe passed away October 2, 1951, and Emily passed away December 10, 1973.

Deep Dive

James Walker

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 Who was James Walker? He does have a street in Cochrane named after him. We’ll research his history to tell the story of one of Cochrane and Alberta’s early pioneers.

James Walker Trail

Born in Carluke, Upper Canada in 1846 James Walker was Superintendent with the North-West Mounted Police when he retired to take the Manager position of the Cochrane Ranche Company in 1881.

“In the spring of 1881, plans were made to purchase the first herd of cattle for the Cochrane Ranche* Major Walker was sent to Montana, where he obtained six thousand eight hundred head at an average price of eighteen dollars per head with the understanding that the Montana ranchers from whom they were bought would deliver them to the boundary”

History of the Cochrane Area D.E. Brown 1951

After a couple of seasons of disastrous losses, he resigned in 1882 and was replaced by W.D. Kerfoot.

Walker purchased the Cochrane Ranche sawmill and moved it to Calgary who furnished the area with lumber. He later took his plant to Kananaskis.

“For the next three decades Walker’s contributions to the growth of early Calgary were incalculable. As an early proponent of mixed farming, he was one of the first serious agricultural experimentalists in the area. His Bow River Saw and Planing Mills was a major supplier of construction materials for the developing town, including its new NWMP barracks in 1883. A JP and notary public, he chaired the committee that pressed for town incorporation in 1884. The following year he was named first president of the Board of Trade, was the driving force behind the establishment of Calgary’s first school district, organized a home guard to protect the town during the North-West uprising, and installed the town’s first telephones, between his office and his mill two miles away. In 1886 Walker, the founding president of the Calgary District Agricultural Society, was instrumental in securing federal land for exhibition purposes. The first local supply of natural gas was discovered on his property in 1908, and he made use of it to heat his residence. Walker organized the Boy Scout Association of Alberta, served as its president, and played a formative role in the local cadet movement. In 1905 he had established the city’s first militia unit, the 15th Light Horse, and been appointed its lieutenant-colonel. For several years he was president of the Alberta Provincial Rifle Association. James Walker remained active to the end. Following his return to Calgary, he engaged in a variety of businesses. With his son, William James Selby, he ran an investment, insurance, and real-estate agency. As well, in the 1920s he was president or vice-president of three oil companies. He also maintained his military connections, being honorary colonel on the adjutant-general’s cadet committee in Ottawa and, from 1911, honorary lieutenant-colonel of the 23rd Alberta Rangers. His sudden death in 1936, just before his 90th birthday, marked the passing of the last officer from the historic Long March of 1874 and the longest-serving militia officer in the country. With his fine physique, military bearing, and practical intelligence, Walker was in many ways the quintessential frontiersman. He was a man of daring and courage, a natural leader who gravitated to what had to be done. In early Calgary, he represented an organizational focus for the building of fledgling institutions. To the hundreds who knew and respected him, he was “Major” and later “Colonel” Walker. To the natives with whom he dealt, he was Pee-tee-quack-kee – “the eagle that protects.” In 1975, he was named Calgary’s “Citizen of the Century,” a title well earned and well deserved."

Dictionary of Canadian Biography written by Max Foran

Deep Dive

JACK AND TOOTIE POYNTER, HOLLOWOOD RANCH – by Tootie Poynter page 345 Big Hill Country 1977

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In the 1930s Jack Poynter worked for Arthur Crawford. While there he broke a number of Arthur’s famous Clydesdale horses. Even the stallion was broke to harness.

In the spring of 1938, Jack and I were married at the Nazarene Church in Calgary. With very little money, three saddle horses and lots of ambition we decided to build the Hollowood Store. We were ready for business in June but to make ends meet Jack hayed with Ian McKinnon at Mr.Wright’s Ranch, presently known as the Two Rivers Ranch, and I cooked dinners for twenty-two government men for about a month while looking after the store.

Sometime before, my dad, who was renting the Poynter Ranch, had been hurt while working in Calgary. In October 1938 he decided it would be better for him if he and Mom took over the store and Jack and I managed the Ranch.

By this time Jack owned all the Poynter property, an acreage was surveyed ~rnd the acreage and store were deeded to my folks.

We were both interested in horses and were able to accumulate a number of them by trading and dealing with Joe Allen and Bob McDougall.

The nine hundred acre Spencer Creek Ranch bordered our land and we leased this property for seventeen years. Ace Charters, who came to stay with us, helped Jack break saddle horses.

During World War II, we started a Dude Ranch. Many of our weekend guests were Canadian girls in the Air Force and Airmen from Australia, New Zealand and England who had come to Canada for their training.

On December 27, 1943, Pilot Officers Pete Levy and Slim Somerville from Melbourne, Australia, stayed with us for ten days. It was so cold they only rode one day with Jack when he went to visit our neighbor, Jerr Cotterell. Jim Storey, an English Officer, stayed with us the following Easter.

A year later we received a letter from Jim Storey, who was stationed in Burma, telling us, A group of young Air Force Officers who were spending Christmas in Burma, were in a canteen and he heard someone comparing the hot humid weather with the cold he had experienced last year in Canada at the Hollowood Ranch. He introduced himself to Pete Levy and they enjoyed reminiscing the good times they had in Canada at the Poynters.

These were happy and interesting times but there was a lot of work cooking, and all the washing was done on the scrub board.

For twenty-three years, we supplied the people at the Ghost Dam with milk by milking six to eight cows. We cut ice on the Ghost Dam in winter and used it to keep our milk cool in summer.

Our son, John, v. as born December 28, 1938. When he was five years old he was an active rider. One day when he took a group of riders on a trail ride around Brooks’ Sawmill and the Wildcat Hills, he decided to take a short cut home and became lost in the dark timber. He assured his companions his horse would take them home and it did.

By 1948 Jack worked permanently for Calgary Power, so we sold our cattle and most of our horses. Some of our horses and equipment went to Simpson’s Outfitters at Lake Louise.

On .January 28, 1954, when John was fifteen years old, our daughter, Linda, was born.

In 1958 Johnny married Suzy Richards. Their wedding took place at the McDougall Church on the Morley Indian Reserve. They have three children, Rose Marie, Gary and Jerry. John works at the Petrofina Gas Plant and lives in the Beaupre district.

In 1963 I started raising registered Samoyed dogs for a hobby. We broke some of them to harness and at times used four of them on a sleigh to travel. This was so unusual in this area, they were shown on television ..

