Introduction and General Information about the area

NVIGNI
33:)NVS
first Printing 1975
Second Printing 1976
Our Foothills publi shed by Mill a rville. Kew, Priddi s and Bragg Creek Hi stori ca l Society c/o Mrs. K. T osh R .R. 8, Ca lgary. Alberta , T2J 2T 9 " 1975 Regi ste r Number 119 Serial Numbe r 262029 Standa rd Book Number 0-919212-81-6 Printed hy D. W. Frit:se:n & Sons lid .
550 1 IA 51. S. w .
C dg.; ,r y. Alhcrtil 1 ~H OE6
HC; ld Ol l iec: Alt on;\. M;lnitub;l ROG OBO
2
Foreword
There is a new interest in history. That is good.
History holds charms for its students and lessons for
everybody. Good citizens cannot afford to ignore it. I
commend the study of ancient history and wish our people
were more familiar with the rise and fall of old world
empires. I would urge more familiarity with the brief
but exciting story of Canada. Our people who would know
their own Nation should strive to understand its geography,
its resources, its people and certainly its struggles. And
what chapter in new world history is more fascinating and
more important to us than the record of hardships and
triumphs in Western Canada? And as more and more people
are now discovering, community history or local history can
be both useful and delightful.
Since Centennial Year in Canada when many of the
country's people discovered the Canadian heritage of heroes
and achievements, many local histories have been written and
published. Not all the books so turned out were masterpieces
but all were valuable and very much worthwhile. In Alberta
alone local history books written in the last five years
would number several scores and have been responsible for
capturing for posterity stories of pioneer courage and
industry and imagination, all very priceless.
Having noted that general interest in preserving an
important part of the heritage, one may then ask: What
community has more to remember than that foothills area
marked by Millarville, Priddis, Kew and Bragg Creek? What
community has more in natural elegance, in romance and in
memories? Having regard to its early settlement and its
colourful characters, what area has more and better reason
for trying to capture the story and make it available to
younger people.
Those who sensed the .n eed for a permanent record in
word and picture are to be congratulated and those who worked
for it over several years are to be thanked. The tasks in
accumulating materials, sorting, organizing, writing and
editing were big ones but happily there were those dedicated
people with patience and enthusiasm to see the job completed.
May the result bring reward in satisfaction and publ~f gratitude.
tfj/'v/ i
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Grant\;Vc~an! .
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PREFACE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The proposal for a history of Millarville came
originally from the local Willing Workers Women 's
Institute when they called a community meeting to
organize a committee in 1965. On April 24, 1966, the
Millarville History Society met for the (irst time. From
the beginning it was recognized that this group included
the Kew district. The Priddis and Bragg Creek districts
were invited to collaborate in 1970 and 1971 respectively .
Thus the Millarville, Kew, Priddis and Bragg Creek
Historical Society was organized to record the history of
these communities up to 1940.
To retain the local color and characteristics of the old
times as much as possible it was decided that rewording
and editing should be kept to a minimum. Thus the book
is the sum total of the work of the contributors and
attempts to reflect not only what these foothill com­
munities were but also what they have become . Any
errors or omissions, entirely inadvertent, are regretted .
The society gratefully acknowledges the invaluable
assistance of the contributors, of those who made
suggestions, sought out old records and photographs, and
of those who served on the committees. It thanks all
those who provided accommodation for meetings, es­
pecially the Church House, Ranchers' Hall, School and
the Race Track Hall , all of Millarville, and the Priddis
Community Hall. It wishes to express appreciation to
Jane Fisher and Stanford Perrot for their sketches, to
Janet MacKay and Betty Nelson for the book cover
design a nd to the High River Times and the Rocky View
News for publicity .
The Societ y especially wishes to record its gratitude
for research and other assistance provided by the
following: the Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa; the
Provincial Archives of Alberta and the Department of
History (especially Dorothy Fearson), University of
Alberta, of Edmonton; the Land Titles Offices at Ed­
monton and Calgary; the Synod Oflices, Dioceses of
Calgary and Edmonton ; the Glenbow-Alberta Institute,
the Department of Lands and Forests, the Marathon
Realty Company Limited and the Calgary Herald, all of
Calgary; Ermaline Meding Ference, Joan Irving, Frank
Layton, Ron Blair, Sheilagh Jameson and Dr. Grant
MacEwan. The members of the society particularly wish
to thank Dr. Lewis G. Thomas for his extensive time and
effort on our behalf to compile our memorial to the
pioneers of these districts.
The members sincerely appreciate the donations and
loans towards the costs of production. Unfortunately the
printing schedule does not permit us to personally
acknowledge each of our benefactors .
R. H. (Dick) King
President
Sept. I, 1975
Dedication ..... .... .... .. ..... ........ ... ...... ....... ... .......... ...
Foreword ... .. ..... ......... ........ .... ....... ........ ..... ... .... ....
Preface ................................... ................. ..... ..... .. .
General Articles ...... ............................. ... .............
Churches ..... .... ... ....... .... ... ....... .................. ......
Organizations and Activities ... .... ... .. ..... .. ...... ..
Sports .. .................. ................ ......... ................
M illarville and Kew .. .................. .. ................ .......
Stoney Indians ................................................
Family Histories .... .......... ... .......... .. ... ... ..........
Schools ................. ..... .. .. ......... ................... .....
Old Ranch Houses ...... ... ... ........ ...... ....... ... .....
Priddis .......... ... .... ......... ..... ....... .... ........... ..... .. .... ..
Family Histories ........... ..... ...................... ... .. ..
Schools ............. ...... ........................ ... .. .. .........
Activities and Articles ......... ...... .... .. .. ....... ......
Our Sarcee Neighbours .................................
Bragg Creek .. .... .............. ............ ... .. .... ... ... ... .......
Schools .................... ....... ................................
Activities and Articles .. ... ...............................
Family Histories .. ..... .. .. ............. ... ...... ... .........
Conclusion ..... .... ........... ..... ...... ... ........... ..... ....
Index .. .......... .. ... ................. ... ..................... ..... .....
5
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26 41 6I 67 70 73 236 248 255 260 394 396 404 407 409 4 I2 423 480 482 GENERAL ARTICLES generally, east of Highway 22 breaks in more open
fashion to the south east and is hilly with less well defined
ridges and wider valleys. The native tree growth is more
scattered and very largely deciduous in nature.
In general terms the areas of concern for this book
are those drained by the North Fork of Sheep Creek and
Fish Creek with their tributaries, also by a part of the
Elbow River including its tributary of Bragg Creek.
Roughly this comprises Townships 20, 2 I and 22 of
Ranges 2, 3 and 4, and parts of Townships 22 and 23 in
Range 5. However definite boundaries are not adhered to
because the affiliation of people to a centre was con­
sidered the criteria rather than geographical contours or
township lines.
The North Fork of Sheep Creek is presently
designated as Threepoint Creek and has been so noted on
some maps . However in the records and maps of early
surveyors it is named the North Branch of Sheep Creek,
and oldtimers of the area invariably called it Sheep
Creek . The three main branches are Fisher, Quirk and
Ware Creeks, all named for original settlers . On its
eastward trek the North Fork of Sheep Creek winds
through Millarville, unites with the South Fork near the
eastern edges of the district, then is joined by the
Highwood east of Okotoks before converging with the
Bow. Fish Creek draws its waters from the Mt. Quirk
Watershed close to the source of Fisher Creek' while one
of its main tributaries, Whiskey Creek, also rises just
north of streams that feed Fisher Creek. After flowing
east and north Fish Creek is joined by Priddis Creek at
Priddis before swinging eastward on its journey to the
Bow. The Elbow River cuts through Bragg Creek coun­
try and is joined by Bragg Creek, a stream which is
hurrying down from the Moose Mountain area.
This is the country, designated in terms of to-day but
before the white man came to leave his imprint and give
his names to the creeks and mountains, the Indians
followed their trails through forest and valley and
camped beside the streams. They had their names, too.
The Stonies called Millarville "tosho-bah-a-zoobi"
meaning "bunch of tipi poles", in description of an old
campsite; Priddis was named "kunowaspa", by the
Sarcees, a name which was an adaptation in their
language of Gillespie for Robert Gillespie who ran a
store and stopping house there. 2 Rivers still in many
THE COUNTRY - BEFORE SETTLEMENT Sheilagh S. Jameson Oh would ye hear, and would ye hear
Of the windy, wide North-West?
Faith! 'tis a land as green as the sea,
That rolls as far and rolls as free,
With drifts of flowers, so many there be,
Where the cattle roam and rest.
Oh could ye see, and could ye see
The great gold skies so clear,
The rivers that race through the pine-shade dark,
Th e mountainous snows that take no mark,
Sun-lit and high on the Rock ies stark,
So far they seem as near.
Then could ye feel, and could ye feel
How fresh is a Western night!
When the long land-breezes rise and pass
.-\ nd sigh the rustling prairie grass,
When the dark-blue skies are clear as glass,
And the same old stars are bright. I
Moira O'Neill
Many have been the rhetorical rhapsodies written in
2cscription of the country of Alberta, its prairies, its
ountains, its foothills . Of these three perhaps the
;·oothills country is the most elusive of capture by pen.
l yi ng between the harsh sweep of the prairies and the
s:a rt ling magnificence of the mountains, it possesses
;:;either the stark beauty of the one nor the awesome
EJ1l ndeur of the other, but has a deep appealing loveliness
1- its own. It has openess without the vast monotony of
;;c[a irie country and ruggedness without the im­
~netrability of mountains . The hills and valleys, the
5!opes and coulees of the foothills present a changing
jeauty which has versatility and deep universal appeal.
Every type or degree of foothills scenery is
<:presented in the country covered by this history. In the
3 ragg Creek to Priddis and Kew areas are spruce and
~d pine forests of varying intensity, and steep hills,
vily treed and bearing rock outcroppings. Then run­
: ..,g s.outh and west of Priddis and between Kew and
liil arville, west of Highway 22, the landscape presents a
-eries of ridges having both tree-covered and bare slopes,
'"'ile valleys, open and verdant, lie between . The country
n O'N t:ill. "Th e North West-Canada ", S01lgs of tlrt' Glens of An/rim. London. 1910
5$-9. (The Irish poetess wrote of the country west of High River where she and her hus­
\\'alt er Skrine had their fanch but her th oughts appl y eq uall y well t o .he-area described
J
...--- histo ry .)
7
Hugh A. Dempsey. Indian Nam es/or Albula Communities. Glenbow-Alberta Institute. Oc­
casional Paper No. 4. 1969. pp. 14 and 16.
r n mes which a re translations of the earl y In­
ames. For example Fi sh Creek deri ves its name
from the Blackfoot word, " siokame" mea ning " black
fis h" and Sheep Creek is marked "Itou-kai-you" on
David Thompson's map, 1814, so named because the up­
per reaches were frequented by Rocky Mountain or
bighorn sheep.)
Probably the first white man to pass through the area
described in this book was David Thompson in 1800.
Eight years earlier Peter Fidler with a party of Peigan I n­
dians had come up the South Saskatchewan River head­
ed for the Rocky Mountains and spent some weeks in the
Highwood and Willow Creek area. Although he crossed
Sheep Creek on his journey south of the Bow his journal
does not seem to indicate that he explored the area
covered in thi s book ; however, he was sta ying at the
Peigan Indian camp about two miles north of the present
town of High River and who knows where a day's
wanderings from here might have taken him 4
[n his journal David Thompson tells of setting off
from Rocky Mountain House on an exploring expedition
in November, 1800, with Duncan McGillivary, four other
Hudson's Bay Compan y men and a Peigan I ndian guide.
He travelled in a southerly direction, passed through the
present site of Calgary and continued south to Spitzee
where he visited a camp of "about 40 Lodges" .5 Leaving
this camp on November 26 he journeyed tow ards the
north west , crossed Tongue Creek and travelled on to
Sheep Creek , crossing probabl y a short dist ance east of
the connuence of the branches.6 Then after proceeding
north west for eight miles the party camped at a "Ham­
mock of Woods". The following day they rode for some
five miles before stopping to chase and kill buffalo. Then
after having a meal they travelled approximatel y seven
miles , crossed Fish Creek in the vicinit y of the site of
Priddis and after continuing for about four miles,
camped again "in a large Hammock of Aspens and
Poplars". In description of the country through which
they had passed Thompson said, "The Road of day ex­
tensive Meadows with everywhere Patches of Wood and
Willows. The Ground was broken into high Knowls and
vallies and the Surface uneven ."
Ca ptain John Palliser was the next person to leave
any written description of the Millarville-Priddis area.
While mapping and exploring Western Can ada two trips
by different parties of the expedition traversed this sec­
tion of the foothills. On Augu st 4, 1858, Palliser himself
crossed the Bow River near Calgary on a southward
journey. He described the country as a fertile belt, the
land good and rolling or undulating in ch a racter, with
willow and poplar on northern exposures and the valley
of Sheep River well wooded . The next day he ch ased a
single buffalo cow "almost to the edge of the plains" and
on August 6, rode along the western flank of the
Procupine Hills.1
A few da ys later Lieut. Thomas Blakist on, separating
from the expedition, set off to explore the Kootenay
passes . Leav ing Old Bow Fort near the present site of
\11 orley, on August 12, 1858, he set course sou th
eastward. After travelling initi ally through forest of
spruce, small pine, a few balsa m, poplar and aspen the
Bl akiston party veered more to the east to avoid the dif­
ficulties presented by fallen timber. I n his journal
Blakiston states that they now were in a country of outly­
ing ridges which were numerous and ran parallel to the
great chain so here they were a ble "to pass along the
valleys between the ridges" where were "ma ny fine
prairie slopes" .8
In 1872 Col. P. Robertson-Ross , commanding officer
and adjutant-general of the Militia of Canada, also
travelled through the vall eys of the Fish and Sheep
Creeks. He was on a reconnaisa nce trip through Western
Canada so th a t he might assess the situation and recom­
mend action for the control of the whiskey trade and the
establishment of law in the West. On September 20th ,
1872, he and hi s party left their camp which was located
north of the Bo w River in the area of present da y Calgary
and headed south west. They crossed the Elbow River
which they ca lled "Moose Creek" and then another
stream termed "Sweet Creek" which would seem to have
been Fish Creek. They also passed Moose Hill which is
located just west of the Sarcee Reserve.
In his di a ry Robertson-Ross gives some description
of the country. He found the valley "very prett y", stating
that there was, " Very fine pastural and agricultrual coun­
try all round. Some good timber in the valleys" . He also
added that, "A party of four American Smugglers
wintered here on the Sheep Creek some time ago ."9
So wrote the first explorers a nd tra vellers who record­
ed their impressions of the Millarville-Kew-Priddis­
Bragg Creek area . Then during the next decades, com­
mencing in 1881 , came another group of observers whose
instruments included pencils. These were the earl y sur­
veyors and their reports contain some interesting descrip­
tions and observ a tions concerning the geog raphical
fea tures and agri cultrual potential of the country.
