History

CHAPS Volunteers

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“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

~Elizabeth Andrew

Being a CHAPS Volunteer isn't about how long you've lived here. It's about contributing to the community, meeting new people, learning new skills and having fun.

Mark Boothby

Thank you to our volunteers

  1. Lydia Graham                          
  2. Lonnie Basiuk                                       
  3. Mike Taylor
  4. Lynda Alderman                                  
  5. Doris James                                        
  6. Monesa Podmoroff                              
  7. Margaret Hunziker                               
  8. Pauline Murray                                    
  9. Donna & Raymond MacDonald
  10. Vera Elson                                           
  11. George Thompson
  12. Heather Pearce
  13. Arlene & Don Hepburn
  14. Janice & Greg Hawkwood
  15. Barbara Canning
  16. Tony Turner                                          
  17. Frank Hennessey                                 
  18. Bernice Klotz                                        
  19. Donna Morris                                       
  20. Gordon Davies                                     
  21. Rod Wallace                                         
  22. Mark Boothby                                      
  23. Gayle & Larry Want                                 
  24. Shannon & Ed Want
  25. Mary Nicolson Klimek
  26. Dianne Mclennon
  27. June Burgess

Builders. We can’t thank the folks enough that helped to build CHAPS.

  1. Jo Hutchinson
  2. Diane & Larry Mclennon
  3. Ellen Bryant
  4. Ellen Buckler
  5. Margaret Buckley
  6. Gordon Hall
  7. Jean Johnson
  8. Dorothy Shand
  9. Marjorie Spicer
  10. Sonia Turner
  11. Bev Genung
  12. Dorothy Anderson
  13. Ken Thompson
  14. Betty & Ernie Trosch
  15. David Callaway
  16. Shirley & Bob Thomas                                        
  17. Vicki & Turk Deeton                              
  18. Heather & Gary Sutherland    
  19. Dave Beattie                                        
  20. Janette & Dave Whittle                                    
  21. Elizabeth Stone
  22. Mona Sylvestre
  23. Evelyn & Jack Perkins
  24. Jean & Angus MacKenzie
  25. Joyce & Ed Schmidt
  26. Catherine McLay
  27. Festo Gicuhi
  28. Yvonne & Bob Callaway
  29. Jackie Shier
  30. Matthew ? Volunteer that used to lead tours
  31. Shannon Bradley Green
  32. Joan Popowich
  33. Kim Bucker
  34. Melva Blood
  35. Betty & Dennis Goodsall
  36. Katherine Mclean
  37. Kathy Thompson
  38. Anne Richardson
  39. Dorothy & Bill Boothby
  40. Kass Beynon
  41. John Thomson
  42. Cindy Murray
  43. Val & Murray Wilson
  44. Dorothy Andison

Our apologies if we've overlooked someone.

We’ve reviewed our list quite a few times so that we don’t overlook anyone's contribution. We apologize if we’ve accidentally overlooked anyone. If we have, please let us know so we can amend our records.

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

~Winston Churchill

Become a Volunteer.

We can match your skills with our needs.
Click Here

Fund Raising offer from Winter Photographics

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Every Restoration and/or colourization order during the month of April will
have $25 donated to CHAPS. A restoration originates from a damaged print or
from a print where changes are needed. Removing people, combining photos,
fixing damage etc. 

Clients will receive a FREE digital file (via email) of their restored file. This is a savings of $10 per restored image. 

Our vendor for restorations has donated $100 to CHAPS via PayPal. 

People are welcome to bring in multiple restorations. Should CHAPS need any
restorations completed we would be pleased to extend a discount.

Let me know if you need any further information. 

Thank you, 

Jennifer Winter

403.932.6787
Winter Photographics foto source
18-312 5th Ave W,
Cochrane, AB. T4C 2E3
www.winterphotographics.com

Place Names of Big Hill Country – by Sonia Turner

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Beaupre – a locality north of the 1A Highway about 10 miles west of Cochrane. Named after Louis Beaupre, an early settler who bought squatter’s rights there.