The last few years Jack has suffered from painful arthritis in both hips and has had to give up horseback riding. He had both hips replaced in 1972 and both operations were successful.

Linda married David Beddoes in the Cochrane United Church, in 1973, and they live in the Crossfield area.

Jack and I are active in the Beaupre Community Association and The Ghost River Pony Club. I served as Regional School Trustee for Beaupre, was President of the Parent Teacher Association for the Cochrane School and was President for the Cochrane Girl Guides and Brownies. I wrote the Beaupre news for the Rocky View News for eighteen years.

Jack and I were one of the first Appaloosa Breeders in Alberta. In 1942 we bought a grey stallion with black spots on his hindquarters from Chet Ogan of Canmore. This horse changed colour as he matured. We used this stallion to increase our herd when we were operating a Dude Ranch near the Ghost Dam; the result was foals of various colors.

Well-known Calgary horseman, Harry Jacques, identified the stallion as an Appaloosa. The stallion was my saddle horse and I refused to sellhim. Through the efforts of Mr. Jacques, we were able to register the horse as “Sonny Boy” number 261 in the Appaloosa Club at Moscow, Idaho. He was the first Appaloosa registered from Canada.

We purchased some well-bred mares and produced some fine colts, with characteristic appaloosa markings, that included two stallions,

“Speckle Boy” and “Ghost River Son.” Jim Wyatt, an interested Appaloosa breeder from High River, bought these two stallions.

We found that a great deal of travelling, work, time, and money was necessary to establish the breed, so we sold all but three registered Appaloosa mares; one of these was “Ghost River Lady” better known as “Cheyenne” who was a full sister to “Speckle Boy.” She is owned by ourson, John and has won a number of ribbons at horse shows as a top little stake horse. Her daughter, “Ghost River Cheyenne”, is also owned by our son. Cheyenne’s granddaughter, “Ghost River Tiki Bar”, is owned by our daughter, Mrs. Linda Beddoes. Ghost River Cheyenne and Ghost River Tiki Bar are still competing and won the Reserve Champion andGrand Champion ribbons at the 1974 Didsbury Horse Show.

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wyatt put a great deal of time and effort into promoting the Appaloosa Breed in Canada and it became a Canadian Registered Breed in 1961. Over the years, Wyatts sold a number of horses to Hollywood and the well-known rodeo clown, Slim Pickens, was the first to ride one of these horses in a Western Movie. In 1974 Wyatts sold a stallion to a breeder in New Zealand.

Henry and Barbara Whitfield Family

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Page 801 More Big Hill Country 2009

Our paternal grand parents Robert and Mary Alice Whitfield and Grandpa1s brother William homesteaded in the Cochrane area, and our Great-Grandparents, also lived here briefly. However, Dad was the only member of the family that made Cochrane his home. His elder brother Robert lived in Alix, Alberta until his death in 1975 and younger brother George lived most of his life in Nevis, Alberta, however was living in Iowa when he passed away in 2003.

Mom’s parents, Joseph and Maude Bowhay, moved to the farm on the Retreat Road in 1929 after first settling in the Symons Valley area in 1915. Mom’s brother Gordon farmed on the Lochend Road for many years before moving to Bergen in 1972. Gordon passed away in 1999.

Dad and Mom married in 1937. Initially Dad worked “in the bush” for Paul Swanson. With the exception of the war years when he served in the RCAF, they lived on the dairy farm on the Retreat Road from 1938 through to the end of their lives. Dad worked for our Grandparents and then carried on after Grandma passed away. We sold the cows in 1970 and that allowed our parents to enjoy a long and happy retirement, which included several trips.

Dad may have been retired but he didn’t stop working. He worked around the place and served as a civilian guard for the RCMP until he was 78.

He also worked to serve his community. He served as secretary-treasurer of All Saints Anglican Church for 35 years; worked to build Cochrane’s first arena; served on committees for the Big Hill Lodge, and spearheaded the development of Evergreen Manor, an apartment building for seniors. The Chamber of Commerce honoured Dad with a Community Builder Award in 1983 and the Cochrane Legion awarded him a Life Membership for his work on the Manor. The Town of Cochrane named a small park in his honour after his passing. The awards may have had his name on them but it was a team effort all the way with Mom as his greatest supporter.

They were unswerving in their devotion to the family and had a profound influence on all the grandchildren. Their home was always a very welcoming place and the tea kettle was always on. Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1987. Dad passed away in 1992 and Mom in 1997. Both are buried in the Field of Honour at the Cochrane Cemetery.

Deep Dive

Dave and Alex Argo

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Page 649 Big Hill Country 1977

The Argo brothers came to the district later to be known as Weedon, about 1903.  Dave homesteaded the NE¼ of 16-27-4-5 and Alex took up the adjoining NW¼.

Dave built the log house which still stands today on a grassy knoll; no doubt he hauled the logs from Quigley’ s sawmill in the bush some 12 miles northwest. It is known that he helped his neighbours, Charlie Webb and Sam Timmins, to build their log houses about the same time.

Alex joined up at the outbreak of war in 1914. He was killed in action shortly after entering  Active Service, whereupon Dave immediately left the farm and joined up. He, too, was killed in action early in the war. It is believed that Dave and Alex‘s parents were living on Dave‘s farm when the news of his death was received. It was a heartbreaking message for someone from Cochrane to deliver.

Photos Courtesy Government of Canada Veterans Affairs

W.W. 1 Veterans Cochrane Memorial

Deep Dive

Nowlin and Sharp Families

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By Nelda (Nowlin) Sharp

My parents, Thomas Harvie (Tim) Nowlin and Louise Cox were first-generation Canadians, their parents having emigrated from the United States, and their grandparents from England and Ireland.

The Nowlins were married in 1935, and the next year moved from Fort Macleod to what is now called Griffin Valley Ranch. I was born in 1938, and Tommy in 1943. Our life in the country was relatively primitive, with no electricity and no running water. We were always well fed, however, as Mom picked and canned berries and preserved wild meat. She baked her bread in a wood stove and planted the first vegetable garden in the area. As I approached my sixth year, my parents had to decide whether to teach me at home or move from the ranch. The closest school, Beaupre, was seven miles away. The roads, just deep ruts in the dirt, were often impassable except by horseback and seven miles was too far for me to ride to school. So in 1944, we moved to Cochrane and bought a house on Pope Avenue. My sister, Gail, was born two years later, in 1946, and our family was complete.