C. E. LaRue in 1883 classed Township 21 in Range 2
as being "not very desirable for settlement, on account of
the surface being very hilly and stony", however, L.
Kennedy in 1881 commented that the soil in the same
Township was first class and the grazing good. 'O
In !884 G. Ross gives an extremel y detailed descrip­
tion of Township 21 , Ran ge 3, of the succession of hills
a nd valleys, the wooded and prairie slopes, the creeks of
pure water and the luxuriant growth of grass and vetches.
He felt that Townships 21 and 22 were both exceedingly
well adapted to grazing but th at the land , though rich ,
was "too moist for grain growing". 11
Fred W. Wilkins surveyed Townships 20, 21 and 22,
Range 4 in 1893 . He mentioned " Quirk Creek (N orth
Fork Sheep Creek)" as a stream of importance along
which were " some excellent bottom lands" all taken up
by settlers. He described Township 21 as very rough and
in ending his report said, "As a general st atement this
Place Salli es of A Iberia. Ott<lwa, 19 28. pp. SI an d liS.
1
Caprain Pal/i.{('r ',( Exploratioll i" Bri/is h .Vorllt America. 1863. p. 9 1.
I
J a mes G. MacG rego r. Perf'Y Fiddler: Canado',t Fargo lli' ll Surveyor. T oronto 1966. pp. 72- 73,
II
Captai ll Palliser's £.\'pforaiiol/ ill Bri/ish ;'lior/II America, 18 59. p. 67.
.1
G lcnbow-A lbe n a In stitut e A rchi ves . Mi crofilm . Dav id Th ompso n's Journ al. v .6. No. IJ . pp.
9
"Robe ns on- Ro'\s' Diary" , ,· lIberra HiSTOrical Rel'ie . . ·. S ummer. 1961. p. 16 .
J
100 and 10 1. (O ri gin al in Ontario archi ves.) All subsequent quo te s from Thompso n's Journ al
'n
D e.l"aipliolls of (h r TV h'lls hips Qf Ihe :Vorrh - West Tcrri l orie.{, OtlJ wJ. 1886.
from sa me so urce.
~ ' S ur\'eys
6
Bran ch. Dcpl. of Hi ghw ay s and Tr ansport. Ed monton. Geo rge Ross. "Fidd NOl\:S
of S urve ys in T ownship 21. Range J. West of 5th Meri di:J n. 1 ~l)4 . ·· All subsequent rde rences
10 su r vey':;, <.I re f rom Field NOles of sur veyors as ind ic:.l lcd.
"T ho mpson's Journey 10 the Red Deer Rive r", edit ed by H. A. Dempsey. Alberru Historical
Rel'/(' II', V. IJ . (Sp ring. 1965). pp. 11 and 12. Id enlificJtion of,ri vers.
8
Pack train beside curling arena, 1904. (Could be a survey party)
section of the country is not adapted to the uses of the
"Moss back" (agriculture), but is a fair one in the
"Ra nching" or Stock raising interests."
In some reports dated 1906 and 07 the surveyors
speak of the trails from Okotoks or Calgary which might
be "good", "rough" or when further west "rather boggy
in summer, generally glare ice in winter". By 1913 there
were "good wagon roads" from Okotoks and Calgary.
In several reports the plentiful supply of fish in Sheep
and other creeks and the scarcity or prevalence of game
a re noted; in others there are comments regarding saw
mills and coal seams on Fish and Bragg Creeks and the
possibilities of further development in this regard ; many
spea k of the likelihood of summer frosts . C. F. Miles
wrote reports that are rather difficult to decipher but rich
in content. In 1906 he tells of finding in Section 30,
Township 21, Range 4, an old shack "said to have been
the site of an old illicit still". He describes in some detail
ranches of the area, the type of feed grown, the Indian
trails , the game he sees. I n one instance he devoted half a
page to a "peculiar looking small animal" , that
" a ppea red to be domiciled under the floor of the log
shack and made considerable depredations at night
among my provisions." It was what is "locally called a
mountain rat."
The early Dominion Land Surveyors, like the ex­
plorers and travellers before them, recorded their obser­
vations of the country and moved on. But by this time the
ranchers a nd settlers had arrived in the Foothills and they
had come to stay.
It has been said that the environmental factors of a
country can shape its people. One can see the truth of this
st atement in many of the old lands, but the situ ation in
Western Canada is rather different. With regard to the
sm all segment of foothills country which is the subject of
this saga, the shape of the country has to a large extent
determined the people - the kind of people, who settled
it. Its attractive physical features, its beauty, drew into its
valleys and hills people who saw, or felt, that beauty.
Although the time in generations has not been sufficient,
nor the time in history fraught with the required static
and isolated conditions for this foothills area to weld and
shape a people of its own, still it has left its imprint on the
individuals who have lived within its confines. To those of
us who have known and loved this country, it will always
be home.
FOUR FOOTHILLS COMMUNITIES: AN
INTRODUCfION - by Lewis G. Thomas
The Setting
In 1874 the North West Mounted Police arrived in
the southern part of what was soon to be named the
Territorial District of Alberta . Less than ten years later
Calgary had an established railway service and, following
/' the lead of the police, ranchers had established
themselves along the foothills . Before long much of the
grazing land of southern Alberta was committed to leases
held by ranching f:ompanies financed in eastern Canada
and the United Kingdom, and in 1885 Calgary could
briefly interrupt its agreeable contemplation of its
promising future to watch the suppression of the
Northwest Rebellion . The scene of the fighting was com­
fortably far to the northeast , the alarms soon died down
under the quieting influence of Indians like the great
Crowroot and intending homesteaders began to fan out
from Calgary. As many were more interested in stock­
raising than in cultivating land, they were drawn to the
foothills of the Rockies where most of the cattle com ­
panies had already established their headquarters.
Within easy reach to the south and west of Calgary
lay the attractive valleys of foothills streams like the
Elbow, Fish Creek and Sheep Creek . These lands, close
to the railway, promising from the point of view of the
stock-raiser, and possessed of exceptional natural charm ,
provided the setting in which communities like MilIar­
ville, Kew, Priddis and Bragg Creek grew up in the thirty
years between the coming of the railway and the out­
break of war in 1914. By then each had achieved an iden­
tity of its own, but they had more in common than their
setting and close relationships developed between them.
All four were essentially rural communities but, un­
like foothills communities further to the south and north ,
they were peculiarly exposed tu the urban influence of
Calgary, the metropolis with which from the beginning
they maintained close relations. C algary offered services
and amenities the settler needed and valued, and the
sporting a nd social activities the settlers quickly im­
provised attracted many vis itors from Calgary. I n this
close relationship the charm of the foothills landscape
and the ethnic and cultural homogeneity of the early
settlers were important factors .
The four foothills communities also developed
associations with the smaller urban centres that grew up
along the railways, Bragg Creek with Cochrane, Priddis
with Midnapore and Millarville and Kew with Okotoks.
Millarville particularly had associations with High River
but these were more sporting and social than economic.
After the War of 1914-1918 the development of the oil in­
dustry brought close relationships, especially for Kew
and Millarville, with the urbanized clusters of Black Dia­
mond and Turner Valley. There were few homesteaders
south of Sheep Creek and its south fork prior to the turn
of the century; the Township General Records indicate
that before 1900 only three entrants in the part of
Township 20 Range 2 south of the creek ultimately
Big flood of 1922.
R. 5
R. 4
R. 1
R. 2
R. 3
R. 29
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ranching companies that dominated the foothills country
to the south. The lease of the Quorn Ranch extended
south from Sheep Creek and effectively blocked the ex­
pansion of intensive settlement. The rough triangle to the
north, bounded by Sheep Creek, the Bow River and the
Rockies , was at once accessible from the railw ay at
Calgary and as attractive to the intending stock-raiser as
any part of the foothill country. As the lands to the south
remained in effect closed to the homesteader until
1896 this promising enclave north of Sheep Creek offered
exceptional opportunities to anyone who lacked the
means or the inclination to ranch on the grand scale of
the companies.
patented, four in Township 19 Range 3 and none in
Township 19 Range 4. Though the Registers are not a
wholly reliable guide to settlement, for they are richly
productive of clerical errors and take no notice of
squatters, they indicate that, in terms of the early
arrivals, the area encompassed by this study of the four
communities can be more sharply defined to the west and
south than on the north and east.
Sheep Creek in flood can be a turbulent and
treacherous stream, but it was not its dangers that held
settlement north of its banks. It was rather that Sheep
Creek marked the northern limit of the leases of the great
10
and Alfred C. Newson , and below the forks, Lewis C. M .
Eustace and the Church brothers. Fraser and McKinnon
were Nova Scotians but as far as is known the others
were British born . Not all the new arrivals took up
homesteads but those that did were a substantial majori­
ty.
This list of early settlers on Sheep Creek does not in­
clude those fugitive figures whose names are recorded
only as having entered a particular quarter at a particular
date. Who, for example, were John and Patrick
McNamara who, on March 12, 1886 and November 19,
1886 entered respectively the north and south halves of
36-21-2W 5? They were probably veterans of the North
West Rebellion, and possibly brothers but we know
nothing for sure. Others have left more imprint on the
collective memory of the community but our only cer­
taint y is that many came and went, finding it impossible
for one reason or another to meet the demands the en­
vironment imposed on the homesteader.
In the vicinity of Fish Creek the earliest settlers
grouped themselves around their English born pioneer,
Charles Priddis. Here George T. Young, James W .
Ockley, James Hunter, John H. Dowling, James Moore,
Charles Flint, William Jackson, Neil and William
McLeod and Alexander Campbell had in 1886 all taken
up land to which they later took title. These men and
their families gathered around what was to become the
hamlet of Priddis in Township 22 Range 3. In the
northwest part of Township 22 Range 2, David Sinclair,
John McIntosh, John Campbell, James Mangan, Adam
Darling and Richard Peake had settled further down Fish
Creek but in the southwest quarter of that township only
one entry had been recorded, that of Gwynne R. Hughes.
He was closer to Red Deer Lake and the substantial
group of homesteaders who had established themselves in
the eastern part of the township around the lake and on
Pine Creek . Though the Pine Creek and Red Deer Lake
settlers were in touch with those further west, and there is
some evidence of friendly relationships with the early
homesteaders on Sheep Creek, Red Deer Lake and Pine
Creek were both to become communities with distinct
identities of their own, though with many similarities to
their western and southern neighbours.
The lands along Fish Creek were fairly closely settled
in the single year of 1886 and there were only a few ad­
ditional permanent settlers in the remainder of the
The Earliest Settlers
The first settlers established themselves on the creeks,
a ttracted primarily by the water and shelter they prom­
ised for stock, though it is difficult to resist the evidence
that the charm of the landscape and the prospects for
sport , especially for fishing, influenced their decisions.
The Township General Registers throw a good deal of
light on the pattern of settlement , though it must be
recognized that homesteaders often occupied their land
and even made improvements before they formally
entered their claims. Thus Joseph Fisher and his brother,
the earliest settlers above the forks of Sheep Creek, spent
two winters in a stone-lined dug-out on the tributary of
the North Fork that bears their name before they took up
homesteads in 1887. Similarly Charles Priddis had in
1881-1882 wintered on the forks of Fish Creek and had
settled there in 1883 but did not formally register his
claim until 1886 after serving in the Northwest Rebellion.
T here are no earlier entries for the Priddis area though
there are several immediately to the east in the valley of
Pine Creek and near Red Deer Lake that bear dates as
early as 1883. At Bragg Creek and Kew there are no en­
tr ies in the eighties but other evidence indicates that some
pioneers had already established their interest in these
districts. Further down Sheep Creek, below its forks
a nd across from the Quorn Ranch headquarters, William
Edmund Austin in 1885, James Rodgers in 1886 and
Henry Ormsby Boyd and his partner Charles C. Mac­
do nald, also in 1886, had all taken up homesteads . They
were soon in touch with their neighbours to the west and,
it appears, with early settlers on Pine Creek.
On Sheep Creek ' s North Fork Malcolm T . Millar,
J oseph Deane-Freeman and his future brother-in-law ,
Alfred Peter Welsh, had taken up land in 1886. Millar
had served in the North West Mounted Police, Deane­
Freeman in the British navy and Welsh in the North
West Rebellion and all were, like most of the early
settlers on Sheep Creek, born in the United Kingdom. J.
C. Warren and his family arrived on the South Fork
from Ontario in the same year. Further to the west
J oseph Fisher and his brother-in-law, George Bell, had
been joined in 1887 by two Scottish brothers, James and
Robert Turner and by one of the few settlers in the early
years who was not of United Kingdom or, like Austin
a nd Macdonald, of eastern Canadian origin . This was the
Swedish Gustaf Lindgren, who homesteaded in 1886.
Even further west on the streams that come together
o form the north fork of Sheep Creek, there was another
cl uster of settlers , though none of these formally entered
heir homesteads before 1890 . Here John Quirk, Irish
bo rn but for some years a resident of the United States,
had established the Q Ranch at some point in the later
e ighties. Not far away were the Waites and John Ware,
the celebrated negro cowboy , a figure in southern Alberta
ra nching lore of mythological proportions. This group
was in touch not only with their neighbours on the North
Fork but with settlers as far east as the Church brothers,
who put up hay for Ware, and Ormsby Boyd, who sent an
invitation to the Waites to attend a Sheep Creek
Bachelors' Ball that he was organizing.
Other homesteaders to enter claims on Sheep Creek
before 1890 include Jonathan Cuff1ing, the Andersons,
fa ther and sons, John McKinnon , Alexander W. Fraser,
W illiam Brown, William H. Heald, George Patterson
Background: C. Priddis buildings. Centre: W. C Standish blacksmith
shop and house. Foreground: Wm. Standish buildings, 1904.
II
1f:Jl)WI!1~IIIDIP ~W~
RANGE
3 WEST OF FIFTH. MERIDill,
S(:III~. 40 Chums
Dominion
10 lUI
illch .
Contents ,
lands Office
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the
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12
SIOJ'~A<; '
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.... ... =.4.;>.3... 6'0
Aor""
decade, William C. Paterson and George M. Gamsby in
1887, Milton Dowker, Edmund Johnson, Thomas C.
Standish and Robert Gillespie. Though the information
for the Fish Creek settlers is less specific than for those
on Sheep Creek, the names of the homesteaders and fam­
ily tradition suggest that the majority there also came
from the United Kingdom or the central and eastern
provinces of Canada. Many Scottish names appear and,
although some settlers may have came from the United
States, few entries or family accounts suggest an ulti­
mate descent from anywhere but the British Isles .
firms the predominantly United Kingdom background of
the early Sheep Creek settlers. Many appear to have been
drawn from the middle and upper ranges of the United
Kingdom social structure, from families that were com­
fortably off, gently born or both.