Beaver Dam Creek – rises in the west side of the Weedon district, flows through Mortimer Coulee, and winds on northeast. So named because of the numerous beavers in it.

Big Hill – the hill below which Cochrane is situated. Early maps show it as Manachaban Hill, which is the Blackfoot name. The apex of the Big Hill is about 3 miles east of the town.

Bow River – so named because the Indians obtained wood for bow making, along its banks.

Cochrane – situated on the southwest slope and at the base of the Big Hill. Named after Senator M.H. Cochrane (1823-1903) who established the Cochrane Ranche in 1881.

Cochrane Lakes – named after W.F. Cochrane, son of Senator M.H. Cochrane of the Cochrane Ranche Company. The lakes are 4 miles north of the 1A Highway, and west of Highway 22.

Dog Pound – a locality which derives its name for a Cree name. but its origin is not clear. Presently, it is a hamlet on the Crossfield – Cremona Highway.

Ghost Lake– the flooded area formed by the Ghost Dam. There is now a village on the north shore of the lake. The Ghost River flows into the Bow just above the Dam.

Grand Valley – named after Donald McEachen, who exclaimed “Aye, It’s a grand valley!”

Horse Creek – supposed to have been so named because of a lost horse which was found drowned in the creek.

Jackass Canyon – located northwest of Beaupre. When the C.P.R. came through in the 1880’s, mules were used for building the roadbed. Those mules were wintered in this canyon, hence the name.

Jacob Creek – named after a Stoney Indian Chief who signed Treaty no. 7 in 1877. It flows through the Ghost Dam Reservoir.

Jumping Pound – a locality south and west of Cochrane. 

Lochend – a locality 14 miles northeast of Cochrane, named by J.K. Laidlaw.

Lochend Lake – named by J.K. Laidlaw , and derived from the Gaelic name meaning “At the end of the lake”. 

Madden – a hamlet named after Bernard Madden, an early settler in the Beaver Dam District.

Manachaban Hill – the Blackfoot name for what is more commonly know as Big Hill.

Mitford -a town between Cochrane and Morley on the banks of the Bow River. Mitford was named by Lady Adela Cochrane after her friend, Mrs. Percy Mitford. The town was abandoned when the C.P.R. established their station at Cochrane, and later a fire burned the buildings that remained; some, such as All Saints Anglican Church, were moved to Cochrane.

Morley – an Indian Reservation. Established as a mission at Morleyville, by the Rev. George McDougall. Named after Rev. Morley Punshon.

Pile of Bones Creek – presumably so named because of the severe cattle losses suffer by the Cochrane Ranche, whose cattle watered nearby on a quarter set aside as a water reserve (SW 1/4, 14-25-5-5)

Radnor – a flag stop station on the C.P.R. just east of the Ghost Dam. Named in 1884 after Wilma, Daughter of the 5th Earl of Radnor.

Sheep Ranch Hill -the hill just west of Cochrane, so named because the sheep corrals were at its base. Presently its known as Cochrane Crescent.

Sibbald Creek – named after the Sibbald family who homesteaded in the area.

Waiporous Creek – is part of the Ghost River system. It is derived from a Stoney Indian name meaning “Crow Indian Scalp.”

Wildcat Hills elevation 5,135 feet; a range of timbered hills northwest of Cochrane.

Thanks to Sonia Turner who originally wrote this article. This article contains a small number of the locations described on page 21 of Big Hill Country.

I’d originally thought about updating the article but that changed the flavour and doesn’t show how much Cochrane has changed since the book was published in 1977.

Hooves of History Sep 27 to Oct 1, 2001

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The Hooves of History was a fundraising event for the Western Heritage Centre to celebrate our western culture.

I spoke with Ken Aylesworth, Steering Committee Chair, President and CEO of the Western Heritage Center about his memories.