Life in town was different. We had next-door neighbours, and I had playmates. I also had “chores.” The hardest one was walking downtown every day, after school, to get the milk. There was always a long lineup at Ernie Andison’s meat market. One day, just in front of St. Andrew’s church, I stumbled and broke the bottle of milk on the sidewalk. A man, driving by, stopped his car and asked why I was crying. When he saw the spilled milk, he told me to go home, and everything would be okay. Soon, he was at our door with milk from his farm. Henry Whitfield was a wonderful man, and I remembered his kindness every time I saw him.

Cochrane Meat Market

Tommy was mentally challenged and at the age of 10 went to live in Red Deer. He died in June 2007, having spent more than half a century at Michener Centre.

After graduation, I took some special teacher’s courses and taught school for three years in Condor. There I met Malcolm Sharp who was an Industrial Arts teacher at David Thompson High School. I had probably known only two or three men named “Malcolm”.

One was a boy several years my junior. Malcolm Broatch was everyone’s big brother, thoughtful, kind and liked by all (this was the boy who once invited the whole class to his birthday party because he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings). As a rash teenager, I vowed to his father, that the man I married would have to be a “Malcolm.”

Malcolm Sharp and I were married in Cochrane, in St. Andrew’s United Church, on August 20, 1958. Our three daughters , Debra Michele, Cynthia Lee, and Susan Anne were born at Rocky Mountain House. We lived in Condor, Calgary, and finally, Cochrane.

Soon after we were married, Malcolm gassed up at Cochrane Auto. As he was about to leave, Graeme Broatch came trotting out. “Have to meet the man Nelda married,” he told my husband, as he shook his hand and recalled my prophecy.

Cochrane Texaco 1930

In 1973 we built our house at 58 Chinook Drive close to the High School and Manachaban. The girls had after school jobs. Debby worked at McKays, and Cindy at the Al Drive-In and Cochrane Foodmaster.

Cochrane Foodmaster drawing by Faye Gustafson

Sue worked at the Big Hill Lodge and figure skated every morning before she went to school. Debby (Michele) earned her Canada Cord in Guide in 1976, the first Cochrane girl to have this honour. (Melva Blood was her leader and the late Sheila Wigton was District Commissioner of Guides).

Michele lives in Toronto where she works in the Non Profit Voluntary sector. In 2000 while working for the Migraine Society, she published The Migraine Cook Book. She is currently studying the Non Profit Volunteer Management program at Ryerson University, and is also consulting for several non-profit organizations.

Cindy married Jamie Undenbach . They live in Calgary with their three children: Marc (20) Cole (17) and Hana (14) . Cindy works with Jamie at their software company.

Sue lives with her husband , Sean O’Neill – Whitehead and daughter, Morgan (13) in the Millarville area. Sue graduated with distinction from Alberta College of Art & Design and currently work from her home.

Deep Dive

Passing the Torch 2026

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Each year, we pause to remember those who have passed away. Through their work, dedication, and community spirit, each made a lasting contribution to Cochrane.

Geoffrey Alderman

Geoffrey Alderman

October 26, 1931 — August 7, 2025

Geoffrey was the beloved husband of Lynda Alderman, a long-time and deeply valued volunteer with CHAPS. Through Lynda’s many hours devoted to archiving at the Cochrane Historical Museum and her involvement in the publishing of More Big Hill Country.  Like many partners of dedicated volunteers, his contribution was often unseen but deeply felt.

 

Obituary
Donna Airth

Donna Airth Powlesland

September 22, 1951 — August 26, 2025

 

Obituary
Story
Margaret Buckley

Margaret Buckley

May 13, 1935 — October 14, 2025

Obituary
Story
Yvonne Callaway

Yvonne Callaway

November 14, 1936 – November 25, 2025

Obituary
Obituary
Story
Patrick Coyle

Pat Coyle

April 20, 1940 — November 21, 2025

Pat Coyle will be remembered with deep gratitude by the Cochrane community for his lasting contributions to the Cochrane Historical Museum. Pat was instrumental in the relocation of the Museum.

A skilled craftsman, Pat took on much of the carpentry and brick work on the historic house, ensuring it was moved and restored with care and respect for its heritage. His hands helped preserve a tangible piece of Cochrane’s past, and his work continues to be seen and appreciated by all who visit the Museum.

Obituary
James McPherson

James McPherson

May 21, 1935  –  December 18, 2025

Obituary
Story
Jenny Spicer

Jenny Spicer

Jenny Spicer was born on March 7, 1941, to Marjorie and Harold Spicer. She grew up in Cochrane and graduated in 1962, maintaining a lifelong connection to the community that helped shape her early years.

Although she later made her home in Parksville, Jenny never lost touch with Cochrane. She remained a keen and loyal follower of local news and history, ardently engaging with community social media and taking great interest in the people, stories, and places she remembered so well. Her continued connection was a quiet but meaningful reminder of how deeply Cochrane stayed with those who once called it home.

 

Facebook Announcement
Shirley Thomas

Shirley Thomas

December 11, 1934 — September 25, 2025

 

Obituary
Story
John Dennis Wearmouth

Dennis Wearmouth

April 14, 1933 – January 19, 2026

 

Obituary
Story
Joan Robin Harvie

HARVIE, Joan “Robin” (née Williams)

February 28, 1933 – March 18, 2026

Obituary
Story

Deep Dive

Ian and Donna Airth family

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Page 256 More Big Hill Country 2009

Donna Marion was born in Calgary, September 22, 1951 . I’m the daughter of Bert and Marion Powlesland. I attended Westbrook School for 10 years and graduated from Cochrane High School in 1969. I have many memories of growing up north of Cochrane. George Webb was our school bus driver for many years and encouraged us all to sing on his bus route. At the Weedon Hall Christmas Concerts ( old location) our bus group always had a part in the concert.

Cattle have always played a big part of my life; I was a member of Westbrook 4-H Beef Club, showed cattle at the Calgary Bull Sale and was a member of the Alberta and Canadian Junior Hereford Association . I had the honour of being the first Alberta Hereford Queen. After high school I worked for Alberta Government Telephones for a year and decided it was time to move on. I attended Olds College for two years and graduated from Fashion and Promotion Merchandising in 1972. While at Olds, I met my future husband, Ian


James Ian was born in Calgary April 30, 1949. Ian is the second son of Jim and Dorothy Airth of De Winton. Ian attended Okotoks for his schooling and graduated from Okotoks High School in 1968. Ian was a member of the Okotoks 4-H Beef Club, high school curling and skiing. Ian attended Olds College and graduated from Agricultural Mechanics in 1972. Ian’s family raises Galloway cattle.