The last decade of the nineteeth century brought
only one new permanent settler to what was later to be
known as Kew. There the Quirks, the Waites, and the
Wares were joined by Alex ander Aird. On the south fork
some of the earliest homesteaders, like Thomas Mac­
millan, Samuel Howe, Harry Denning and Walter Vine,
were all to have connections with other Sheep Creek
settlers, though Lineham, as the part where they settled
was to be called, developed an identity of its own.
It was in the nineties that the character of settlement
along Sheep Creek and Fish Creek starts to emerge as
the settlers began to organize the institutions around
which they consolidated their communities. In this con­
solidation their sporting activities, their other
amusements and their churches played a vital part. Ex­
cept at Priddis the school came later, though this is not to
suggest that the settlers further south were unconcerned
about the education of their children. Scattered as they
were along the creeks, in marked contrast to the relative
concentration of families at Priddis, they were obliged to
find other ways of solving the educational problem.
Had this institutional development not been carried
forward in the nineties the nascent communities might
have been submerged under the flood of settlement that
poured into the Canadian west in the opening years of the
twentieth century . The remaining lands open to
homesteads in this part of the foothills were quickly
taken up. Here established stockmen and their comfort­
able houses attested to the potentialities of the land,
there was relatively easy access to the railway and the at­
tractions of scenery and climate were reinforced by at
least the beginnings of amenities like churches, schools
and halls .
The homesteaders pressed westward towards the
mountains and the eastern boundary of the forest
reserves. Generalizations based on homestead entries
take no account of preem ptions or of purchases of land
from the crown, from the Hudson's Bay Company and
from the Canadian Pacific Railway, or of sales made by
one settler to another. Though no comparison has been
made with other districts the available evidence suggests
that many of the earlier settlers quickly built up holdings
comparatively large in terms of the basic quarter section
of prairie settlement. Many of the early arrivals took ad­
vantage of the half section entitlement they enjoyed as a
result of military or police service. The expansion of
holdings and the tradition of good living alike suggest an
infusion of funds, even before 1900, from beyond the
limits of the district.
In the most easterly part of the district, the narrow
band north of Sheep Creek in Township 20-1 W5, where
the little group of early settlers seem to have looked for
social amenities as much west to the foothills as east to
the Macleod trail and the railway, title had by 1901 been
taken to all the homesteads entered. Farther west , in
Township 21- 2W5, there was by 1904 only one quarter
open to homestead upon which there had not been at
least one entry . Still further west, in Township 21-3W5,
an area even more decisively related to Millarville or
Patterns of Settlement
The homestead entries of the 1890's are relatively few
in number for Priddis. Much of the open land had been
taken up and the Canadian West was not, until the turn
of the century, to feel the pressure of the tide of settle­
ment that '-.Vas to flow over the prairies in the years
between then and the War of 1914. Few homesteaders
ventured into the two townships directly to the west. On
Bragg Creek Albert W. Bragg made an entry in 1894,
and in 1897 Edwin W. Rochester entered on the same
quarter, to which he later took title. Ernest G. May and
the Cullen brothers located before the turn of the cen­
tu ry . The Fullertons operated a sawmill as early as 1886
a nd Dr. George Ings was prospecting and opening coal
mines in the nineties.
Those who came to Priddis in the nineties seem to
have confirmed the predominance of United Kingdom
a nd eastern Canadian settlers. The same was true of
Sheep Creek. In a two mile belt north of Sheep Creek in
Range I West of the Fifth all the land open to homestead
had by 1899 been, with the exception of a single quarter,
entered by settlers who eventually took title. This is in
marked contrast to the situation on the south bank where
the only entry before 1897 is that of Charles W. Martin
in 1893 . The quarter he entered was the headquarters site
of the Quorn Ranch, and the Martins were one of the
Leicestershire families who financed that enterprise. He
apparently did not trouble to take title. The entries south
of Sheep Creek cluster around 1900, with 30 of 36 entries
for 29 quarters made between 1898 and 1903. In the
township to the north few of the many settlers had any
continuing connection with Millarville as they were
within the orbit of the growing village on Sheep Creek
later known as Okotoks .
West along Sheep Creek, in Township 21 Range 2
W/5, new arrivals were, with no known exceptions, from
the United Kingdom. Donald Sugden, John C. Arnell,
John Cuffling, William de Vere Hunt, Frederick A. Mar­
sack, William Jackson (who had also been one of the
earliest settlers at Priddis), Eugene J. Kieran and, in
terms of influence in the community perhaps the most
significant, the Reverent R. M. W. Webb-Peploe, were
all, with the possible exception of A rnell, from the British
Isles . Still further west in Township 21 Range 3, E. D.
Adams, W. H. King, James Aird, Noble Harper,
William Moodie, Frederick A. Jackson, Norman
Willans, Alfred C. Newson, Edmond R. Chance and
John P. Patterson' had all taken up land to which they
were to take title. A notable arrival in 1899 was Ray­
mond Bonnet de Malherbe, the forerunner of the group
later always known as "the Frenchmen ." The Harpers
were Americans but all that is known of the others con­
13
fo\ [LJ~ ~ [~riJfo\
Plan of Township 22 Range 4 West of the
S[OJMO [ QlTIOH (CD AA(CTtO}
SEE lAITERE E: T~ r-
(~"H/,I.!.J
-9-9~.1 ·/',
Meridian
SCAL[ 40 C/'IAI"' TO. AN INCH
Il).
Deparlm~nt of lM Inkrior, OU4tca. ~8t" .•4U4UJlt,
Compiz,.d (rom. olfir.ial .YUTlJey$ by
T. Fait;roell,
D. T.S.
61h . ..Y(llMmber, .1883
F. W. WiINi" ~, ".
n.T....<:O • . .. eJst . J,,/y, ..
1898
c. r ..,l/i l~. .
f).L .S.
~ueh. Dert;m.ber. 1006 If''. T. (;rre.n-,
D.l.S. ..
l~th. )(o"tmJur, .lD07 H.13 · ~j,I'''tLh''''!I,
Fifth
/-fP' 110"8 P4- , / ' " , 14
J.9ns.
Priddis, of the fourteen quarters not entered by 1905,
twelve were entered in 1906. The first three entries in
Township 21-4W5 were recorded in 1904, but on forty­
six quarters only 12 entries were made after 1914. In
Township 20-3W5 , where Millarville merges into Kew
and where 78 quarters were open, there were five first en­
tries before 1900 and only two after 1914. In Township
20-4W5 on forty-seven quarters there were eight entries
before 1900 and only five after 1914. Thus for Millarville
and Kew it seems clear that the first settlers in the 1880's
established themselves close to the river and its major
tributaries, that they were reinforced substantially by
those who arrived in the nineties but that it was the nood
of homesteaders who arrived in the first fourteen years of
the twentieth century who extended settlement to the
edge of the forest reserve and in effect consolidated the
ettlement of the two districts before the outbreak of war.
In Township 22-3W5, the heartland of Priddis, the
pa ttern is rather different for of the fifty-nine quarters for
which entries are recorded, all but two first entries date
-rom before 1900. The township to the east shows a dis­
inct similarity but to the west, in Township 22-4W5,
.,·here Priddis meets Bragg Creek, though on forty-eight
ua rters there had been thirty-three first entries, only the
achelor Joe Woolings and three of the Muncasters had
~a k en title to their homesteads by the end of 1914. Many
f these quarters, according to the records of Lands and
Fo rests, were entered as unfit for normal settlement but
su itable as timber or water reserves. In the fragment of
Township 22- R5 where land was open to homestead,
there had on seventeen quarters been eight first entries
ear lier than 1915 , though no patent had been recorded . In
hat was to be the focal point of the Bragg Creek com­
mu nity , Township 23-R5 , on forty-five quarters there
ad by 1914 been thirty-three first entries, four before
191 4, and fourteen patents had been issued, a further in­
ication of the movement of the homesteader in this
:xriod.
this area by 1900 there had developed at Priddis and
Millarville at least the beginnings of an institutional
structure that renected the altitudes and aspirations of
the people. As population density increased, this struc­
ture was elaborated and extended to Kew and Bragg
Creek. This institutional structure, still a tender growth,
was to be struck a violent blow by the four years of war
that followed.
Institutional Development: 1. The School
Schools, churches, halls, post offices and stores all
provided essential social services and played a vital part
in the integration and consolidation of the four com­
munities. Each of the latter developed their own in­
stitutions and these are described elsewhere. Though all
faced similar problems there were interesting differences
in approach and these contributed, not always without
controversy, to the development of each district's sense of
indentity .
Priddis Log School and Pupils about 1914.
The first school was established at Priddis in 1892. At
Millarville Fordville School opened in 1908. Kew's Plain
View opened in 1910 and Bragg Creek in 1914. Priddis
was thus very much the pioneer and it may seem strange
that the Sheep Creek settlers should have taken so long
to provide a school. Two factors may explain the ap­
parent anomaly. Sheep Creek settlers were scattered
along the river; the Waites were, even as the crow nies,
more than fifteen miles from the Boyds. This was in
marked contrast to Priddis, where the nuclear settlement
was much more concentrated . There were also among the
Sheep Creek originals some for whom the tradition of
private education was strong. With the assistance of
governesses and occasionally of tutors they were able at
least to begin the instruction of their children. Mrs.
Malcolm Millar, for example, who had had some special
training in the chemistry of the woollen industry before '
she left England, and who had been the first teacher in
the school at Fish Creek (Midnapore) organized classes
about 1900 for her own daughters which other children
attended . Boys and girls from Sheep Creek were sent to
schools in Calgary like Western Canada College, St.
Hilda's College and the Convent of the Sacred Heart,
where Reverend Mother Greene, an Englishwoman, had
a powerful innuence on her pupils . The private schools
that nourished on Vancouver Island also attracted pupils
and a connection with Millarville was preserved well into
Hauling logs with four horse team at the Muncaster Ranch. jim Mun·
;aster driving.
Photo courtesy Mrs. Mary Burby
Priddis and Millarville by 1900 both had a substantial
exus of settlers though at Priddis this was rather
more concentrated than ' at Millarville. The in­
rush of homesteaders after ! 900 spread out from these
wo focal points, largely populating an area of, very ap­
pro ximately, nine townships. Two new focal points for
community life emerged, Kew and Bragg Creek. Within
15
Early Millarville Polo team. l. to R.: Game between Millarville and
Montreal, 1909. L. to R.: Billy Hulme, A. Barrett. Justin Deane­
Freeman,
Melladew.
-
themselves when a patch of ice appeared large enough for
their accommodation. Lawn tennis seems to have
appeared at Millarville not long after its invention in
North Wales. By 1914 there were courts scattered along
Sheep Creek from the Rodgers place, Hillside, to the
Gate Ranch at Kew. Most of the courts were of the
native turf but the Millarville Tennis Club's facilities
were more elaborate. They were near Ardmore, the A. P.
Welsh place, where the second Mrs. Welsh, a player of
near-championship quality, may have encouraged the
provision of a less unreliable playing surface.
Polo, a game demanding a high standard of perfor­
mance in both horse and rider, was introduced to
southern Alberta perhaps as early as anywhere in North
America. It spread north along the foothills from Pincher
Creek, where it seems to have been played in the early
eighties . Notices of Millarville teams are appearing by
1897 but the game was certainly played earlier, probably
very informally, at Monea, for the Deane-Freeman
brothers were leading figures in the sport. Justin Deane­
Freeman was indeed a player of international calibre
whose career was ended by his untimely death in a tour­
nament in California in 1910. The first team recorded,
which played in a Calgary tournament in 1897, included
only one Millarville resident , James Rodgers; the other
three, .. Adoy" H one and the Moseley brothers, were
Priddis men. Mrs. Rodgers was a member of a ladies'
team that played in the same tournament; she was also
captain of the M illarville ladies' cricket club . By 190 I
(Calgary Herald , 4/4/01) the Sheep Creek Polo Club,
meeting at the ranch of its secretary, Joseph Deane­
Freeman, found it had prospered to the extent of a
balance of $166 .00 in its treasury. By 1903, with a senior
team made up of Justin Deane-Freeman, two of the
Hones and G. H. Noton, as wel.] as a junior team, in­
cluding two more Hones, Willie Deane-Freeman and
Lord Edward Seymour, Millarville, with the assistance
of adjacent districts, had moved into a leading position in
western Canadian polo . The game flourished until the
Millarville Polo team, 1929. L. to R.: Jerry Woodford, Jim Nelson,
Campbell Aird , Pat Rodgers.
outbreak of war in 1914 and Millarville was able to field
a team even during the thirties. The polo field was west of
W. H. King' s Galloway Ranch on the flat part of the
Robert Turner homestead, where Sheep Creek School
and the New Ranchers' Hall now stand . The little log
shelter from which tea was served long survived .
Horse-racing made a rather wider appeal than polo
to foothills people and attracted even larger and more di­
versified crowds. Indeed Millarville's annual race meet­
ing alone among the community's institutions could
challenge the church in longevity and durability and a
devotion to the maintenance of Christ Church Gften went
hand in hand with diligence in the promotion of the in­
terest of the racing association. The first horse race was
held on the McAbee flat near the present course a nd it
seems incredible that there were not other earlier infor­
mal tests of their horses' speed and mettle among a pop­
ulation so equestrian minded. The first organized meet at
Millarville was held on June 23 , 1905. There was certain­
ly already an existing interest in racing. As early as 1892
Herbert Church came second at the races at neighbour­
ing Pine Creek and at a meeting of the Sheep Creek
18
Agricultural Association one of the Church brothers and
James Rodgers were appointed to a committee to
arrange "sports and races," and it is hard to believe that
the latter were wholly confined to bipeds. Perhaps a race
track was a more formidable undertaking than a curling
or hockey rink, a tennis court or even a polo ground .
The first meet was organized at Francis Wright's
Avening Ranch, on June 3. a date which suggests, as the
races were held only three weeks later, the devotion of
those involved. The suggestion for a meeting is believed
to have come from Tom Phillips and the man who was to
be patriarch of Millarville racing, "Sam" Kieran, "The
Boss, " was elected President, an office he was to hold un­
ti l his death in 1938 . A subscription list was circulated
a nd yielded $105.00. The next year, so successfu I was the
fi rst venture, subscriptions and entry fees provided
330.00, of which $325.00 was paid out in prizes.