Click on any image for a larger view.

The goal of the event was as a fund raiser to establish an annuity to support the operation of the Western Heritage Centre.

The original goal was to have 2000 head of cattle driven by 1000 outriders. While that ambitious goal was not reached 1000 cattle and 750 drovers made the 55 km ride from Sibbald Flats near the Trans Canada Highway into Cochrane 4 days later.

The drive stopped for nights at a Campground, Tom Copithorne ranch and the last night at the Wine Glass Ranch. 

Neil Sanger and Maureen Tynan were married that night on the Wine Glass Ranch by Cowboy Poet Doug Richards along with 50 guests.

A team of volunteers was out front of the drive taking down ranchers fences and pounding posts to tie up horses at every nightly stop. The route was selected because land owners allowed the drive to cross private property many times providing the necessary insurance as well.

While in Cochrane, the cattle were auctioned off, a dance was held in the Western Heritage Centre parking lot, outhouse races took place, stage entertainment including a western shootout, and a Cowboy Church.

Ken says it was a big, big job requiring nearly 400 volunteers.

Jim Bates was responsible for feeding nearly 2000 riders, volunteers and media personnel. 30 Volunteers helped serve food along the drive and another 30 prepared daily boxed lunches. Jim says the meals were not exactly gourmet cuisine but there’s nothing quite like a hot meal cooked on the open plains.

By the time the ride is complete, Bates will have served 4,000 lbs of beef, 4,800 lbs of potatoes, 24,000 eggs, 1,500 lbs of bacon, 12,000 buns, 500 lbs of butter, 72,000 creamers in 35,000 cups of coffee and 6,600 boxed lunches.

From a Cochrane Times article September 27, 2000
Crossing the Jumping Pound Creek
Hugh Halladay 75 Rocky Mtn House Takes a lunch Break Cochrane Times Photo

People attended from around the world including the rest of Canada, England, Australia, Norway, Holland and many parts of the U.S. Ken estimates 30% of people attending were not from the area.

10 wagons followed the drive.

Besides saddle sores, there was only one injury. Ken’s dad Bob Aylesworth was thrown from his horse minutes from the start breaking his pelvis.

"The day we came down the hill to ride through Cochrane was very emotional. All this work and we were coming to the end of it all. The streets were lined and people were on the roof of the bar. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun."

Ken Aylesworth
Driving down Main Street, Cochrane Times Photo

Brad Dennis, a friend of Kens and an investment banker participated.  Ken convinced him to come and he had one of the most incredible experiences of his life with riding a horse and sleeping on the ground. When we stopped he said “Kenny, lets do it again.”

Hooves of History created a wonderful event for Cochrane. Media from around the world were here.

Ken Aylesworth

Thanks to Ken Aylesworth, the Cochrane Times and the Cochrane Historical Museum Archive for providing details of Hooves of History 2001.

Ice Cream has always been good business

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Phyliss Hart talks about how her father, Hedley Hart brought ice cream to his drug store in 1934 to bring people into the business. The video “The Five Cent Article” is from the series 100 Stories for 100 Years produced by Barry Thorson.

Hedley Hart purchased the drugstore from Dr. Waite who often closed the business when he had calls in the country. While business in Cochrane was better than in Gadsby, AB it wasn’t enough to support a family.

One day, Max Thibodeau, with Union Milk and Crystal Diary in Calgary came in to sell an ice cream machine and everything to go with it. Thibodeau must have been quite the salesman or visionary to sell $1500.00 of equipment when ice cream sold for just .05 cents.

It didn’t take long before the name was established and Hedley was staying up until 2 AM to keep up with the ice cream demand. He purchased a couple of new machines to help out. It wasn’t long before it became a Sunday pastime for Calgarians to drive to Cochrane for a Hart’s ice cream cone or a thick shake.