 

Ian and I were married by Rev. Randy Naylor in Parkdale United Church in Calgary, June 10, 1972. We lived at DeWinton with Ian’s Family on their Walking A Ranch. In 1973, we moved to Cochrane to set down our roots at Rusticana Ranch. In 1975, we started purchasing land from my parents. We were raising purebred horned Hereford cattle, and our herd was called Rusticana Herefords. We sold the purebred Herefords in 1981. Ian and I then developed a commercial cattle herd consisting of Herefords and Black Angus.


Ian and I are the proud parents of two sons. Howard Ian was born September 27, 1974, in Calgary. Howard attended Cochrane for schooling and graduated from Cochrane High School in 1993. He attended Olds College and graduated from Agricultural Mechanics in 1996. Howard married Jolene Eklund of Glentworth, Saskatchewan, on September 18, 1999, in Crossfield.


Howard is a Journeyman Agricultural mechanic and was a service man for Agro Equipment Calgary (John Deere) for many years, then in sales and is currently Sales Manager for them. Jolene has worked many years for Calgary Lab Services in Cochrane as a Lab Tech. Howard and Jolene have two children Keely Jay born October 6, 2002, and Justin Doug born July 28, 2005. Howard and his family also live on Rusticana Ranch and his children are the fifth generation of my family to live here.

Our second child, Clayton Albert, was born in Calgary on November 16, 1977. Clayton attended Cochrane Schools and graduated from Cochrane High School in 1996. Clayton was a member of the King’s Own Calgary Regiment Cadet Corps in Cochrane. With the cadet, Clayton spent many summers at the Vernon Army Cadet Camp. Clayton attended Olds College and graduated from Meat Processing in 1996. He was employed at Costco in Red Deer as a meat cutter for ten years. Clayton married Donna Haire in 1999, and they have two children: Michael Leo, born April 29, 1993, and Andrew Ian, born April 29, 2000. Clayton was a reservist with the 20th Field Regiment Red Deer and helped fight the forest fires in BC in the summer of 2003. After ten years of meat cutting, Clayton moved on to the oil patch and works for Cal Frac Well Services in Red Deer.


Ian is the past president of the Cochrane Lions Club, Cochrane Roping Club, and Calgary District Hereford Club. Donna is a past president and member of the Cochrane Lioness Club. We have both been involved in the Weedon Pioneer Community Association. Camping has been a big part of our life and we have spent many happy times fishing with our boys. I enjoy gardening (although a challenge in our climate) and have grown thousands of garden flowers in our greenhouse. Ian has enjoyed hunting and most recently golfing. Ian and I are still active in raising cattle and have shown many Supreme Champion pens of steers and heifers at the Balog’s British Breed Show in Lethbridge. We enjoy the cattle business. It is a great satisfaction to raise good cattle and also make many good friends.

Deep Dive

 

Robert (Bob) A. Callaway Family

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Connected to the Callaway Family history in Big Hill Country.

My great grandfather, Joseph Callaway, immigrated to Ontario in 1843. He married and he and his wife had 6 children. He owned an operated the Dominion Salt Works in Ontario. Joseph and his wife and children decided to come west travelling to Winnipeg, Manitoba by wagon, pulled by oxen. At night they turned the wagon box over to use as shelter. In 1886,the family moved farther west to the Brushy Ridge District in Alberta where he homesteaded the SE Sec 22 Twp 25 Rge 4 W5M.

Joseph’s oldest son, Emanuel Joseph “EJ.”, my grandfather was born in 1855 in Ontario and just before coming west with his parents he married Elizabeth Ferguson. Upon arriving in Manitoba, they homesteaded in Killarny Manitoba and had six children. Enthused about the stories from the west, E.J. and Elizabeth with their children moved to Monte Creek near Kamloops, British Columbia. In 1894, shortly after their arrival in Kamloops, Elizabeth died of Quinsy. In 1898, E.J. married Alice Miriam Partridge. In 1899, a daughter, Edith Sarah was born. In 1900, they moved with their family to the Springbank area where A.A. “Ted” and Mary were born.

In I 906, E.J. and Alice purchased 800 acre of land from George Wills and they moved to the Brushy Ridge district. They built a new house and it was here that Lily, Nora, Nellie and Alfred were born. Dr. Park and Mrs. Hughes from Cochrane were in attendance at their births. The family had now grown to 13 children. The younger children attended Brushy Ridge School and “E.J.” was on the Brushy Ridge School Board with Sykes Taylor and William Edge. “EJ .” was also a Government Weed Inspector for many years.

In 1929, my Dad, Arthur A. (Ted) Callaway married Jemima (Mamie) Ballantyne, who had come from Scotland to Calgary with her parents and brothers and sisters.

In 1932, my grandfather, Emanual Joseph passed away and left three quarter sections to my father.

I was born in 1929 in the Calgary General Hospital and have a sister Evelyn Aileen (Perkins) born December 2, 1935 also at the General. I started school at Brushy Ridge School, just across the road from our house, in 1934 and after passing grade nine in June 1944, I started High School in September at Western Canada High School in Calgary. Besides my regular classes I took a 2 year course in metals and a 3 year course in automotive. I also joined the Army Cadets and worked up to the rank of Staff-Sargeant.

I would go to Calgary, Sunday evening to where I boarded during the week, then catch a ride home with Harvey Hogarth Sr. (Hogarth’s Transport) on Friday afternoon.

I remember the streets in Calgary in the winter. There was no snowplowing. The roads built up with deep ruts in the snow and there was no getting out of them except at intersections where the ruts crossed each other. The same went with Highway # I to Cochrane (now highway IA.) The Trans Canada Highway# l did not exist at that time.

After I graduated from High School, I came home and worked with my Mom and Dad on the farm.

Looking back over the years, I remember the fire that swept through Jumping Pound and Brushy Ridge. It was rumored that the fire started by embers that had smoldered in a muskeg all summer up by the Jumping Pound Ranger Station. An 80 to 90 mile an hour wind fanned it up and away it went. It was November 19, 1936, a day to be remembered by many for years to come.

The winter of 1948 was one to remember. We measured the snow in feet not inches! The farms south of Cochrane had to rely on Griffins to keep the main road open with their D8 Caterpillar. By December 23, most of the road had to be abandoned because there was 10 to 15 feet of snow piled on the road. It was through the fields with a tractor escorting Johnny Arnell in his 1 ton truck taking the milk that had to go to the Model Dairies in Calgary daily. Come mid-April 1949, Griffins were finally able to open the road.