Most of the names of those who helped to organize
he first races are still remem bered. A t the original
meeting neighbouring communities like Priddis and
Cochrane were represented and, as the Millarville Races
stablished themselves among the horsemen of southern
~ lberta, this practice was continued and the Races were
widely accepted as more than a local event, the ambitious
to wn of Okotoks going so far as to declare the day on
which they were held a civic holiday.
The races brought into an active participation in the
li fe of the community the group still remembered as "the
Frenchmen of Millarville." This group, which had close
affinities with the better known and distinctive settlement
at Trochu and which included Belgians as well as
Frenchmen, was largely made up on men who had
themselves been army officers or who came from families
with a military tradition. Partly out of dissatisfaction
with the pressures exerted upon the military by the Third
Republic in the falling years of the nineteenth century
and party in a response to the romantic appeal of "the
last best west" as a place where old values would not in­
hibit a new prosperity, they soon established themselves
as a welcome addition to a community where the
equestrian tradition had already put down deep roots.
Indeed Armand de Trochu , whose forbears' name was
given to the settlement northeast of Calgary , entered a
homestead at Millarville in 1902. Raymond Bonnet de
Malherbe had arrived there as early as 1899 and his
homestead was to become the nucleus of his Sheep Creek
Horse Ranch, to which he imported high quality
thoroughbreds, half-breds and polo ponies . Recent
research suggests that only the com paratively close settle­
ment and the consequently high price of land on Sheep
C reek prevented more of his compatriots from following
his example. Instead they went to the open lands of the
prairies where, although they by no means lost interest in
horsemanship, their orientation was more toward
business than stock-raising. The group at Millarville
appears to have been largely a bachelor society in con­
trast with the French of Trochu, where their ladies 'played
an active part.
In any case de Malherbe offered land for the half­
mile track rent free for thirty-five years. The site in a
bend of the North Fork, shaded by tall cottonwoods and
with views exceptional even in a country of delightful
vistas, was a happy choice. It was purchased by the race
club in 1940. By th at time Louis Durand, who had ac­
quired de Malherbe's interest in the land, had long left
Sheep Creek , but he was finally found in Indo-China and ,
just before the fall of France, the transaction was com­
pleted. The Frenchmen did more for racing than provide
land for the track for their excellent horses competed,
their trainers and jockeys set a high standard, and it
seems highly probable that the very organization of the
club owed much to the impingement of a Gallic sense of
logic and order upon the more casual and less business­
like English and Irish enthusiasts.
Only war and weather could interrrupt the races and
until 1914 they were held regu larly, though occasionally
weather forced their postponement. June and July, the
height of the foothills summer, were also the height of the
unpredictability of foothills weather and torrential down ­
pours could quickly turn the track to mud and drench the
increasingly large crowds. Not even the weather could
quench the district's enthusiasm for racing . A newspaper
account believed to date from about 1914 rated Millar­
ville as thirteenth among "the racing cities of Canada "
and the $6,792 wagered by the patrons of its one day
meeting compared favourably with Toronto's $39,553,­
973 .
The track originally lay in an east-west direction; in
1905 it was simply marked out on the ground but in 1906
an inside rail was built, and an outside rail followed . The
ten race card continued till 1908, when it was enlarged to
thirteen, among them an open polo pony race, open hur­
dle district horse race, a district pony race, a cowboy
race, a Galloway race, an Indian race, and, to conclude
the meet, a consolation race. This was a year.of expansion
and innovation appropriate to the height of the boom
that was sweeping over "the last best West." Cecil
Douglass engaged the Okotoks town band to add a new
dimension to the occasion . The races began at half past
ten in the morning and ended at six, when a bucking
contest was held . The first steeple-chase was run over a
two mile course with ten jumps and drew eight entries.
The Indian race was another feature of early meets. The
Indians were admitted free, and beginning to arrive days
before, pitched their tents on the grounds, adding another
touch of the picturesque to what had become a colourful
occasion . Precisely when the ladies' race was first run is
not clea r but it was well established in the early twenties
and it is difficult to believe that the spirited young women
who played hockey , cricket and polo would have
tolerated their exclusion from the sport of kings. Indeed
the first trophy, the Taylor Challenge Cup, was offered
by Mrs. Winnifred M. L. Taylor, an English widow who
had established herself and her young son on the Gate
Ranch at Kew, where she also took up a homestead in
1906.
Social Life in the Foothills Before 1914
Polo and racing, hunting, fishing and shooting, ten­
nis, hockey and CUrling. cricket and football , were not
only to playa conspicuous part in the creation of the
sporting tradition of the foothills communities but were
also an integral part of the lively social life that the
earliest arrivals initiated and that the influx of settlers in
the boom years following the turn of the century
elaborated and consolidated . The distances and the
rel atively slow, though reliable, transport that their
horses provided, meant that, if the settlers were to enjoy
19
tance man" is familiar but enigmatic figure in Alberta
folklore. Though the term has been freely used , it has not
been much subjected to analysis. If it means simply
financial support from external sources, then a case could
be made for regarding these foothills communities as
"remittance settlements" . Among the settlers before
1900 were anum ber who were products of, or who at
least had some acquaintance with , the patterns of living
in the rural areas of the British Isles in the late nineteeth
century . To establish oneselfin that life in the older coun­
tries or in eastern Canada required capital resources few
young people could command . At the same time late Vic­
torian society, attractive though it was, imposed restric­
tions that might chafe any young person of an adven­
turous spirit. It is not at all surprising that until 1914 so
many young men and women found their way to the
foothills. They assimilated themselves to patterns of liv­
ing introduced and nurtured by the ranching companies
whose holdings lay further afield and indeed reinforced
and enriched those patterns, adding a gracious if
sometimes exotic note to a context that might elsewhere
seem depressingly and destructively drab and grey.
Polo at Milarville, on the Robert Turner ranch, 1906·07.
to the full not only their athletic activities but each
other's company and at the same time justify a ride or a
drive of ten or twenty miles or more, a cricket match
would be the occasion for a picnic, or a hockey game the
signal for a dance, or a long evening spent at the card
table. For great events like the Millarville Races many
who came from a distance followed the example of the
Indians, and camped near the track . Many more stayed
with conveniently located friends or sometimes
took shelter with them from the unpredictable whims of a
foothills June or July . But the habit of entertaining house
guests extended to comprehend other activities. Thus a
lady of musical tastes records her enjoyment of a Holy
Week spent at the Vicarage, where she had been able to
provide the music for the services at Christ Church.
Contemporary papers are full of the comings and goings
of visitors, many of them relatives and friends from the
United Kingdom but many from other parts of Canada,
from the United States, or, occasionally, from "the Con­
tinent." Though the settlers at Millarville and Priddis,
Kew and Bragg Creek might feel their isolation, and
counter it with spirit, they could scarcely, by prairie stan­
dards, be considered out of touch with the outside world.
Though time and change has lent a glamour to the life
of these "ante bellum" days , a glamour that attaches
itself especially to Millarville, not every foothills gather­
ing was a decorous picnic, the ladies flirting beneath their
parasols, the gentlemen in spotless white flannels, the
only sound to rise above the twitter of polite conversation
the staccato click of tennis balls, and their softer thud as
a successful serve died in the prairie turf. Nor was every
dance a ball with engraved invitations and cards and im­
ported bands, the men in full evening dress, the ladies in
gowns described in loving details by the local press, (the
only jarring yet not altogether inappropriate note the
hog's head in which was deposited, when the time was
ripe, the inverted and inert form of the scion of a famous
English house.) Yet for a later generation, polishing a
silver trophy against the sulphurous air from the oil fields,
or consigning to the rubbish bin a dozen pair of
gentlemen's white kid gloves, long rotted and yellow but
still in their original layers of tissue paper, the flavour
and scent of that vanished age has not wholly dis­
appeared.
Not all shared, or would have wished to share, in the
more extravagant and elaborate manifestations of this
attempt to recreate in the Alberta foothills the life of the
English shores. Many had neither the inclination nor the
means. Though a certain style could be maintained with a
very modest expenditure a significant number of the
settlers appear to have had capital resources, an assured
income or at least reassuring expectations. The "remit­
Adventures in Diversification
Though stock raising was the major occupation of the
foothills communities, with the greatest attention paid to
cattle and horses, the settlers tried a variety of
agricultural and horticultural experiments and eagerly
involved themselves in a number of projects which,
though they might not make fortunes for their
promoters, would develop the region and provide a more
diversified base for its future prosperity . Among the
latter were saw mills, coal mines, a railway and, in the
years just before the outbreak of war in 1914, oil wells.
The settlers on Fish Creek and Sheep Creek were not
content simply to turn their stock loose on the open range
to fend for themselves. Indeed the evidence suggests that
they did not fit into the famili ar stereotype of the North
American rancher, with his contempt for husbandry and
his suspicion of the plough . They set themselves to make
their holdings into homes and to ensure the comfort and
welfare not only of their families but of their stock. They
did not hesitate to undertake the hard and often un­
familiar work involved in breaking land and raising the
crops that would supplement the natural pasture. They
milked cows, raised chickens, turkeys and sometimes
geese and ducks. Many of them took pride in their
kitchen gardens and experimented with growing fruit.
Their wives practiced old skills or learned new ones, can­
ning meat, game as well as domestic produce, churning
butter, putting up not only the fruit and vegetables from
Bradfield Ranch.
20
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Plan showing irrigation ditch constructed by William Robins Moseley,
1895,
winter, climatic fluctuations soon convinced the stock
raisers that they needed a more reliable supply of feed
and they turned to irrigation, The creeks and their fertile
flats suggested that this could be as profitable an enter­
their gardens but the wild berries the foothills produced
in such abundance.
Though the foothills provided excellent pasture and
wild hay could be put up to carry stock through the
21
prise as elsewhere and indeed, further down on Fish
Creek, John Glenn's ditch was certainly among the
earliest experiments. It was on Sheep Creek that the
most extensive works were constructed a nd ditches were
built from the Quirk ranch on the edge of the forest
reserve as far east as the Rodgers place, well below the
forks. Irrigation rights were taken seriously; they were a
consideration in the sale of property and sometimes
caused friction between neighbours. Precisely when the
first works were constructed is not clear but the greatest
activity appears to have been in the early nineties. By
1895 government had taken a hand and Sheep Creek men
were complaining that government requirements were in­
ordinately expensive. The high cost of the labour involved
in constructing and maintaining even the simplest irriga­
tion works and the fact that even in the driest cycle the
foothill region's local showers produced a modest hay
crop discouraged the practice. The ditches generally fell
into disuse before 1914 but traces remain to suggest that
the first settlers were alert to. the possibilities of new
technology and willing and able to make a considerable
investment, both in money and effort , to share in its
benefits.
Lumbering on a small scale, especially in the higher
foothills, was an important subsidiary to stock-raising
for many families and for some saw-mills were a major
source of income. The early buildings, houses, stables,
churches, schools and halls, were almost invariably built
of logs , but these involved the use of sawn lumber and the
booming construction industry after 1900 provided an in­
satiable market. Nothing developed as sophisticated as
the Lineham enterprises upon which the prosperity of
neighbouring Okotoks was founded but the timber
resources of the foothills made a pervasive and signifi­
cant contribution to the prosperity of the area and to its
standard of living. The settlers were slow to turn away
from log as a building material. Many of the log houses
were sided over with boards or were simply enlarged as
circumstances dictated. Many were carefully maintained
by their occupants long after, in other communities, they
would have been dismantled or perhaps turned to other
uses. Little brick was used except for chimneys or for the
open fireplaces with which a few nostalgic Britons
recreated the domestic felicities of their youth. Instead of
brick , elsewhere so often the symbol of established
afnuence, two houses of the grander sort made use of the
local sandstone, quarried at a point conveniently located
between the two. But the comfortable log house, its in­
terior often lined with the narrow boards known as V­
joint, often survived in these foothills communities until
the forties. The availability of wood for building pur­
poses, to which the ubiquitous sawmill made an impor­
tant contribution , had its effect not only on the landscape
but on the quality of life.
Though wood was as important as an easily available
and inexpensive fuel as it was a building material , and did
as much to make life easier for the pioneer, coal was also
available as an even more convenient fuel and as a poten­
tial source of income. The existence of extensive coal
reserves in Alberta was an early commonplace of settle­
ment propaganda and some of the early arrivals, trained
in surveying, had at least a rudimentary knowledge of
geology. They were also fully aware of the fundamental
importance of coal to Britain's leap forward into the in­
dustrial leadership of the world .
The earliest coal mines were at Priddis, where a tradi­
tion of substantial credibility suggests that coal was being
dug as early as 1883 and sold to the Police in Calgary.
Mines were worked there and at Bragg Creek inter­
mittently but persistently until the 1940's. Newspaper
references suggest that a mine was being worked on
Sheep Creek as early as 1890, and producing about two
hundred tons for Calgary as well as supplying the local
demand. On the upper waters of Sheep Creek the adven­
turous and enterprising Joseph Fisher brought out miners
from England about 1910 but the project was not a
success. An earlier and longer lived venture was on the
South Fork, where in 1899 A.D. McPherson's Black Dia­
mond mine, which gave its name to the hamlet that
became a focal point in the Turner Valley oil-field,
produced in its first year 400 tons, employing an average
of three men above ground and three below and taking
out coal from about January 15 to March 15 . In 1901 it
produced 650 tons and in 1902, 600 tons. Though it at­
tracted less attention than the neighbouring oil-field it
survived until it was finally closed in 1926, when its
operator was too old and ill to hope to continue .
Though the mines were small they provided not only
a useful commodity that added to .the amenity of many
homes but also a steady trickle of employment that
supplemented many incomes. Even when, like the Black
Diamond mine and the more ambitious Burns develop­
ment deep in the hills , the mines lay outside the exact
bounds of the district, they played a role in its daily life
and the course of its development. The possibility of sub­
stantial explotation of coal resources, and the prospect
that other mineral discoveries might be made, was
enough in the minds of the settlers to persuade some of
them to associate themselves formally in a fairly am­
bitious venture involving Calgary businessmen . Though
the outcome was not much more than a camping trip in
the Rockies, the episode suggests that even the steadiest
minds were not immune to the speCUlative fever and the
Norman Champion sawing firewood.
22
Porcupine Hills to Calgary. It may be to a line proposed
by the ea rlier company that the Okotoks Review referred
when in 1909 it spoke of a railway that would touch the
"town" of Midnapore and from there "run to Priddis,
thence to Millarville to McPherson (Black Diamond) and
across High River a considerable distance from the town
of High River." But the Review calls this the Canadian
Western Railway and in the welter of railway projects of
the period the only certainity, without further research,
seems to be that Millarville and Priddis were not un­
touched by the excitement over railways that was to
reach a climax in the fall of Alberta 's first provincial
government as a result of the Alberta and Great
Waterways affair.