The store was an agent for Brewster, later Greyhound Bus Lines. Bus drivers would buy ice cream and it wasn’t long before passengers did the same.  At the time, Cochrane was on the Trans Canada and ran right through Cochrane. It wasn’t until years later that the Trans Canada Highway was routed miles south.

In 1956, Hedley Hart sold the drugstore and ice cream business to Bob and Alice Graham.  Hedley Hart, then 70 retired with family to Calgary. A year later, the Trans Canada Highway was developed south of Cochrane and the Grahams decided to sell the ice cream business to Jimmy MacKay. 

from files supplied by Phyllis Hart. 

Photo accompanying video, presumably of the drug store

Nothing Really Outstanding – Aileen Copithorne

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Aileen Copithorne talks about the freedom experienced growing up in Cochrane. CHAPS Cochrane has a YouTube Channel with over 40 interesting stories of Cochrane. 

Aileen Davies grew up in Cochrane in the home that is now the Cochrane Historical Museum.

She has many stories of growing up in a small town.

She tells a story of biking with friend, Dorothy Reed when Mr O’Keefe, the Bank Manager once offered them ride to 12 Mile Coulee to watch the Stampede Fireworks. They left their bikes behind Andisons’ store. Not thinking that fireworks were after dark they didn’t get home until late. Both parents had searched river and creek areas looking for them. “Our parents were so glad to see us we didn’t get in too much trouble.”

“Dorothy and I had stick horses which we rode over the hill to the brickyard. We also had stilts made by uncle Jack. The family across the road had tall stilts and used to sit on roof of house across the street just to watch people.  Their name was  Kinsley.”

Aileen went to school in brick school that used to be where Holy Spirit currently sits. She remembers looking south one day to see the Brushy Ridge fire.  Students were glued to the windows and the smoke was horrendous.

“I was the lone graduate in my class of grade 12. It was very lonely in high school.” She had classmates in earlier grades but they did not stick it out to Grade 12.

“School was  very regimented. Our Principal had a hand bell to call us back to class. If you didn’t behave you got hit with the bell. We used to have to line up girls then boys and march into school.”

“Cochrane used to be divided into east side and west side. You didn’t have friends from the other side of town. You visited the other side if you had relatives but there was little mixing. Many homes in Cochrane had barns behind them for horses and carriages. Homes had large gardens.” Aileen remembers Auntie Annie feeding a lot of men when they got off the train with food from the garden and from local chickens.

She attended a very rigorous 3 year Nursing program at Calgary General. “The first year you felt basically a slave, we were paid $6.00 per month, had no days off, had to attend lectures from Doctors during our off time and had a 10 PM curfew.  Year 3 you were a Senior and had more freedom.” Occasionally she came home on the midnight train.  The uniform was black stockings, striped blue and white dress, with apron and bib with white hat. “The stockings were terrible.” 

Since the train used to stop in Cochrane it was used to get into Calgary.

Thomas Davies Home

Aileen married John Copithorne and moved to their family place that originally sat where Gleneagles Golf Course currently is.

Aileen tells a story about John’s dad when driving their first tractor. He ran it through a fence into McPherson’s. When asked about his accident he said he hollered “Whoa but the damn thing didn’t stop”.

Copithorne family diary
Claude Copithorne 1920 using binder to harvest grain on Cochrane Hill.
John and Aileen Copithorne.

Aileen says they were lucky to grow up in Cochrane in an uncomplicated time. 

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Royal Canadian Legion Collaboration

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Dave Usherwood of the local Legion Branch has been in touch for the assistance of our members and followers. The Legion is planning on completing the Cenotaph. While planning is ongoing they are asking for assistance:

  1. Original Cochrane Bricks
  2. Photos of the pre – 1975 Memorial.

Opening of the Original Legion.

I will update this post after doing further research. Right now, we want to get this request out.

Motorcycle Hillclimb Update

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CHAPS is collaborating with ACE HY Motorcycle club of Calgary to explore the history of motorcycle hill climbing in the Cochrane area. We’ve met to review club photos to identify local land marks and will soon do the same with club movies.

