This was at the start of the Depression, and work was hard to get. In the summer of 1928, Dad and Gordon worked at Pete Collins’ Brickyard, which was the last year that the brickyard operated. After that, they worked at any job they could get. The Cochrane Race Track was in operation then, and when the Race Horse Train arrived in Cochrane, Gordon would find some excuse to leave the room at school.
by Kathleen Beynon Page 292 More Big Hill Country 1945-1980 Robert George Beynon “Bob” was the third child of Sophie and Jack Beynon, both Welsh immigrants. He was born March 17, 1926, in the big brick house at the east and of town. Alistair Moore and his wife Dolly lived there for many years. The … Read more
from More Big Hill Country 1945-1980 The Village of Cochrane had only been in existence for four years when the Union Bank of Canada arrived in 1907 to set up a branch. Frequently referred to as the pioneer bank of Western Canada, the Union Bank followed Canada’s railway across the Prairies and had the distinction … Read more
from Big Hill Country T.B.H. Cochrane, son of Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane of England, and his wife, Lady Adela Cochrane, daughter of the Earl of Stadbroke, were the founders of Mitford. The Cochranes were a remittance family that had come to Canada in 1883. They went to the High River area and acquired a large … Read more
Random Notes from Gordon and Belle Hall The following article is from a Peep into the Past by Gordon and Belle Hall. They ran a series of articles that outlined the history of the local fire department. A new brick Presbyterian church was built in 1909 which in 1925 or thereabouts became the United Church … Read more
by Marjorie Spicer Cochrane came into being with the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Its name was given by the C.P.R. in honour of Senator M. H. Cochrane, who established the first large leasehold cattle ranch in southern Alberta, then the Northwest Territories. The C.P.R. came west to Cochrane in the early 1880s. A … Read more
George Teply provided this photo of the current Cochrane Ranche site from Cochrane Heights from 1977. You can see the Gilbert Ranch buildings as well as what I believe is the brickyard pit in the background. Here is an article from by Noel Edey in Cochrane Now about the current archeological dig and future construction … Read more
Tim Collard wrote this article that also appears in the Cochrane Times. John M. “Red” Pollard (October 27, 1909 – March 7, 1981) was a Canadian horse racing jockey. A founding member of the Jockeys’ Guild in 1940, Pollard rode at racetracks in the United States and is best known for riding Seabiscuit. Family History … Read more
CHAPS has received a number of documents outlining the historical significance of the COCHRANE RANCHE. Other Names: British American Ranch Co. Cochrane Creamery Cochrane Ranch Co. (Ltd.) Cochrane Ranch Co. Ltd Western Heritage Centre Statement of Significance Description of Historic Place Cochrane Ranche is the site of Alberta’s first large‐scale ranch, which operated between 1881 … Read more
The History of Horse Racing in Cochrane CHAPS is planning monthly presentations of the history of Cochrane and Area. The first, which was given in October, goes hand in hand with an exhibit we’re planning. Thanks to Tim Collard for researching and developing a pamphlet. The presentation was done by Frank Hennessey. Photos courtesy of … Read more