SurveYing crew for railway, about 1911.
heady optimism of the boom years of the prewar West.
Interest in potential coal-fields was not unrelated to
th at in railways, one of the most important markets for
th eir product. In a boom that was accompanied by the
onstruction of two new transcontinental railways across
th e Canadian West , a community could not consider it­
self mature until it could claim easy access to rail
tr ansport. Railway promotions in the early decades of
ihe twentieth century were of a complexity that may well
mislead the casual researcher and the available records
a re too scant to allow anything but the most tentative
suggestions but there was a proposed railway, the
Ca lgary and South Western, that somewhere before 1914
made a beginning with its surveys across the district and
rea ched a point not far from the present Millarville
highway crossing of the north fork, probing tentatively
to wards the coal reserves of the Patrick Burns' interest
on the upper waters of the Highwood and the South
Fork. The evidence lies mainly in the memory of those
who as children mischievously moved the survey pegs, in­
sp ired by parental animadversions on a railway company
that paid little attention to the rights of the owners of the
la nd it proposed to cross. Correspondence in the files of
th e Department of the Interior relating to irrigation at
\1 illarville establishes that before the activities of the
ra ilway were interrupted by the war of 1914 work had
proceeded far enough (0 lead to demands for compensa­
tion for damage to the ditches of the settlers .
In 1898 (Dominion Statu'tes 61 Vic., Cap. 90) three
eastern Canadian entrepreneurs and two from Winnipeg
together with William Roper Hull and Richard Bedford
Bennett of Calgary, and Frederick William Godsal , a
prominent rancher of Pincher Creek, incorporated the
Western Alberta Railway Company. They were em­
powered to construct and operate a railway from the in­
ternational boundary along the foothills "northerly to the
Sarcee I ndian Reserve, thence north-westerly to Can­
more and Anthracite and finally to the headwaters of the
orth Saskatchewan" and "the easterly base of the
Rocky Mountains ." The company appears with some
regularity in the statutes, as Parliament appears to have
continued to regard it "for the general advantage of
Canada" to keep its charter alive. In 1914 it was (4-5
Geo. V, Cap. 115) amalgamated with another company
incorporated in 1912 (2 Geo. V, Cap. 168), the Western
Dominion Railway, under the name of the latter. The
Western Dominion, incorporated by Ottawa and Regina
interests, was rather more specific in its route from the
international boundary northward to Fort St. John and
was to proceed from Lundbreck northerly and west of the
The oil development that was ultim ately to transform
Alberta and profoundly to influence the development of
the foothills communities began in the years immediately
preceding the War of 1914-1918. According to local
tradition two Sheep Creek pioneers, John Ware and Sam
Howe, were the first to suspect the presence of oil in the
district when they were prospecting for land as early as
1888. The pioneer producing field of the Canadian West
took its name from one of the earliest families to settle at
Millarville, the Turners, whose ranch buildings stood at
the head of a long valley. The success of the Turner
Valley field kept alive the dogged optimism of the
pioneer oil men . Though Royalite Number 4, the well
that in 1924 confirmed their faith in the future, lies on the
fringe of the area of this study, many of the original
settlers south of the South Fork had close ties to Millar­
ville. Indeed the four areas participated in the excitement
of 1913 and 1914.
As an area of early settlement much of the land taken
up carried oil and mineral rights with it and there were
optimistic reports of the high figures these commanded.
John Fulton, who had been appointed Justice of the
Peace at Kew in 1911 for the convenience of the many re­
cent homesteaders there, had found himself with little to
do, "no prosecutions and consequently no convictions,"
though he had "settled a number of cases amicably re:
stallions on range; illegal damaging of fences; driving and
dogging horses." By the end of 1913, however, after the
discovery of oil, "in consequence of which the whole
country has been leased for miles around " he appears to
have been beseiged by enquiries from less sophisticated
neighbours about the rights of the homesteaders and the
question of oil rights as distinct from the " mines and
minerals" reserved in patents. "I and my neighbours are
in a quandary and should like some authorized legal in­
formation, " he wrote to the provincial Attorney-General.
He got little satisfaction from that dignitary .
The oil rush of 1913-14 was the last spasm of the
boom of the first decade of the twentieth century. Indeed
it came after recession had begun to make itself felt even
among the most optimistic prophets of the growth of
"the last best west." The excitement died away with the
outbreak of war but not before some investors had been
sadly disillusioned by the collapse of the hopes they had
reposed in the promises of promoters. Their hopes were
to be rekindled in the twenties and the development of the
oil industry nearby was to have an impact on all the
foothills communities, bringing in important sources of
income.
23
stockmen, the easy going ways of prewar times could not
be maintained . The departure of the young men and the
sober mood of a community highly conscious of its per­
sonal stake in the war affected every aspect of foothills
life. Though social gatherings did not cease, elaborate
and formal entertainment vanished . Sports continued,
but the organizations behind them faltered or collapsed.
Fairs were held but the Millarville Races were suspended
after 1915 and not revived until the summer of 1918,
when the veterans had begun their return. The people of
the districts, men and women alike, threw themselves
into Red Cross and Patriotic Fund work.
The same leadership and dedication operated to
maintain the institutional structure that centred around
the schools and churches. Some of the schools were brief­
ly closed as a result of the teacher shortage and parents
again had to undertake the responsibility of instruction.
The Anglican church, heavily dependent in the west on
the supply of clergymen from the United Kingdom,
found it ever more difficult to maintain its ministrations .
Congregations and offerings at Christ Church were well
maintained and the energetic and indefatigable Horace
Wilford, who had begun his relatively long incumbency
in 1913, managed somehow to hold services not only at
those points but at the Ranchers' Hall , Black Diamond,
Lineham, Kew and Priddis, though he was relieved of
responsibility for St. James in 1916 when his sphere of
activities had been even further extended by his hard­
pressed bishop. Mr. Wilford 's last recorded service at
Christ Church was on August 31 , 1919, when he moved
to the Calgary parishes of St. Mark's and St. Martin's.
When the war ended the people of M illarville chose to
commemorate its casualties with a broken column, set in
a newly consecrated burial ground to the west of the
church. On the bronze tablet affixed to its base were in­
scribed no fewer than 21 names of men from MilJarville
and from the adjacent districts. Of those who survived
many did not return, or, if they did return, remained only
briefly. Every Iife, every record, bears the mark of a
cataclysm that fell with especial force upon communities
that, when it began, had only sketched the outlines for
their prospective maturity and were in consequence never
to settle into the mould of the might-have-been.
The War of 1914-1918
There was little disposition among the settlers in the
foothills to respond with anything but patriotic ardour to
the outbreak of war in the late summer of 1914. Though
some of the men had served in the South African War,
and some had not returned, a century had passed since
war had been waged on a world scale. Few could grasp
what a war of such dimensions implied in the new age of
technology into which the world had moved since the era
of Napoleon. There was little disposition to question the
necessity of Canada's involvement, certainly not among
settlers who had grown up when British Imperial senti­
ment and British self-confidence was at its height.
Enlistments were exceedingly high as was to be ex­
pected in a district where so many were either of United
Kingdom birth or the children of emigrants from the
United Kingdom. Of the male population many were of
military age and many were bachelors. Some came from
families with a military tradition. Others already had
seen service either in the professional army or navy or in
the militia, or, like "the Frenchmen" of Millarville, in
the armies of allied nations . Though figures for enlist­
ment by districts are not obtainable the estimate of
seventy enlistments from Millarville alone, made well
before the war was over, does not seem excessive, and in
the 1l10re recently settled districts the proportion may
have been even higher. At first the war seemed high
adventure but even after it had settled into the grim tussle
of trench warfare young men, previously rejected because
of age or physical disability, made their way into the
forces and older men were fitted into the increasingly
demanding structure of the national effort.
As casualty lists lengthened until few foothills
families had not been touched by the loss of close
relatives and friends, a more sober and realistic view of
the nature of modern warfare came to prevail , a view
very different from the light-hearted summer days of
1914, when it seemed certain that the war would be over
in a matter, if not of weeks , of a few months. Its progress
was followed with the closest attention. Newspapers and
periodicals passed from hand to hand and the telephone,
though by no means as ubiquitous as it was to become,
played its part. Though there were few private sub­
scribers in the western part of the district, the post­
offices, which usually meant the local store as well, were
corinected. A party line served some of the more easterly
places along Sheep Creek and everyone listened to the
bulletins relayed daily from an Okotoks friend who
received the Calgary newspapers only hours after they
appeared. There can be little question of the region's un­
failing support of the war. The district polls showed an
overwhelming vote for conscription and the Union
government's candidate in the wartime election of 1917
though the Millarville return in the provincial plebiscite
on prohibition of the liquor traffic does not suggest a
widespread acceptance there of the argument that a blow
against liquor would be a blow against the Kaiser.
The war years brought many changes . Many places
were sold or rented by those who felt a pressing impulse
to return to their threatened homeland. With so many
young men in the services a shortage of labour put
heavier demands on the women and children . Though
agricultural prices rose so did the costs of production
and, though these were not unprosperous years for the
The Years between the Wars
Though the four foothills communities were
profoundly affected by the war and its aftermath the
foundations that had been laid in the first thirty years
were firm enough to ensure their survival. In common
with the rest of the Canadian West they felt the dis­
locations of war with peculiar poignancy, but they inched
painfully out of the postwar depression towards a modest
share in the general prosperity of the late twenties. Many
of the homesteads, abandoned as those who had entered
on them went off to the war, were taken up again,
sometimes by the second generation of families who had
been among the early arrivals. Some returned men es­
tablished themselves under the Soldier Settlement
scheme. The natural beauty of the foothills country, its
equestrian traciition, its established social patterns and its
convenience to Calgary, and later to the developing oil
fields, all contributed to attract and hold families and in­
dividuals who found congenial neighbours and a con­
genial way of life.
24 New schools were opened to accommodate the
children of the slowly growing population. Ballyhamage
was opened in 1919 to serve the area near M illarville
church. At Kew Square Butte opened in 1922. New
Valley opened Jan., 1928 and, though south of the North
Fork, was attended by children from north of the creek
for whom it was more accessible that Ballyhamage.
Sheep Creek School, about a mile and a half west of the
later five-room Millarville School, opened in 1928. The
latter was destined to be the focal point for subsequent
school development for Sheep Creek. At Priddis Westoe
opened in 1927 and Fish Creek School in 1936. Two Pine
School at Bragg Creek appears in 1932.
Most of the schools of the four communities survived
through the war years of 1939-45. Though the teacher
shortage affected them, and at'Two Pine at least the
Boa rd had to resort to the supervision of correspondence
ourses by a Grade XII student, the major changes did
not come until the advent of the school bus. The district
sc hools closed one by one, New Valley about 1944,
Ba llyhamage in 1946, Square Butte in 1950, Westoe in
1956 . Some of the buildings were moved to more central
positions and supplemented by portable classrooms, serv­
ing to bridge the educational gap while new policies were
onsolidated. Some became, like the Leighton art centre
at Ballyhamage, the focus for new aspects of community
life. A few were dismantled, the materials turned to other
uses. The passing of the one-room rural school marked
an epoch in the social history of the foothills settlements,
j ust as these unpretentious and utilitarian buildings of log
a nd frame had symbolized the major social and cultural
achievements of the pioneer community .
The devastating effects of the war of 1914-1918 on the
_'outhful communities of the Canadian West were felt
with peculiar force by the churches of the foothills com­
munities. The two Anglican congregations survived; their
tory is told elsewhere. For much of the period they
sha red a clergyman with Okotoks, an arrangement that
d id not always give complete satisfaction to ,any of the
pa rties involved. Their most difficult period appears to
have been not that immediately following the war, but
th e middle and late twenties, when the supply of clergy in
Diocese of Calgary presented exceptional difficulties.
The contribution of the women of the district to the
survival and recovery of the two churches was also
reflected in the wider sphere of community action . The
fi rst non-denominational women 's organization in the
four communities arose when the ladies of Priddis and
:vtillarvill.e were summoned to meet at Fordville School
on November 27, 1926 to hear an address on the origin
and achievements of the Women's Institute by the then
Constituency Convener. The upshot was the organization
o f the Willing Workers Women's Institute, of which
Mrs . Knights became the first president . Next year a
separate branch was formed at Priddis. Out of the mul­
titude of activities of the Women's Institute arose many
of the community's activities chronicled in greater detail
elsewhere, both before and after the period treated in this
history, itself a project which owes not only its inception
but its realization to the devotion and determination of
this group.
Though some sports languished and cricket dis­
appeared altogether some of the old athletic activities
reappeared, though less elaborately organized and with
Hockey players from Millarville, Priddis and Kew. About 1923.
less formal observance of their rituals. Millarville
remained a recognized stronghold of horsemanship but
her sister communities were scarcely less equestrian
minded. Some children learnt to ride in the style dictated
by Old Country tradition, but most rode bareback to
school, for that was safer and warmer. Where the
horse was as much a fellow worker as a companion in
recreation, the stock saddle gained general, though by no
means unanimous acceptance. Most women rode astride
but ladies riding side saddle were not an unknown sight
as late as 1940. Though the harsh realities of mechanized
agriculture and transport made the raising of heavy
horses increasingly uneconomic, a market for light
horses survived . The Millarville Races flourished, in­
creasingly recognized as the great event of the year and
strongly supported by the neighbouring districts. Horses
and riders from the area were regular participants in the
Calgary horse-shows, occasionally venturing farther
afield at least as far as Edmonton, Vancouver and in later
years even Toronto. A common interest in horses was a
major factor in maintaining the close associa tion with
Calgary that had existed from the beginning of settle­
ment and for many families participation and attendance
at the spring and summer shows was something of a
ritual. Miraculously Millarville managed to produce a
polo team even during the depression years. Players from
the other districts participated, Willie Deane-Freeman
was long a stalwart of the High River team and among
the handful of polo players who kept the game alive in
southern Alberta in the years between the wars a number
had close associations with Sheep Creek, Fish Creek and
the foothills .
Tennis survived the war and was of all pastimes not
connected with horses perhaps the most popular. Though
many of the improvised courts quickl y reverted to their
original state some survived and depression encouraged
their use. Sporadic efforts to maintain an organized ten­
nis club at least kept the game alive and afforded an op­
portunity for the young people to meet. Badminton
flourished at Priddis. An interest in hockey and skating
was maintained but numbers made the organization of
teams and the maintenance of schedules difficult. Bragg
Creek and Kew had some success in organizing rodeo
events and the Kew chuckwagon, described more fully
elsewhere, participated in the first chuckwagon race held
at the Calgary Stampede in 1923. The changing
25
Relatively favourable weather conditions and prox­
imity to the oil field were not the only insulators against
the direst blows of depression . Though no one made a
great fortune from the sale or lease of oil rights, these
could yield a welcome and stable income which, small
though it may seem in present terms, was not insignifi­
cant in times of cash scarcity and high purchasing power
of the dollar. By 1930 many families were well estab­
lished, with comfortable houses, good farm buildings,
adequate equipment, productive fields and hay-lands and
excellent stock. Some, and a persistent impression ob­
trudes that these were more numerous than in most dis­
tricts in the prairie west, were the beneficiaries of remit­
tances or inheritances from the older and richer societies
which they or their forbears had left behind. There had
also been rreserved from the past and developed through
the pioneer years the sense of interdependence that lies at
the base of any true community.