Our progress to date has been documented in an article in the Cochrane Times. We’ve found some beautiful photos of one hill climb on Cochrane Hill.

Cochrane in the Background
Cochrane Times Article
How am I doing?
Not so well !!!!

History Column Collaboration

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CHAPS is excited to begin a collaboration with the Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation to create twice monthly articles in a local paper.

The Cochrane Times contacted us about the possibility of regular articles on the history of Cochrane and Area. Our first article will appear in the Jan 23rd issue followed in two weeks time by the article from Stockmen’s.

We're excited about this opportunity to educate about the history of Cochrane and area.

Mark Boothby Tweet

We're looking forward to explaining history one brand at a time.

Scott Grattidge Tweet

Can anyone suggest a name for our Article?

Answers to Jan 19th Pioneer Terms Quiz

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Last Friday we ran this quiz.

Do you know what these local pioneer terms mean?

1. Anti-I-over A favorite team game at country schools, which involved catching a ball that was thrown over the schoolhouse.

2. Bee. A co-operative effort by the neighbours to get a job done quickly, such as seeding or harvesting the crop of a settler who was ill, or constructing a barn or community building.

3. Bennett Medal. A medal, later a ten dollar cash prize, given annually to the student having the highest marks in each country school in R.B. Bennett’s constituency

4. Broadcast. To throw seed from the hand for dispersion in sowing. Many settlers seeded their first crops in this manner.

5. Buffalo Chips. Dried buffalo manure used for fuel when firewood was unavailable.

6. Bull Durham. A very fine cigarette tobacco sold in a small red and yellow sack with a draw string. Cowboys usually catied the sack in a shirt pocket.

7. Scrip.  A certificate or coupon given by the government to certain settlers, entitling them to land.

8. CPR Strawberries. Dried prunes

9. Remittance Man. An immigrant, usually from Britain, who received a regular allowance or remittance from home.

10. Rubbering . Listening in on the neighbours’ conversations on a party line telephone.

Stacking Hay

Sunday Puzzler Jan 20, 2019

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I overheard someone ask this question at our Photo opening the other night. I never noticed the characters on this sign before nor do I know what they mean.

We’re asking all those puzzle masters out there to help us solve this one!

What are these characters?

Contacts on Twitter have provided a partial answer to our question about the language on Bob and Alice Graham’s Pharmacy sign.

What is our Why?

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We want to share our “Why” with you.  I prefer to have other peoples perspectives but I’ll share a couple of my own first.

  • 20 years ago,  a volunteer group of people concerned with saving the history of Cochrane started the Cochrane Historical & Archival Preservation Society. 
  • 5 years ago,  CHAPS opened the Cochrane Historical Museum. This scope of this one project amazes and motivates me. CHAPS saved a historic building, fund raised, co-ordinated with several levels of government , had it moved to a wonderful location and had the building restored as a Museum. Truly Inspiring.
  • A dedicated, core group of volunteers has been keeping CHAPS active for 20 years. We are in need of help. We need to expand our membership, our influence and our volunteers.

In the next year, I want to interview a number of our volunteers and get their perspective on being involved in CHAPS. Stay tuned.

I hope you are asking yourself how I can help. I have a few ideas that don’t cost a lot of your time or money.