During these years we were not in the Municipal District of Rocky View # 44. We were in what they called a Rural Improvement District and the farmers looked after the roads themselves. This included building the roads, maintaining them, including culverts and small bridges and also grading them.

In 1937, Dad traded in his old Hart Parr tractor on a McCormick Deering W-30 tractor. It was the first rubber-tired tractor that the people west of Calgary had seen. Dad was constantly teased about that tractor. “It can’t do anything out in the field!”, the neighbours teased but strange as it may seem, two neighbors who had the same model tractors on steel, appeared in their fields before long with the steel cut off and replaced with rubber tires. Being that we had a tractor with rubber tires, we had the honor of doing the grading on the roads, pulling a grader that originally was pulled by 4 to 8 head of horses, whichever was needed to build and maintain the roads.

In Grandpa’s days you might say “the horse age” he had a horse-powered baler. In winter time, they would bale prairie wool then ship it from Cochrane by railroad to Banff, Lethbridge or where ever he had a market for it. They would bale for 3 days then load the hay on wagons and haul it to Cochrane with 4 horses pulling the wagon. Then they loaded it on the railroad cars. This took another 3 days. The bale weighed 110 – 120 pounds each.

When you look back and see what the farmers did in those days we don’t know what work is! All this was combined with braking horses to break and sell and some of them went to the Army in 1914-1919. They also had cattle, milked cows, sent milk to a cheese factory that was located 2 miles east of here, sold cream to the Cochrane Dairy which was located immediately west of Cochrane adjacent to the Highway l (now IA) where the Cochrane Ranche Provincial Historic Site is now located.

In the fall of l953 , I worked for a year and a half with Shell Oil Exploration.

On June 18, 1954, I married Yvonne Blow, daughter of Len and Mable Blow of Cochrane. In 1955, I left Shell Oil Exploration to come back to work with Mom and Dad on the farm. At this time Dad rented a half section from Arthur and Mary Coelen. We farmed this land for 19 years until it was sold for subdivision and is now called Tower Ridge.

In 1958, Yvonne and I started to build our own home. With the assistance of Lambert Brothers Construction, who did the basement foundation and framing up, the house began to take shape. In the meantime, Yvonne and I, with our daughter Debra, born November 1955, and our son David, born January 1957 lived with my Mom and Dad. It was a great day when we moved into our new home.

In March 1961, our daughter Susan was born and in September 1964 another daughter Marie was born.

My mother passed away May 15, 1963 and Dad and I continued to work together.

In 1964, I bought Pleasant View Farm from my Dad and continued with the dairy operation. I started working toward my goal of having a herd of Brown Swiss Dairy Cows in 1972. I eventually succeeded in having a complete herd of Brown Swiss Cows with one of the cows achieving the honor of holding the production record of milk production of Brown Swiss in Canada. My father passed away on March 31, 1986.

In December 2002, I retired from the dairy operation and sold our dairy herd after succeeding in reaching

my goal. Our dairy was the last dairy in this area. I am still actively producing hay and boarding cattle.

Yvonne keeps very busy, still volunteering and we are enjoying our grandchildren. Our children are achieving goals of their own.

Debra married Dave Millican in 1979 and they have two sons Kobe and Kelly. They live in Cochrane, Alberta.

David married Marilyn Fullerton in 1982. They have three daughters, Bailey, Paige and Cassandra. David lives west of Stavely Alberta and publishes the Angus World magazine.

Susan graduated with her Registered Nurse degree in Edmonton and became a neo-natal nurse. She moved to San Diego in 1986 to work in the San Diego Children’s Hospital. In 1992, she married Rocky Cook and they have a son , Robbie and a daughter Marie. Susan founded the S.C.R.U.B.S. Nurses Uniform Company which has been very successful.

Marie had an interior design business in Edmonton and married John Fentum in July 1994. They moved to Denver, Colorado in 1995 and they have 2 children, a daughter Alexis and a son Grant. Marie now builds houses and sells real estate.

Yvonne and I are enjoying our retirement visiting friends and family and doing a bit of travelling.

Deep Dive

2026 CHAPS AGM Snippets

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Every year, the Annual General Meeting of the Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society (CHAPS) offers an opportunity to reflect on the past year, celebrate our accomplishments, and look ahead to the work still to be done in preserving and sharing Cochrane’s history.

This year we are sharing four short videos that highlight different parts of that story.

First, Larry Want, President of CHAPS, delivers his annual message reflecting on the past year and the importance of community support in continuing our work. His remarks highlight both the achievements of the past year and the opportunities that lie ahead for the organization.

Next, Mark Boothby presents a summary of CHAPS’ growing social media and online presence. With increasing website traffic, expanding audiences on Facebook, and a steady stream of new blog posts, the reach of local history continues to grow. At the same time, the message is clear: the future of these efforts depends on volunteers who are willing to help carry this work forward.

Finally, Frank Hennessey shares highlights from recent visits to the Cochrane Historical Museum, including a remarkable story about visitors from a small town in Wales who discovered a surprising connection to the builders of the historic Davies Home — a link that stretches back more than 100 years.

We are also sharing Mike Taylor’s presentation describing CHAPS’ efforts to help preserve the historic Bottrel Campground and General Store, an early 1900s landmark in the Bottrel area north of Cochrane. His presentation outlines why the site matters to local history and the work underway to ensure its story is not lost.

Together, these four presentations offer a glimpse into the work being done by CHAPS and the museum, and the people who help keep Cochrane’s history alive.

Top 10 Posts of 2025 5 through 1

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2025 saw a significant increase in web page visits. As of late December, 27%. We’re grateful for the increasing support and will continue to publish a new story every Saturday.

Here are the top 5 posts of 2025. Enjoy, feel free to comment and click on any image for a larger view.

