By Gwen Connon pg 362 More Big Hill Country 2009
I was born in 1935, along with my twin brother Glen, into a family of 12. We lived in the Big Bend District west of Innisfail, Alberta. This was later sold to become the Innisfail Airport. We moved to the Niobe district, north of Innisfail, about three miles south of Penhold, Alberta. We attended school at Niobe, either walking about two miles each way or riding horseback.
Growing up we attended the United Church, which was held at Antler Hill School. I was a member of the choir there. I rode my bicycle about a mile and a half to take piano lessons. Some of my brothers and sisters went to a 4-H group in Penhold, showing their calves and selling them there.
I attended High School at Red Deer Composite High, staying in the dormitory during the week. In 1951 , I met George. He was from a family of 14 and they lived west of Bowden. George and his family came from Scotland when he was only three years old. Growing up he was active in hockey, baseball and fishing. George went to work for a local farmer that raised show cattle.
After leaving school, I went to work as a bookkeeper at A & B Motors and Burrows Hardware. George left the farm and worked at Central Cleaners for several years. We both loved to dance and then started curling. He was involved in umpiring baseball for several years.
We were married on October 21 , 1953 and George went to work at the Bowden Institution until May 1956. He was offered the job of Farm Manager at Spy Hill Gaol, which wasn’t even built then. There were two big farm homes there. We lived in one and had 10 inmates in the other along with a guard. Construction started soon on the new Gaol. By 1958, they moved us into a new home across the main road from where we were living. George ran a large dairy herd with the inmates doing the milking and farm work.
Our first child, Michael was born in 1955 in Innisfail. Larry was born in Calgary in 1957, Rick in 1961 and Heather in 1966. They all attended school in Cochrane.
In 1969, we decided to move to Cochrane as we were meeting each other on the road, taking kids to various activities they were involved in. We lived on William Street, not far from the outdoor skating rink. Some days I would feed supper to as many as ten boys and then send them out to hockey, baseball or where ever else they were going. Meanwhile, Heather and I would deliver the Calgary Herald, which was an evening paper at that time.
George worked various shifts and he and two other people took turns driving. In his spare time he joined a group of other people helping to raise money for the Indoor Arena up on the hill by the High School.
Michael graduated from Cochrane High School and along with Roy Paul and Mike Schlegel owned and operated Double Action Excavating. I was their secretary for a few years. They did a lot of work for Calgary Power in Cochrane and area. Construction was booming at that time so they excavated several homes in Cochrane, Bragg Creek, Cremona and areas. In 1983, Michael decided to move to Vancouver where he still resides, working in the car business. He and his wife Linda have three children who are now graduated and out on their own.
Larry left Cochrane and worked in Calgary, Red Deer and Lacombe in construction. In 1972 he moved to Vancouver Island where he owns and operates a roofing business. Larry met Darlene LeGas and they were married in 1983. They have two children, Tyler and Christine. Tyler is attending College hoping to attain a Business Degree. Christine left school and works at various jobs.
Rick finished school here and went to work at Town and Country Auto Parts. He married Stacy Tribe in I 985 and they have a son Christopher who will graduate June, 2007. Their daughter, Kelly is in Grade 9 at Bow Valley High. Chris is a football player and Kelly is deeply involved with soccer. Stacey worked for several year at the Cochrane Gas Plant and now is at Mr. P. Potty.
Heather graduated from Cochrane High School. She worked for Fast Gas for awhile and then met her husband Paul Matchim from Newfoundland. They went back to Newfoundland for a three week holiday, which extended to 3 1/2 years when they returned to Calgary. Paul owns a Sheet Metal Business and they live in the city. They have one daughter Melissa. Heather is a teacher aide working with children from other countries who don’t speak English.
During the years, George and I have been very active with Senior Curling, Horseshoes and the United Church. We both loved to camp and fish and travel. We moved to Scotthaven Apartments in 1989 and soon became Manager, which I still do. We meet a lot of interesting people.
George retired from Spy Hill Gaol in 1982 and went to work at the Curling Rink for several years. We also did some catering to weddings, anniversaries and at the Gas Plant.
George became ill with Alzheimer Disease for the last eight years of his life. He passed away March 8, 2005. I had a heart attack in September 2006 but am now feeling very well.