  • share and comment on our social media posts with your friends. We want to share our core message of saving and educating about our history to be spread widely. We’re seeing a massive swing lately. Help us keep it going!
  • Like our pages. CHAPS Cochrane and Cochrane Historical Museum have pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Youtube. I’ll be adding social media icons to our webpage soon to help you find and like our feeds.
  • Become a member. It’s super inexpensive. $10.00 a year for an individual, $15.00 for a family. Here’s a link to our Member page.
  •  Attend one of our meetings. We are having more and more educational meetings. Stay tuned to our events webpage for updates. 
  • Donate to CHAPS to help us fund our projects. We have a Donate button on the top right side and bottom of our webpages. Our CHAPS Facebook page is running a fundraising campaign until the end of March. They have been hugely successful so far and we can always go over the top.
  • Lastly, most importantly, become a volunteer. We have a core group but they can’t do it forever. We can use your help however you want to become involved. A couple of my own ideas are:
    • Membership. Help us find new members and stay in touch with existing members.
    • Become a Director. Volunteer now and let your name stand at the September A.G.M. I did, scared me to death but I’m sure glad I did.
    • Research. Get in touch to hear the topics we’re planning.
    • Volunteer at the museum during the summer.
    • Attend or help with our summer time guided tours of Historic Cochrane.

5 years ago,  CHAPS opened the Cochrane Historical Museum. This scope of this one project amazes and motivates me. CHAPS saved a historic building, fund raised, co-ordinated with several levels of government , had it moved to a wonderful location and had the building restored as a Museum. Truly Inspiring.

Mark Boothby Tweet

We have to say thanks:

  • to everyone that came out to our Photo Archive opening. Both members who shared stories and 15 excited, interested guests.
  • the support of the local media who have helped us share our message.
  • local admins of Facebook pages who provide a means for us to share.
  • everyone that has shared our message on any of our social media feeds.
  • to our existing members and volunteers.

Those other perspectives I spoke of:

  • an editorial in the Cochrane Eagle about maintaining our Heritage.
  • an article on CochraneNow about our Photo Archive.
  • an article in the Cochrane Times about a new exhibit in the Cochrane Historical Museum

Blue Sky Memories

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Another in the 100 Stories for 100 Years series produced by Barry Thorson.

Vernice (Towers) Wearmouth talks about the Brushy Ridge fire and cutter rides from the Ranch to Cochrane to attend dances.  It’s a lovely story from a local pioneer of the challenges and joys of living in the area.

The Brushy Ridge Fire 

from an article by Bob Callaway in Big Hill Country page 718

Nov 19, 1936 a day remembered by many for years to come. Winds up to 90 MPH  (150 kmh) fanned a fire that raced across the prairie.

With the gale-force winds driving the fire, there was no fighting it. The year previous had been very dry and the country was dry as tinder. A haystack or field of grass would catch fire and be picked up by the wind and carried a half mile, mile or even two miles only to be set down and start another fire.

Then came a shower of rain, bringing a day of living hell to an end. Men had come from Cochrane, Jumping Pound and Springbank to help fight it. Many different methods were tried. George Callaway tried to plow a fireguard in front of it, to no avail. Lennie Blow rode a truck tarp being dragged behind a truck to try and smother the flames that too, was unsuccessful. The fire continued its course and a drop in the wind and a shower of rain were the only things that stopped it from continuing right into Calgary.

Digitally Preserving Alberta’s Diverse Cultural History

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We recently heard from a group doing some interesting work to preserve our history. They asked us to make our members aware. We’re happy to do that.

Hi! I’m working with Dr. Peter Dawson at the University of Calgary. We have recently made a Facebook page to help share our digital preservation work in Alberta. I was wondering if you would be willing on sharing our page to your group? We thought many of your members might find the content interesting, especially as we continue to grow over the next few months!

Facebook page

From tent rings and bison jumps to large scale industrial structures, Alberta’s heritage resources reflect our collective histories. Wildfires, flooding, vandalism, and development continue to place Alberta’s heritage at varying degrees of risk. Reality capture technologies like terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and aerial photogrammetry can be used to digitally capture and preserve provincial heritage resources. An archive has been created as a repository for these digital data sets so they will remain accessible to future generations. Learn more and keep updated by following the project's Facebook page here!

Madisen Hvidberg

Here’s a backgrounder that mentions some work they’ve done on the McDougall Church.

Read the full Article

Here’s an update from their website with a visualization of the Perrenoud homestead.

Perrenoud Homestead
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