5Cochrane Lions ClubThe first Rodeo to be held at the Lions Rodeo Grounds in Cochrane was on September 1968. Lion Bert Powlesland was President. Lion Ed Downs roasted beef on a large B.B.Q. with briquettes and served Beef on a Bun to a large crowd in attendance. 
Lions Rodeo 2001
4Passing the Torch 2024Every year we reflect on lives well lived and remember individuals we lost
3Sam and Margaret Chalack FamilyWe were members of the Bearspaw Red Cross Organization which began in 1939 as a charitable war effort and is still in existence. Margaret is still a member of this organization.
2The Impact of Fire in Cochrane and Area1936 WAS THE DRIEST YEAR WE EVER EXPERIENCED. ALL THE CROPS HAD TO BE CUT WITH A MOWER AND EVERYBODY SCRAPED A BIT OF HAY WHERE EVER THEY COULD, THEN ON NOVEMBER 19 A FIRE, WHICH HAD BEEN BURNING FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN THE FOOTHILLS, FANNED BY A 90 MILE AN HOUR WIND BROKE OUT INTO THE OPEN COUNTRY.
Elevator Fire 1981
1Can you date this photo of Cochrane?What do you see that can be dated?
– West side residential development doesn’t exist
-Beynons and the rodeo grounds are visible on the west side east of the Creek.
– Gilbert’s ranch exists on the current site of the Cochrane Ranche.
– Cochrane Heights is  under development
– The elevator is still in place 
– No sign of development on the east side including  Big Hill Lodge
– The old pool is still there
– The trailer park is still on the west side
– Can’t tell if the Shot Tower still exists-
– The Esso fuel depot is on south side of tracks beside elevator
– Hwy 22 intersection and Copithorne mountain don’t exist.
Cochrane 1960’s

History Needs Champions — Will You Step Forward?

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🚨 Members — We Need You at the 2026 AGM! 🚨

The 2026 Annual General Meeting will be held Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 PM at the FCSS Building (209 – 2nd Avenue West, basement meeting rooms — North entrance). Parking is available on the street or in the lot west of the building (please do not park in front of the entrance).

We’ll review the 2025 Financial Statements, recap this year’s projects and activities, and outline plans for 2026.

Most importantly — we need members to step up.

The Election of Officers and Directors will take place, including:

  • President
  • Vice-President
  • Past President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Three Directors

Your current Executive has served faithfully for several years. While some are willing to continue, new leadership, new energy, and new ideas are essential for CHAPS to move forward.

If you care about preserving and promoting Cochrane’s history, now is the time to get involved. Strong organizations depend on members who are willing to lead.

To put your name forward or ask questions, contact Larry Want, President, at larry@chapscochrane.com.

Join us. Participate. Step up.

(And yes — we’ll stay until the donuts are gone!)

Remember Day Light Savings Time goes into effect Sunday March 8th

 

Carry Our Community’s History Forward

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Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society and Cochrane Historical Museum are looking for Volunteers to help with various projects, programs and becoming Museum Docents in the coming year. 

If you are interested please check out our poster and contact lynn@chapscochrane.com

Carpe Diem: Memories of the Old Cochrane School

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by Gordon Davies

The old red brick school was the source of my education from Grade 1 until Grade 11. 

There were four rooms above the basement. The basement was divided into two areas -the boys area and the girls area. Off the girls’ area was another classroom in the NW corner of the basement. Off the boys’ area was the furnace room and the janitor’s room in the NE corner. There were a number of windows in the basement so that it was not particularly dark. 

Upon entering the school, there was a flight of stairs leading up to the 4 classrooms. On each side of this stairway, there were stairs leading down into the boys’ and girls’ areas. In the two classrooms in the front, looking toward the south, there was a cloakroom walled off from the classroom where you left your coats, etc. In the NE classroom there was a walled off section on the west side, which served as a storage area for chemicals and equipment used for science class. There was also a very large glass water bottle inverted on a stand where one could get a drink. Until 1952, the toilets were outside of the school to the NE and once the water system was put in by the town there were girls and boys toilets in the basement. In once corner of the NW classroom a section had been walled off to serve as an office for the principal. Behind the school there was also a barn to be used by those who rode horseback to school. By the late forties I don’t remember anyone riding to school on horseback. To the west end of the school building was found the community skating/hockey rink. 

In the late 40s a Mr. Gish was the principal of the school. He had served in WWII and tended to run the school like a military operation. Before entering the school in the morning or afternoon we would line up in front of the building with the boys in one line and girls in another. Mr. Gish had a school bell and we had to march into the school in time with the bell. 

The floors in the classrooms were wooden and oiled. In elementary school I remember that the desks were attached to runners in a row. Later, the desks would be separate. Usually the desks had a lift up lid where you stored notebooks, etc. There was an ink well in on corner of the top and usually the seats would fold up. 

Ca. 1948 a small school was moved in from the country because the old brick school was not large enough to accommodate all the students. It was heated by a stove in the classroom but in February we had an extreme cold spell and those of us in this school had a two week holiday. The stove wasn’t capable of warming the room and the glue and in were freezing. This building was later moved to the site of the outdoor rink in the east end of Cochrane and served as a changing room. There were other times when senior classes were held in the basement of the Community Hall. 

I believe that it was in our Junior High years that the school motto “Carpe diem” was chosen and a crest was chosen. I believe that it was Victor Westerson who designed the crest and it would be available as a patch to wear on your school sweater or was a part of a school ring. It was during this time that the Jr. High students would be taken to Banff in June for a picnic. The parents would cook up hot dogs and we would picnic in the park beside the Bow before the bridge crossing the river. 

When Andrew Sibbald school was built the old school basically became a 9 – 12 school. There was an auditorium in the new school but was built to elementary standards so that games like basketball or volleyball could not be played there. Until Cochrane High School opened in 1962 most sports would be played outside in summer and winter – baseball in the summer, soccer all year. There was a stage in the new school and it enabled Mr. Macdonell, who was very interested in drama, to have students put on plays in the new auditorium. Drama was a very important of my time in Grades 9-11. 

By 1958-59 there weren’t enough teachers to provide a complete matriculation programme for the Gr. 12 students. Cochrane School Division #142 arranged to send those of us in Grade 12 to Mount Royal College which was situated on 8th Ave. and 11th St. At this time it was basically a business college and offered matriculation courses. It was a college under the auspices of the United Church of Canada. Lowell (Buddy) Desjardine had a car and the 4 or 5 of us who opted not to stay in Calgary would pile into Buddie’s car. I’m sure that Bud was reimbursed for the use of the car. Often we would stop at Chicken on the Way on 14th. St to satisfy our appetites.

Deep Dive

Top Ten posts of 2025 10 through 6

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We are witnessing a resurgence in the history of Cochrane and the surrounding area.

We’re happy to show you the top ten posts of 2025. We’ll start with 10 through 6.

Enjoy and feel free to comment.