In spite of the very real privations the depression in­
flicted upon the foothills , when world war came again in
1939 the four neighbourhoods faced its demands with a
maturity they had not achieved in 1914. That maturity
was firmly based on the firm foundations laid by the
pioneers of the first thirty years. Visitors at M illarville or
Priddis or Bragg Creek or Kew still found the unfailing
welcome and the warm hospitality of an earlier day in
houses often little changed but lovingly preserved for two
generations . At the churches the familiar words of the
Anglican liturgy still evoked the accents of the past.
Dancers at the Ranchers' Hall, though certainly less for­
mal and possibly less decorous than in earlier days, could
still remember the Lancers and the minuet. The polite
applause of a polo game or a tennis match could still be
heard on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon. And at the
Millarville Races, catching the gleam of the sun on the
coat of a good horse, joining the scurry for shelter from a
sudden shower, watching the uniformed chauffeur of a
Calgary dowager spreading the rugs for her picnic lunch ,
the observer might for a moment at least still fancy
himself at an English point-to-point.
Tennis at Millarville, 1920s, L. to R. Standing: Joan Knights, Edith
Knights, Joan Turner, Marjorie Glaister, Mrs. Ora de Mille, - -, Mrs.
Royal, Mabel Aird, William Deane·Freeman, Mrs. W. Deane-Freeman,
Elizabeth Rummel, Jane Rummel. Sitting, in front: Campbell Aird, Gary
Royal.
generations brought a steadily increasing interest in
western-style horsemanship and the aficionados of rodeo
took their place in the community beside traditional light
horse and heavy horse interests.
Sawmills and coal mines continued to make a con­
tribution to the district's economy but they did not have
the impact of the oil and natural gas development. Cen­
tred as this was in Turner Valley it affected all four dis­
tricts as pervasivel :: as the fumes that drifted across
Sheep Creek on the prevailing westerly breezes. Even at
Bragg Creek, where no producing wells were brought in,
oil yielded a steady trick Ie of cash and, even more impor­
tant in the thirties, provided opportunities for employ­
ment , all through the years of depression. At Kew and
Millarville, where more wells were to prove productive,
the effects were more marked, though the worst ravages
to the foothills landscape were to come much later.
Though these foothills communiti~s felt the impact of
the great depression their experience was very different
from the stereotype of that unhappy decade so widely
prevalent today and expressed in many popular and even
scholarly accoullts of the period . Indeed many families
found within their boundaries a refuge from disaster en­
countered or threatened in less fa'lOured regions. The
depression years were, as the experience of the churches
and the schools suggests, years for consolidation and
much less traumatic in their effect than those that fol­
lowed 1914.
Though there were dry years when crops and pastures
were poor the foothills were spared the catastrophic
drought that devastated the prairies. Vegetable gClrdens
might be flattened by the hail storms and blackened by
the late or early frosts that were among the unpleasing
idiosyncrasies of the foothills climate but at least the
seeds sprouted under the beneficence of foothills showers
and wild berries were to be had for the picking. Fish
swam in the still unpolluted streams, the familiar game
birds, supplemented by the pheasants introduced in these
years, still tempted the sportsmen, who could also hope
to supplement the larder with bigger game. The young
could pursue the ubiquitous rabbit and listen as incred­
ulously as his elders to tale~ of the gophers eaten by the
unfortunate denizens of the plains.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE
BRAGG CREEK, PRIDDIS, KEW AND
MILLARVILLE AREA.
Researched'by M.M. Lee with indebtedness to
Monsignor Anderson, Historian, Calgary Diocese, and
many local residents.
The Catholic families in this area have always been,
and still are, members of four or five neighboring
parishes. The history of these parishes is our local
history.
A Cairn was unveiled on August 21,1941, about eight
miles north-east of Bragg C:eek on a piece of land
donated by Charles William Mickle, NWlj4-3-24-4-w5,
which had been the site of the first Catholic church south
of Red Deer. The inscription on the cairn is, "On the site
of the first church in southern Alberta this tablet
commemorates the missionary labor of Father Con­
stantine Scollen, O.M.!., born in Ireland in 1841 ,
who established the mission of Our Lady of Peace, in the
country of the Blackfoot in 1873, and of Father Leon
Doucet , O.M.I., born in France in 1847, who joined
Father Scollen at thi s spot in 1875 and spent a lifetime as
"Missionaries-aux- pieds moin ."
26 Cross Hospital grounds and by 1892 the site of St.
Mary's had been chosen.
The "irst Catholic ranchers arrived in the Cochran{;
area in 1881 from the Highlands of Scotland . They were
ministered to by Father Fay, also from Scotland, and
then other Oblates: - Fathers Doucet, Blais, Deroches
and Comire who built the Cochrane church which was
blessed by Father Lestanc in 1895. Fathers Fouquet and
Culerier served there up to 1900. The priests from
Cochrane ministered through our area, baptizing at least
one local child.
When the Catholic families at Fish Creek (Mid­
napore) and areas to the south and west wished to build a
church, Patrick, eldest son of John Glenn , donated
property beside the Anglican property, previously
donated by John Glenn in 1885. The Glenn family, who
witnessed the birth of Calgary, were one of the first
Catholic families in the area. To raise the money the men
donated cash and labour. Mrs. Whitney (nee Hodgson)
recalls how she and the other children contributed by
singing and dancing at box socials. Quite often the bids
went as high as $25.00 and on one occasion Joe Shannon
bought four lunches at this price. In 1905 the church,
named St. Patrick's, was finished.
Memorial Cairn in the Bragg Creek area.
This church, which was huilt by Alex Cardinal with
his axe, was a small log hut about 15 feet square sur­
mounted by a cross. The walls were of tree trunks, the
roof of branches covered with pine bark, and the floor
was bare ground . The windows were covered with sacks
a nd the door with a stretched skin . A fire place provided
the only heat. Later a small alcove was added to serve as
a chapel.
This site was chosen for two reasons. It was on the
winter camp ground of the Blackreet Indians and at the
rossing of two well used Indian trails. One route led
from the Rockies to the prairies and the other from
Rocky Mountain House through Peiga n country to Fort
Benton. From this site the missionaries journeyed
throughout southern Alberta. During these trips Father
Scollen and his successors would stop at the settlers'
homes to perform religious services, to have a meal, and
to enjoy a rare visit with friends . When Fathers Doucet
a nd Scollen were moved other priests carried on the
work.
Father Doucet was soon commissioned by his
superiors to move to the junction of the Bow and Elbow
RiverS"to prerare for the coming of the Mounties to build
a fort. From his log hut, again built by Cardinal, he
witnessed the birth of Fort Calgary . When Father
Scollen joined him , they moved to another site as the hut
was in the midst of police activities. This site is now Holy
St. Patrick's Church, Midnapore.
Father Lestanc said the first Mass and Father
Lacombe became the first pastor, remaining there until
his death in 1916. Father Lacombe had been familiar
with the areas around Calgary since his first trip through
in I R65, ten years before the first church was constructed.
In 1910 he was instrumental in building the Lacombe
Home for children and old folk. He was followed by
other Oblates, Fathers Demeret, Chevelier and Remus.
Up to 1920 the children took their First Communion and
were Confirmed at St. Mary's. After that date they went
to the Lacom be Home. When the Diocese of Calgary was
formed, 1912, secular priests were appointed . One of
these, Father F. A. 1\Jewman (1923-1948) with a green
thumb. landscaped the Catholic churchyard and
cemetery, and the Lacombe Home orchard. With help
from some of the inmates, boys and one adult , he planted
and cared for all the trees in these areas .
Back row: Father Normand, Br. Tom, Br. John and Father Mclnnis(?),
of the Dunbow Indian Industrial School. Front row: Father Riou and Father
Lestanc.
27
Before the construction of St. Patrick's a missionary
priest from St. Mary's, usually Father Lestanc, would
visit the Catholic families monthly. Sometimes a priest
from Cochrane, or Dunbow, the I ndian Industrial School
operated by the Oblate Fathers at the confluence of the
Highwood and Bow Rivers, would visit these areas. John
Dowling has recollections of Fathers Lacombe, Lestanc
a nd Doucet saying Mass at the Priddis homes of the
Dowlings and Moores . They used to take turns making
the long trip by saddle horse. All their Catholic neighbors
as far alleld as Mangans and Kiera ns would come for the
services. Often in the Midnapore area the priest would be
met in Calgary the day before by his host for the night.
Next morning all the parishoners would come to this
house for Mass, followed by refreshments, the Ilrst meal
of the day. After enjoying a great get to-gether they
would disperse to their homes. Father Dubois followed
Father Lestanc, but sometimes Fathers Lacombe, Jan, or
Rieu would come to them . Joe Pashak (DeWinton)
reca lls how excited he and the other children were when
they made the long trip by wagon, departing at 6:00 a.m.
for the 16 to 20 mile drive to the Hodgson home and even
ea rlier when going to the Mangan home.
St. James Church, Okotoks. was built in 1904 on land
obtained from the Lineham estate. Father Dubois was
parish priest from 1905 to 1917. He was a skilled wood
craftsman who made the ornate altar, still is use, with a
few meagre hand tools. With the intention of building an
Oblate Novitiate, the Fathers had purchased the SEI/4-7­
20-I-w5 (near the Big Rock) prior to 1909. Father
Dubois lived there after 1913, when, with the help of one
man, he hauled lumber and built a house. On occasion
some of the bachelors, who worked on the ranches, would
stay with him when in need of a home, helping with the
fa rm chores. The farm was put up for sale in 1916 as the
religious order was not permitted to keep it. Father
Dubois used a buggy , drawn by his beautiful hackney
mare, "my Court Oreille", who lifted her feet so high and
gracefully as she jogged along the country trails. In his
1915 report to Bishop McNally, he listed the mission
families, several of whom lived "dans les collines au pied
des Montagnes. Le pretre va les visiter deux au trois fois
per annee." He tried to visit and to say Mass to those
gathered in the homes in the hills far to the west two or
three times a year. Sometimes he would be accompanied
by two nuns. Usually they would stop for dinner at the
Cuffling home on the trip to the foothills and at the Win­
dle home on their return.
The last parish formed to serve the Catholic families
of our area was St. Michael's, Black Diamond, in 1929.
It was administered by Rev. Neil McCormack, who
resided at Okotoks . There were three more pastors until
1933 when Rev. Edward E. Mulville began his reign of
duty that lasted for 32 years.
In 1928, Rev. H. A. Boltz, organist and choirmaster
at St. Mary's Cathedral, who was very interested in
camping, instigated the start of St. Ma ry's Camp for
boys at Bragg Creek on land donated by Da niel Whitney.
It started as a two week camp for his choir boys and the
altar boys of St. Mary's parish. Gradually it drew boys
from other parishes, lengthened in weeks and a large log
cabin was erected, with tents for sleeping. Rev . John S.
Smith (later Monsignor), who had full responsibility,
chose his directors from the assistant priests at St.
Mary 's.
In 1949 the Knights of Columbus set up a committee
to improve the camp that was now little used and had
deteriorated badly. It was renamed Camp Cadicasu and
the Bishop of Calgary petitioned all his clergy to en­
courage both boys and girls to use the camp. The camp
under the title of the Camp Cadicasu Association slowly
erected buildings to replace the tents and restored the old
log building. A chapel was built with funds chiefly raised
by the Knights of Columbus and blessed simply
"Benediction Loci", meaning the blessing of a place, by
Monsignor Smith on' July 27, 1958. Father Burke
Hoschka was director and chaplain from 1957 to 1964,
followed by Father Eric Nelson. During July a nd August,
either of these priests has said Mass on most Sundays in
this chapel for the campers, for the summer visitors, and
for the local residents. Starting in 1970, Bragg Creek,
with its chapel, has had the status of a mission of St.
Patrick 's, Midnapore, with Rev. Patrick O' Byrne in
charge.
Bibliography : A Short History o/the Catholic Church in
Southern Alberta. Report 1942-1943, The Canadian
Catholic Historical Association. Historic Sites o/th e
Province 0/ Alberta (f 955).
FISH CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (1112 acres,
SW corner of 26-22-3-W5) - V. K. Anderson
A little log building was erected in the fall of 1893
half a mile north of the forks of Fish Creek and was
known as the Fish Creek Presbyterian Church . The open­
ing was made by R. V. Matheson. The title was
registered in 1893 and the trustees at that time were J. D.
Patterson, George Shortt and J. Hunter - called little
Jim Hunter because there were two Jim Hunters.
A letter, dated September 11th, 1903, written by Miss
M. E. Jackson of Gore Bay, Ontario, while visiting Mrs .
Edgar of Priddis, contained this description of the
church :
"Went to church last Sunday in the afternoon a nd
such a church . [t is built of logs with chinks large enough
to see outside and the logs showed inside with a little
white-wash on them . [n one corner was the organ box,
behind which the English minister puts on his gown . In
the middle is the platform and a pulpit. It is seated with
ch:Jirs, the men on one side and the women on the other.
The furnishings do not look so bad but the little bare
building looks dreadful. The minister reminded me a lit­
tle of Mr. Agar (Gore Bay) and was not a very bad
preacher. The church organ is about the only organ in
Priddis so there is rather a dearth of music."
Memories of the log church are clear in the mind of
Mrs. Elizabeth [rcandia, daughter of big Jim Hunter.
Their home was on the banks of Fish Creek beside the
Sarcee Reserve .
"I remember the Church well. The minister was Rev .
Hugh Grant , who st ayed with my grandparents, the
William Hunters . The people who came to services that [
recall were the Edgars, Pattersons and the Hunter
families . When work needed to be done in or on the
church a work day would be called and the help would be
volunteered ."
Some soci al activity took place here too. Mrs. I rcan­
28
diu remembers the box socials the ladies put on in the
church: "My aunt made the best lemon layer cakes for
these occasions and my mother the best bread for
sandwiches. The boxes of lunch were packed and auc­
tioned off to the men."
According to a newspaper clipping supplied by Mrs.
Ircandia, the Rev. Hugh R. Grant, who was reputed to be
the original of Dr. C. W. Gordon's book, "Sky Pilot",
published under the pen name of Ralph Connor, died at
the age of 75 at Fort William.
