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.