10Fred Maggs FamilyFred took an active interest in the affairs of the Village, serving as mayor for a number of years. During the First World War he served on the Tribunal with Mr. Abell. Fred donated the land to the Cochrane Legion where the Cenotaph and the Legion Hall were located, and also donated a flagpole and flag to the Legion. He was made an Honorary member of the Canadian Legion. He bought and paid for the planting of the poplar trees that were planted on the south side of Main Street.
FW Maggs Store
9Ghost River Pony Club For many of us in the surrounding valleys, the only two social events were the Ghost River Horse Show and the Morley Stampede. Dog Pound was for the adventurous among us.
Pierre Eyma
8Cochrane Pony ClubThe Cochrane Pony Club began in 1960 at the Simpson Ranch in Grand Valley. The children rode to the Ranch from as far away as Water Valley and Cochrane. 
Pony Club at Boothbys 1977
7Dewey Lee BlaineyDewey 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.
Dewey Lee Blainey (1897 – 1970)
6John C. and Aileen Copithorne FamilyMy husband, John, died in 1998. He had lived his life entirely for his family and his dairy farm. He had been Chairman of the Dairy Committee at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede for 18 years and was eventually awarded a Lifetime Membership to the Stampede.
Copithorne Dairy on Current site of Glen Eagles Golf Course

Celebrating the Town of Cochrane’s Commitment to Heritage

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Thank You to the Town of Cochrane for Supporting CHAPS

At CHAPS (Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society), we believe that history is more than stories from the past — it is the foundation of our community’s identity and future. Today, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Town of Cochrane for their continued support of our work.

As a non-profit organization run entirely by dedicated volunteers, CHAPS relies on strong community partnerships to preserve and share Cochrane’s rich heritage. The Town’s support plays an essential role in helping us:

  • Preserve and protect historical artifacts

  • Maintain archival collections and photographs

  • Host educational presentations and exhibits

  • Share local stories that connect generations

  • Keep Cochrane’s history accessible to residents and visitors

Their commitment to community heritage ensures that the stories of ranching families, early businesses, pioneers, community builders, and everyday citizens are not forgotten.

Cochrane has grown tremendously over the decades, but with growth comes responsibility — the responsibility to remember where we came from. The Town of Cochrane recognizes that heritage preservation strengthens civic pride, supports tourism, and builds community connection. We are grateful for their partnership in keeping our local history alive.

To our volunteers, members, donors, and the Town of Cochrane: thank you for believing that history matters.

Together, we are preserving Cochrane’s past for future generations.

Mason Movie Village: Alberta’s Role in a Hollywood Western

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another in our series 100 Stories for 100 Years, Cochrane Tales

The Mason movie village is one of several sets in the Cochrane area.

Started in 2005 by Jane and Tim Mason, it has hosted several movies, TV series and music videos. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck were among the cast of the first shot at the movies village, The Assassination of Jesse James.

MOVIES MADE OUT AT THE JESSE JAMES SET 

2005 THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THAT COWARD ROBERT FORD 

  • Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeremy Renner, Paul Schneider, Garret Dillahunt, Zooey Deschanel, Nick Cave, James Carville, Ted Levine, Allison Elliott, Michael Parks 

      2008 THE LAST RIGHTS OF RANSOM PRIDE 

      • Kris Kristopherson, Lizzy Caplan, Dwight Yoakam, Peter Dinklage, Jason Priestley, Scott Speedman, Jon Foster, Cote de Pablo, W. Earl Brown, Alfonso Quijada, Mark Hanson, Blu Mankuma, Rene Quijada, Morris Birdyellow, David Trimble, Wilma Pelly, Ann Ramsay, Christy Greene 

      2010 DRYLAND

      • MOVIE ABOUT BOOTLEGGING IN SASKATCHEWAN

      2017 DAMNATION 

      • Sarah Jones, Killian Scott, Logan Marshall, Chasten Harmon, Christopher Heyerdahl, Melinda Page, Joe Adler, Teach Grant, Arnold Pinnock, Nola Auguston, Gabriel Mann, Paul Rae, Dan Donohue, David Haysom 

      2019 TIN STAR-SECOND SEASON 

      • 2020 Tim Roth, Genevieve O’Reilly, Abigail Lawrie, Christina Hendricks, Oliver Coopersmith, Ian Puleston-Davies, Sarah Podemski 

      2020 WYNONNA EARP-SEASON FOUR 

      2021 MUSIC VIDEO- ORVILLE PECK 

      Orville Peck

      2021 MUSIC VIDEO – “AMY” 

      • friend of Alexa and Madie McClelland 

      2021 UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN (Oct.-Feb 2022) 

      • 2022 actual filming DISNEY 

      2022 TIES THAT BIND

      2022 SETTLER

      •  April 19-25 Produced by the Blackfoot Nation Film -Siksika Nation. 
      • Trevor Solway – director. 

      2023 THE LILY & THE SCORPION 

      • Produced by Blue Ring Productions. 

      2024 ELEVEN NINE FILMS 

      • Short Film

      Deep Dive

      Framing Alberta’s Story: From Polo Fields to Oil Fields (1905–1940)

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      Today, CHAPS was honoured to receive a gift from Obsidian Energy Ltd  (previously Penn West Exploration, Penn West Petroleum & Penn West Trust) of beautifully framed photographs representing various aspects of Alberta’s history from 1905 to 1940 — a period that shaped the foundation of our province. We also thank Wanda Slipp for thinking of CHAPS and delivering the collection to us.

      This remarkable collection captures both the spirit and the strength of early Alberta.

      Among the images are scenes of polo in early Alberta — a reminder that recreation and community life were important even in the province’s formative years. Polo was more than a sport; it reflected the ranching culture, horsemanship, and social gatherings that helped define Alberta’s identity in the early 20th century. These photographs showcase a side of history that highlights leisure, camaraderie, and pride in rural life.

      9 Polo ponies Virginia Ranch Cremona

      In striking contrast, other images feature early oil drilling rigs — symbols of determination, risk, and economic ambition. Long before Alberta became synonymous with energy production, these early ventures laid the groundwork for what would become a driving force of the provincial economy. The rigs stand as a testament to innovation, resilience, and the bold spirit of those willing to invest in the unknown.

      Old Glory

      Together, the polo fields and oil fields tell a powerful story. They represent recreation and industry, community and commerce — two forces that shaped Alberta between 1905 and 1940. One speaks to lifestyle and culture; the other to growth and opportunity.

      Photographs from this era do more than document events — they preserve atmosphere. They capture dust rising from hooves, the determination etched on the faces of workers, the pride in a well-played match or a productive well. Through these framed images, we glimpse both the everyday and the extraordinary.