Rev. J. S. Shortt, M.A. was a student missionary in
the spring of 1894. In a sketch written by himself he said
that this field was formed in 1893 with three points,
Sheep Creek, Fish Creek and Red Deer Lake. He went
on to say that 'the first missionary on this field as thus
constituted was Farquhar McCrae, a man of delicate
constitution but of real and earnest missionary spirit,
who later passed away before completing his theological
course at Queens.' Rev . Shortt remained one year after
which he was appointed to the Penhold field with head­
quarters at Red Deer .
Rev. William Simons was a theological student in
1899 and in that year his first mission field was Priddis
and Sheep Creek.
Rev. Hugh McKellar served in the Foothills mission
from 1904-1912. Born in Scotland, September I I, 1841,
he came to Canada as a young man making the six-week
trip in a sailing vessel. After working many years as a
missionary in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, he
came west to the Foothills mission in Alberta. In 1912 he
retired to Calgary and lived with his daughter until his
death in 1934.
Services were not held in the Fish Creek Presbyterian
Church after the first world war; the building was vacant
for some time, then was rented, and finally burned down
in 1935. The J. Widdows home is now located near the
site.
Fish Creek Presbyterian Church.
Rev. McLean (?) driving between Red Deer Lake and Priddis Churches
about 1900.
SHEEP CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
A sketch by Rev . James S. Shortt published by Dr.
Hugh McKellar in "Presbyterian Pioneer Missionaries"
is the only information available about the Sheep Creek
charge. It is quoted from pages 138 to 140.
"The field known as 'Foothills' was detached from
the Pine Creek and Davisburg appointments and formed
into a field in 1893 with three points, Sheep Creek, Fish
Creek and Red Deer Lake . The first Missionary on this
field was Farquhar McCrae, a man of delicate constitu­
tion but of real and earnest missionary spirit, who later
passed away before completing his theological course at
Queen's.
"McCrae had many and varied experiences in trying
to carryon his work in this field . There were in the dis­
trict, several young Englishmen, many of them of the
remittance class, and all anxious to maintain the reputa­
tion of the far West as a "wild and wooly" country. These
young fellows resented or pretended to resent the
presence in the district of a representative of the Church.
It savored too much of the encroaching civilization of the
'effete' East. They set themselves to make life miserable
for the missionary in every possible way .
"At the Sheep Creek appointment, McCrae con­
ducted services in an abandoned shack a little way above
the forks of the creek. The writer knows the spot well and
Rev. Hugh McKellar and Peter McArthur (once of Red Deer Lake).
29
also a rare fishing pool near by where the creek cuts into
the bank and curving around forms a number of deep ed­
dies. Here many a speckled beauty used to rise greedily
to the fly. Jn the deserted building by the ban ks of the
creek known as the Swede's shack, services were con­
ducted every Sunday afternoon. Over the low rafters
were spread a number of skins of deer and other animals
left behind by the late owner. The preacher's seat con­
sisted of an empty soap box, and the pulpit was an old
barrel turned bottom side up, with several staves missing.
"I n the spring of 1894, the writer came to this
foothills field and remained for a year. These were the
days of small things in our church work in the West. Ow­
ing to adverse conditions produced by drouth and crop
failure . . . the population was actually declining.
Services were held for perhaps ten to fifteen years
before the Swede's shack, just up stream from M. T.
Millars, was torn down and the logs used for W. H.
King's house.
clergyman's daughter, Mrs. Rodgers, though her hus­
band was of a Presbyterian family, had many family con­
nections who were dignitaries of the Irish church, and the
Church brothers were the sons of a professor of history at
the University of London who was in holy orders. To the
west Mrs. Millar's family, the Shaws, had taken an ac­
tive part in the establishment of St. Paul's, Fish Creek,
and her father had played the organ for the first Anglican
service at Calgary. Among the other settlers before 1900
there seem to have been few who did not have some con­
nection with the Church of England and of those few
there were not many who proved able to resist the com­
pelling influence that emanated from Webb-Peploe and
his wife. Though Webb-Peploe's incumbency was to end
in 1902, and although illness often interrupted his
ministrations, he was a most effective parish priest and
indeed a great missionary.
Though Anglican services had been held earlier,
probably most often at Monea, the Deane-Freeman
house, and although there seem to have been earlier dis­
cussions of the need for a church, the discussion to build
was taken at a meeting at the Webb-Peploe's on October
5, 1895. The unique design of the log church, still sur­
viving as perhaps the happiest expression of vernacular
architecture in the Alberta foothills, owed much to the
young clergyman. Though it would at most seat com­
fortably about a hundred, the exposed timbers of the roof,
the broad aisle and the graceful curve of the east end,
where the sanctuary, raised only slightly, is as wide as the
chancel, give a sense not only of tranquility but of space.
Webb-Peploe had built his house, soon called The
Vicarage, of logs placed vertically and, over some opposi­
tion, he persuaded the ranchers to follow his example in
the construction of the church, though only after his
carpenter, Charlie Schack, had agreed that he should
receive no payment until the structure had stood for three
months.
CHRIST CHURCH - by Mildred MacM:llan, Eileen
Jameson, Lewis G. Thomas
Though Church of England services had been held
earlier, Anglican work on Sheep Creek owed its firm
foundation to the arrival at Millarville in 1894 of the
Reverend R. Murray W. Webb-Peploe. A Cambridge
graduate and the son of a prominent English Evangelical,
Prebendary Hanmer William Webb-Feploe, he came to
Millarville for his health, as indeed did many other early
settlers, for the high altitude and sunny skies had given
the Alberta foothills a reputation as an ideal resort for
those advised to lead an outdoor life. Though he came to
ranch the prospects for the exercise of his ministry were
excellent. Among the earliest settlers the wives of his im­
mediate neighbours, Mrs. Deane-Freeman and Mrs.
Welsh, were both devout daughters of the Church of
Ireland. Further down the creek Mrs. Austin was a
Early view of Christ Church. Millarville.
30
altar rail, sent from England by the Douglass family and
the altar frontal , whose donor is unknown but which is of
exceptional quality. The windows, with their fine view of
the countryside, were of clear glass, though another early
memorial was the east window, a copy of Holman Hunt's
The Ughl oflhe World. The original is in Keble College,
Oxford, and another copy in St. Paul's Cathedral. This is
a memorial to William De Vere Hunt, given by his sister.
They were both early residents and William, as a trooper
in Lord Strathcone's Horse, lost his life at Pretoria in
1900 during the South African War. It is possible that the
artist was a connection of his. The window is reported to
have been installed in December, 1901.
Though it is not known precisely when the belfry was
built, the design suggests that it also owed its inspiration
to Webb-Peploe. The bell, which rang for the first time
on June 2, 1930, for the wedding of Dessagh Jameson and
Hugh Macklin, is believed to be an old railway bell and it
may have been the bell of the Church of the Redeemer in
Calgary. It was found in the old Alexander Block in
Ca lgary in the course of demolition to make way for the
Hudson's Bay Company's addition to its store and se­
ured for the church through the good offices of Malcolm
\ 1 illar.
The logs were cut and hauled from the Norman
Willan:; place some distance to the west and the finished
lumber came from the Lineham mill at Okotoks then
ca lled Dewdney. Apart from Schack and his chief assis­
a nt, Frank Watt, most of the workers were volunteers,
o me of whom, like Joseph Waite, had special experience
a nd skill in carpentry. The logs were left unpeeled, which
gave a pleasingly rustic appearance and was in due course
to pay an unanticipated dividend . By the early twenties
wood-boring insects had loosened the bark . In 1926 a
meeting of the alarmed parishioners with A. S. Cannon
in the chair arranged for a working bee to apply ten
ga llons of "Solignum Hydro" to the exterior and ten of
" No.2 or medium brown solignum" to the interior. One
devoted family, that of Richard Knights, had already un­
dertaken much of the task of stripping the logs. Impend­
ing disaster was thus transformed into a triumph of
decoration, for the invaders left behind the delicate and
lace-like tracery that is one of the particular charms of
the structure.
The chancel furniture, including the communion
ta ble, a lectern and reading deck , were also made of un­
st ripped logs . Some are still in use but in the course of
time the church's interior has been enriched by many
gifts, often memorials. Among the first were the hand­
woven kneeling mats in front of the altar and along the
Interior of Christ Church , Millarville, with good view of beamed ceiling.
Interior view of Christ Church , Millarville.
31
The church, built on five acres of land donated by
Webb-Peploe and lying just east of his ranch house, was
opened free of debt and dedicated by Bishop Pinkham on
May 6, 1896. Though heavy rain prevented many from
attending, there was a congregation of from sixty to
seventy, and a collection of $33.25, then considered "a
good one." The church was dedicated as "Christ
Church" though the dedication originally proposed was
"Saint Patrick's, " perhaps a reflection of the attachment
of the Deane-Freemans and Mrs. Welsh to the Church of
I reland. The work was supported by the Colonial and
Continental Church Society, of which Prebendary Webb­
Peploe was a staunch supporter. Indeed when he
preached the Anniversary Sermon before the Society in
1900 he referred, perhaps with a certain lack of tact, to
his son's "hut" and the "huts" of his neighbours, "ladies
and gentlemen by birth, but now having come down to
the condition of hardworking farmers, with no attendants
or servants of any kind." The senior Webb-Peploes had
visited their son in 1895, when an address to a Sunday
afternoon meeting at the Calgary opera house had
produced a collection of $56.00 towards the building
fund.
Webb-Peploe's fruitful pastorate ended in 1902 when
failing health compelled him to return to England, where
he died in 1904. The Rev. J . B. Wace had served the
parish in 1898 while Webb-Peploe was abroad. Later in­
cumbents included H. M . Armstrong, 1902-3, a graduate
of Trinity College, Dublin , Willis George James, a
graduate of the University of Toronto, who was at
Millarville, 1904-7 and while at Okotoks, 1905-7 , may
also have taken services at Christ Church. The Rev . A .
O. Cheney was in charge from January to August, 1906,
and Rev. A. E. Race from 1907 to 1908. In 1907 the Rev .
G. H. Webb presided at the Annual Meeting, which
urged Synod to appoint an incumbent. The accelerating
pace of settlement after 1900 strained the resources o'f all
the churches and Bishop Pinkham found it difficult to
supply even established rural centres like M illarville.
Charles William Peck of Christ College, Cambridge, was
incumbent from 1908 to 1910 of Millarville with Pekisko,
the latter a ranching community west of High River with
close connections with Sheep Creek. Peck's experience
suggests how far the network of relationships and
friendships among the early settlers had developed before
1914 . Peck had been Priest-in-charge of the Lower Red
Deer district from 1907 to 1908 where he had lived with
the family of Charles Douglass, an early settler at Sheep
Creek who , when the prospects of the rancher there
declined, had moved to the open range that still existed in
the southwest of the province. Mrs. Douglass was a
Deane-Freeman' daughter, her sister married a Pekisko
rancher and the children Peck tutored, and who
remembered him with affection, were frequent visitors at
Pekisko and Millarville. Peck's health, never robust, led
him to return to his curacy at Diss, in Norfolk. Although
he spent some time at Davos, in the hope that Swiss air
would affect a cure that of Southern Alberta had not, he
died at an early age.
Peck's successors included John Russell Gretton,
1910-12, and Horace Hignet Wilford from 1913. Webb­
Peploe had done his best to expand the outreach of his
ministrations and had taken services at the growing
village further to the east down Sheep Creek, that was to
Rectory of Christ Church, Millarville. Rev. Gretton, Mrs. Gretton and
son Ronnie.
Harvest Festival , Christ Church.
become Okotoks. For the people further west the situa­
tion of Christ Church was not altogether convenient and
services began to be held at the Ranchers' Hall, opened in
1895 some miles to the west. Social and sports events
raised money for the church; when a new and rather
grander than ordinary house was built a musical enter­
tainment there levied tribute as much on curiosity as
religious devotion. A branch of the Women's Auxiliary
to the Missionary Society of the Canadian Church, the
national Anglican women's organization , was organized
and was in 1913 sufficiently active to order new prayer
books and to subscribe fifty dollars towards repairs to the
vicarage . The latter had been built in 1908 when the
Webb-Peploe house had been sold with their land. The
four-roomed frame bungalow with its narrow verandah
in front and porch protecting its back door on the north,
the vicar's hip-roofed stable and the long open-sided shed
to shelter the congregation's horses, were long part of the
cluster of buildings near the church, though they lacked
the distinction of those designed by the first incumbent.
Mr. Wilford carried on through the difficult years
between 1914 and 1918 . The last resident incumbent at
Millarville appears to have been the Reverend Robert W .
W . Alexander, whose wife is remembered as swimming
in the creek with her devoted black spaniel on her
shoulders . He had succeeded the Reverend M . W.
32
Holdom, incumbent in 1919 and 1920, and remained un­
til the end of 1922. He not only maintained the heroic
schedul.e established by Mr. Wilford and including ser­
vices at the Ranchers' Hall, Kew, (Plain View School)
Black Diamond and Lineham, (where the services appear
to have been held at Mr. Sturrock 's house) but he also
held special mission services at some of these points and
on other occasions at Ballyhamage, Fordville, and Bragg
Creek, at the Muncasters. Some of these at least were
picture services, and he notes having "carried lantern and
slides on pack horse" a total of 138 miles for four
showings. The offerings at the mi ssion services, which
varied from $2.10 to $9 .25, were for a variety of good
causes, the Navy League, apparently a favourite, China
Famine, the Sunday School and at Ballyhamage and the
largest collection of all , a piano for the school. He may
have encouraged Mr. Cawthorne to start a Boy Scout
troop for on May 22, 1921 he recorded a Boy Scout
Parade, with the unusual attendance of 51 and an offer­
ing of $7.70. He and Mrs . Alexander both rode, but his
notes are the first to suggest the difficulties of operating
cars on hazardous roads and in uncertain weather. The
note, "4 more started but car stalled," probably refers to
intending worshippers but it was one that some of his
successors , without the independence of the horseman,
must have read with rueful appreciation.
Through Mr. Alexander's pastorate congregations
and offerings were maintained both at Millarville and
Priddis and by 1923 the financial affairs of both points
were in satisfactory order. After 1923 M illarville no
longer had a resident clergyman but was served from
Okotoks, an arrangement that Millarville found par­
ticularly difficult to accept. During the successive in­
cumbencies of the Reverend Joshua Aurelius, the
Reverend Norman Plummer and the Reverend A. J.
Wright, this dissatisfaction increased and reached a
climax in 1930 when a meeting informed the Synod that
the congregation wished to close the church except for
occasional services.