      We are deeply grateful to Obsidian Energy Ltd for entrusting CHAPS with this meaningful collection. These pieces will help us continue telling Alberta’s story — not just through dates and milestones, but through images that bring the past vividly to life.

      History is built by work and enriched by play — and this generous gift beautifully frames both.

      Norris Family

      by

      Page 633 More Big Hill Country 2009

      In the book Taming the Prairie Wool ( 1967) the story is told of Thomas Henry Norris, and his son Arthur Ernest Norris coming to Glendale, homesteading and establishing farm and family on NE Sec 34 Twp 25 Rge 3 W5M.

      The first of the big changes for the family came in 1946, when after returning from the Second World War Art and Susie’s oldest son Sidney bought the Thomas Standring farm at SW Sec 14 Twp 26 Rge3 W5M. For a number of years he resided during the winters at his parents’ home and commuted by tractor to do his daily chores at the new place. During the summers he “batched it” on his own farm.

      Daughter Ellen went to normal school and taught in a variety of one room schools around Alberta. In 1948 she married Henry Buckler and they moved to Water Valley where they began their family, later moving to Bottrel where they farmed with Henry’s father David.

      Younger brothers Phil and Bob continued to farm with their father and took over the farm from him in 1954. In 1954 Art and Susie retired and moved into Calgary.

      Electricity came to the district in 1950 and that made life much easier for both farmer and farmer’s wife! Mechanical milking machines, refrigeration systems, bulk tanks and pipeline systems were added to the farms as they became available.

      In 1958 Sid bought a house located near 26th Ave and 6th Street NW in Calgary, and had the house moved to his farm. The house was moved by Bill Wearmouth. In January 1959 Sid married Rose Holmgren from Red Deer and the two of them moved into his “new house.”

      In 1960 through 1962 the three brothers designed and built new parlour barns to modernize their dairying businesses. The barns were built by a co-operative effort with Roy Buckler, Art, Sid, Phil, and Bob Norris and their helpers all working to get the barns built, the cows milked and the farming done in good time. The new barns were clean and efficient and, once the cows adjusted to the change, made life easier for everybody. Uncle Phil has one word of advice for anyone making a major change to the routine in how dairy cows are handled. “Don’t feed them for a day prior to making the change and cleaning the new barn will be a lot easier.”

      By the end of 1963 the next generation of the Norris family was complete. Ellen and her husband Henry Buckler had six surviving children, Hellen, Valerie, John, Tim, Charlie, and Victor. Sid and Rose had three: Marjorie, Susan and Arthur. The Buckler children attended Westbrook School and Cochrane High and the Norris three attended Andrew Sibbald Elementary, Manachaban Middle School and Cochrane High . Hellen graduating first in 1968 and young Art late in 1981.

      In the winter of 1971/72, after a brief stay at the Bethany Care Centre in Calgary, both Art and Susie died, he at age 90 and she at 79. A big hole was left in the heart of the family. But both of them had numerou siblings who kept an eye on all that went on within the family for the year to come.

      Always the Norris homes were places of warmth and hospitality. Friends and relatives came from the city and further afield for visits of varying lengths. Many cousins and second cousins found opportunities for work with “the uncles”. For many of the girls in the family their first job outside of the family home was to go to “the uncles” for a summer and cook for the men and the hired men. Those poor uncles survived a real variety of early cooking disasters with good humour and unending kindness. Hellen and Val both lived with “the uncles” for their university years as the Non-is farm is in easy commuting distance of the University of Calgary.

      Two big changes happened at Phil and Bob’s in the 1970s. The drilling of a good water well at the North end of the farm ended more than 50 years of water worries, and they also had a new house built for themselves across the yard from the home they’d lived in all their lives. The new house was built by Gordon Hewitt and was designed by “the uncles” with input from their cousin Ken Bond who was an architect.

      In 1976 Sid and Rose decided that the time had come to stop dairying. Doug Reid purchased the herd and quota and rented the barns and land. It made selling the cows much easier knowing that they would be in the hands of someone who knew them and was so skilled with them.

      Phil and Bob continued with dairying until 1986 when they sold their cows and quota to Fiona and Garnet McConney. Once again a difficult decision was made easier due to the quality of the people buying the cows. Fiona and Garnet also rented the barns and land from Phil and Bob for a few years.

      And so, after 60-plus years of successful dairying by three generations of Norrises, the herds were sold. Both Sid’s herd and Phil and Bob’s had been recognized with numerous awards over the years from the Alberta Dairy Herd Improvement Association for milk quality, production levels and excellence of individual cows. Pedigree lines begun with the breeding records kept on the two farms are still active in the Alberta Holstein herd.

      In retirement Sid drove school bus for Judd Pickup for 10 years, retiring from that at age 65. He remembers his “kids” fondly and is always happy to have them speak to him when he is out and around. Phil and Bob made the switch to a Charolais, Hereford cross cow calf operation.

      In 1992 Uncle Bob married Mavis Robinson, a widow from Toronto who had recently moved to Calgary to retire close to her sons and their families. Several years later Uncle Phil also married.

      In 2005 there was much celebrating in the family as both the Buckler farm and the Norris farm reached the 100 year anniversary. Parties were held at both farms that summer with friends, relatives and neighbours coming from near and far to reminisce and reconnect. Dignitaries did their presentations and plaques are proudly displayed.

      All four of Art and Susie’s children are quite well and still active in the local community and their respective churches.

      Sid (widowed in 1987) lives with his daughter Sue and her husband Bruce Hewitt in the house they built on the pasture quarter SE Sec 15 Twp 26 Rge 3 W5M. Phil lives at the Big Hill Lodge in Cochrane. Ellen is at home on the Buckler farm in the summers and stays in Cochrane with her daughter Hellen in the winter. Bob and Mavis divide their time between the farm and their retirement home in Calgary.

      Members of the next generation continue on the farms and in the community. John and Reet Buckler living on the Water Valley farm, Tim Buckler is on the Bottrel farm as are younger brother Victor and his partner Charlene and their family. Charlie and his wife Kim now have a U-Pick strawberry farm and market garden on the Bottrel farm as well. Art Norris and his wife, Molly Shier are raising their son, Kieran on Sid and Rose’s farm where they have a cow-calf operation. Marjorie lives in Northwest Calgary and remains busy with her involvement on the farm, with the family, her church and her career with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Today, in 2007, Art and Susie Norris’s descendants are spread across Alberta and Canada, from New Brunswick in the East to Alberta in the West and from Red Earth Creek in the North to Calgary in the South. The family farms continue to be “home” for one and all.

      Man of Vision Silouette

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