Paradoxically the depression years seem to have
brought a new lease of life to Christ Church and certainly
revived and broadened its activity in the community . The
young, vigorous and able Bishop Sherman attracted
some exceptionally gifted young clergymen and the in­
cumbencies of Dudley F. Kemp, 1931-1933, and John H.
Oriel, 1933-1939, in spite of the financial difficulties in­
separable from the depression , saw a marked recovery
from the despondency of the previous years. Both were
Englishmen but both had had Canadian theological
training and both took Alberta brides. Though the larger
congregations may have reflected a growing population,
the increased use of cars and slightly improved roads,
they may also have expressed the increasing maturity of
the community and a sense of social cohesion arising in
part at least out of the depression.
A sign of renewed vitality at Christ Church was the
establishment of a Ladies' Guild . The branch of the
national Women's A uxiliary established just before the
war had not survived but the new Guild found willing and
devoted workers and strong support outside its limits.
The members were particularly concerned with the fabric
of the church and did much to maintain its unusual quali­
ty . They also turned their attention to the conversion in
1937 of the almost unused vicarage into a parish meeting
place, an activitiy in which the Anglican Young People' s
Association took an active part. The interior partitions
were removed, the walls refurbished, new furniture
provided and the exterior covered with slabs to bring it
into harmony with the logs of the church. The Church
House, a term the ladies preferred to "parish hall", was
to be the much used precursor of the present building
which stands on its site .
Even in the most difficult times the concern of the
parishioners for the preservation of their unique place of
worship and the maintenance of its services never dis­
appeared. Through the years devoted women drove, by
team or by car, through the worst of weather to play the
organ, among them Mrs. E. Daggett, Mrs. Charles
Nelson, Mrs. Frank Patterson, Mrs. David Evans, Mrs.
Charles Bull and Mrs. Woodford of Priddis. In the thir­
ties an evening confirmation service was the first of the
"candlelight services", subsequently held annually at the
time of Harvest Festival. Long slim spruce poles were.
suspended from the roof to the left and right of the aisle,
with holes drilled to accommodate a hundred candles.
Though Christ Church is now lighted electrically the
same imaginative spirit inspired the Flower Services,
held regularly every summer. The concern of the com­
munity at large for the church is suggested by the offer in
1929 of the Women's Institute to contribute $5 .00 to a
fund to pay for a custodian of grounds and to help in a
general clean-up of the cemetery and with the planting of
trees and flowers. By 1934 the parish was considering a
contract to beautify the grounds over a period of five
years for $25.00 a year and in the same year a Cemetery
Committee was appointed to deal with the increasing
number of interments in the part of the churchyard con­
secrated as a burial ground fourteen years earlier.
The Ladies' Guild , directly and indirectly, did a good
deal for the shaky finances of these active but difficult
years. With a shrewd appreciation of the continuing addi­
tion to equestrian sports they organized gymkhanas and
fed the hungry crowds at the Millarville Races . At least
one garden party made a substantial contribution to the
support of the church, though the bishop was somewhat
disturbed by the Crown-and-anchor game set up by a
well-known Calgary oil man , a Presbyterian with an
affection for Christ Church.
Millarville and Priddis continued to be served
through the war years and subsequently by clergymen
resident in Okotoks . At the same time the development
of a n urban cluster around the oil fields of Turner Valley
Outdoor church service, Millarville, Sept. 3rd, 1944.
33
had led to the establishment of several Anglican con­
gregations south of the South Fork of Sheep Creek .
Shortly after the arrival of the Reverend Waverley D.
Gant in 1952, a rectory was purchased at Black Diamond
and Priddis and Millarville became part of the Meota
grou p of parishes.
ST. JAMES CHURCH - by E. J. Park
"During the summer of 1904 St. James was built by
volunteer labor and the Rev. W . J . James was the new
rector. During 1903 Canon G. C. Gale had come from
DeWinton to hold services in the school. The first vestry
members were J . W. ackley, G . Young, G. Ethel and
Wm . Standish." (Mrs. W . C. Standish).
A December 1903 list in the back of the community
hall records headed "Subscriptions to Priddis Church"
has these names: J. W. ackley, W. E. C. (Hulme ?), Miss
Lee, Mrs. Lee, C. Billings, F. Hopkins, Mrs. Wilson, P.
W. Garneau, G. Ethel, G. W. Hone, A. Hone, A. J. Pic­
ton Warlow, A. W. Campbell, G. E. Gale, G. T. Young,
Wm. Standish, Conwil Williams, Clark Standish, R.
Gillespie.
The following entries were recorded on the fly leaf of
the October 1904 Parish Register. "N 0 previous register
of services etc., appears to have existed but certain entries
may be found in the Registers of St. Barnabas (Sarcee
Reserve), DeWinton or Christ Church , Millarville, from
which places Priddis was served ."
"Two services are recorded in an old Register kept by
Rev. S. J. Stocken on being held at the Forks of Fish
Creek in the house of a Mr. Ruscombe Poole on Dec. 6,
1891 a nd January 3, 1892 - ."
"The first Church of England services at Priddis were
held by the Rev. S. J. Stocken from 1894 to 1896 or later
in the log school opposite the present church."
As far as is known the church was consecrated in
1906. This is considered an authentic story of the naming
of the church. In honor of Charles Priddis, who had
donated the land, the name of St. Charles was chosen.
When the wardens journeyed to Calgary by horse to
register the name and property, they learned that St.
Charles was not recognized by the C. of E. Having no
wish to make another long tedious trip to Calgary, they
promptly registered "St. James", explaining to the con­
gregation later that Jim ackley had done most of the
building anyway.
Usually St. James was served by the incumbent living
in the Millarville rectory but Rev. and Mrs. Race , 1907,
rented the Clarke Standish cottage for awhile . A cham­
pion boxer at university he also took a great interest in
the curling. Starting in 1908 Archdeacon W. J . Timms,
missionary to the Sarcee Reserve, took services until
1910, again between 1916 and 1920, and a few more until
1927 . This early missionary should never be forgotten for
his untiring efforts given gladly during all these years.
Living and carrying on his work at the Sarcee Agency he
found time to drive with team and buggy to Priddis.
Usually accompanied by Miss Timms, who played the
organ, he plodded on through snow, wind, rain, cold and
blazing sun . One resident could still visualize him trying
to negotiate the newly graded Reserve road through mud
up to the axle. His actual comments in the service register
paint the picture. They read as such; twenty below zero
- blizz<Jrding - W. J. T. did not go to Priddis; rained
After service ca. 1920. Archdeacon Timms and Miss Timms at the
gate.
Archdeacon Timms and Canon Stocken, 1931.
and horses strayed away; cold wind and snow; Christmas
1909 - W. J. T. in bed with ulcerated tooth; very cold
sleighing; roads in bad condition from snow and rain;
rained all day - W. J. T. rheumatic - so did not ven­
ture; snow, wind and low temperature made the journey
impossible; fine till after service, caught in thunderstorm
returning home.
Often at festivals some of the Indian families would
<Jccomp<Jny him, standing or sitting on the noor in a
group with their shawls, braids and papooses. W~ should
never forget the work accomplished by the Archdeacon
with his team and buggy, always tethered to a convenient
tree or post, while he conducted the services.
From 1923 to 1927 only five services are recorded,
taken by Rev . R . J. Aurelius and Rev. N . Plummer from
Millarville. It is believed that other visiting clergy held
services making an average of three a year. About this
time Priddis was included in the Okotoks parish and the
rector lived there. Services were held about eight times a
year, mostly during the warmer months . Eight to twelve
services a year was normal for a long time. By the time
Priddis became part of the Meota Parishes with the rec­
tor living in Black Diamond in the fifties the pattern of
two services a month had been firmly established.
H. Ford, warden, reported 1907 as a satisfactory year
with receipts of $93.50 and expenses of $86.30. This had
included a $1.80 for "oil for painting". The Diocesan
assessment for $20.00 was first mentioned in 1918. Other
contributions over those years were to the Mission Fund,
34
the Fund for Widows and Orphans, the 1920 Anglican
Forward Movement - $475 .00, and the Bishop's House
Fund.
A W. A. organized in 1920 helped substantially with
the finances and church care for a few years. In 1935
Rev . J. H. Oriel encouraged it to re-organize again as the
Sewing Guild, still active as the St. James Guild . Rev. C.
P. Bishop organized the first Sunday School in 1946 un­
der the supervision of Mrs. B. Strauss and Mrs. W.
Hodgson. It carried on in the school until 1958 with
various teachers such as Mrs. G. H. Park, Mrs. G. Fo x,
Mrs. R. M. Waite and Mrs. E. T. Hunt.
Only suitable for small weddings the following have
been married in the church - P. R . Henderson and Elsie
ladds, G . l . Maclachlan and Lily ladds, A. E. Mulder
and Kathleen McConnel, J. H. Harper and Jean Blackie,
J. C. Waite and Irene Adams, A. B. Standish and Jean
Woodford, J. Goertzen and Hilda Unruh , G. Standish
and Hazel Croston, B. Corbett and Anne Hunt, W. Blatz
and Gwen Adams, G. Bolton and Mary Bolton .
When the road was rebuilt with high grade and
scraper ditch there was only three feet in front of the
door. A 1951 public subscription and volunteer labor
made it possible to pour a cement foundation and move
the building forty or fifty feet north and east. At the same
time there was now room enough to build a ten foot
chancel with a vestry at the side.
When the church was built F. A. C. Watts gave the
altar cross that is still in use. Starting in 1939 the Guild
began to up date the furnishings by giving a hymnal
board in memory of Violet Marie Shaw, followed by a
new offertory plate in memory of Elsie G. Henderson.
later they purchased a memorial plaque in memory of
their members residing in the parish at the time of their
passing. The names engraved on it so far are V. M. Shaw,
Elsie G. Henderson, Margaret Perceval, Anne E. Hunt,
Olive I. McNary, Doris Fox , Amy Griffith, Amy T.
Stewart and Alice Coultan . Other memorial gifts have
heen the pews for Violet M. Shaw; altar rail for W. E. C.
Hulme; two very old pictures by Mrs. Coultan for her
parents; new altar for Arthur Vivian Shaw; book rest for
Alice Coultan and lighting fixtures for Charles H. Grif­
fith . When natural gas was put in Mr. and Mrs. R. Stan­
ton gave gas lights that were used until the Griffith
Memorial Fund made the installation of power possible.
It is regretable there is nothing tangible in memory of
Mr. and Mrs. F. Hopkins, F. H. Brooks, and Mr. and
Mrs . H. C. Wallis as the men were contributors from
almost the time of building. These members found it
necessary to retire from the district a few years prior to
their deaths .
This brief account is intended as a tribute to all the
faithful workers of the last 70 years. It has been impossi­
ble to mention all the names but their "good works" live
on in the continuation of St. James Church at Priddis.
WAR EFFORT ON THE HOME FRONT - by George
Woodford.
As soon as the people throughout the countryside got
over the shock of war being acclaimed in August, 1914,
among the people who came from Europe a great desire
arose to get back to their homeland . A lot of lands and
farms were sold or rented and entire families left the
cou nt ry never to ret urn.
The people who were left were soon swept into some
sort of activity . Among the first was the Patriotic Fund
and the Canadian Red Cross. I know very little of the
Patriotic Fund but during my Army service I saw a lot of
evidence of the Red Cross and some of the many articles
that were sewn on the home front. The comfort bags we
got from time to time, and at Christmas we got a lot of
goodies from the Red Cross. I think most of the dif­
ferent chapters came into being in 1915. I could not get
any help from the Red Cross House, Calgary, as their
records did not go back beyond 1939. The two branches
of Priddis and Millarville were very active and had a
large membership. Mrs. Malcolm Millar and Mrs. R. H.
Knights were presidents of the Millarville Chapter and
Mrs. Frank Hopkins and Mrs . A. E. Hunt were the presi­
dents of the Priddis Chapter. No doubt these posts were
held by others but there is no record of it.
Victory Bond Drive
Method of financing the 1914-18 War was a lot
different than the method employed in the 1939 show . In
World War I, from time to time War Bond drives were
held. Mr. Richard Knights headed some of these drives. I
believe he can vassed the country selling the bonds. I have
no idea how much money was raised in these drives .
War Memorial, MilIarville
Mr. Richard Knights was the driving force behind
this project and in all possibility it would have been
designed by him . All money needed in connection with
the Memorial would have been raised by public subscrip­
tion . The actual construction was under the care of Jim­
my Traquair, an old Scottish mason and all the labor was
voluntary. When it was completed it was an imposing
structure. On September 27, 1920, amid pomp and
ceremony, it was unveiled by General A. H. Bell, Com­
manding Officer of M.D. 13, Calgary . The ground it
stood on was consecrated by Bishop Pinkham of
Calgary. Seventy-one from the Millarville district served
in the Armed Forces in the 1914-18 War, and seventeen
were killed in action. Several of these served with the
Imperial Army. There were forty men from the Priddis
district went overseas, five of these were killed in action .
A number of men from both districts were decorated.
A small number of men from the surrounding dis­
tricts served with the Canadian Forces that went to the
South African War. Some were in the Fort Garry Horse
Dedication of Guild Memorial Plaque. Rev. W. D. Gant with four of the
original Guild members: Mrs. W. Stewart, Mrs. R. Stanton, Mrs. C. Griffith
and Mrs. F. Hopkins.
35
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Honor Roll, Second World War, Priddis. The following names were added later: F. Butlin; G. N. Champion; G. H. Smith, W. K. Underwood, L. Y. Bu rrows RCAF (WD), and V. K. Powell RCAF (WD). Group at dedication of War Memorial, Millarville, September 26,
1920.
and some in the Lord Strathcona Horse, but man y were
with the C.M.R . and by all accounts did a commendable
job,
The Priddis a nd Mill a rville districts are well known
throughout the Province. We have our Fair, one of the
best of it's kind in Western Canada, The Millarville
Races are well known throughout Western Canada rac­
ing circles.
The original Polo team boasted some of the finest
players and ponies that could be found anywhere. There
were some of the most colorful characters any district
could possess,
When war came the two districts were not found laCK­
ing. The men joined up and some payed the price in full.
The women played their part too, so when it was allover
they could look back on a job well done,
Knitting Bee. Mrs. R. Stanton, sr., Mrs. R. Knights, Mrs. Hackett. Front:
Mrs. St. Clair. 1915·16.
37
CHRISTCHURCH = = = = MILLAIlVILLE = = ==
---------------------------------11--­
I n ill emory
of :111 who
I!;fL\'C
their lives in the Gr(,:lt F.ufOJ'lC'ln W:Jt:
eslJCcially-
Ed ward Brien
Eric Buckler
H ugh Coppock
John H. R. Cud lip
Deane Dougla~ s
F. H. Wolley-Dod
Reginald Fisk
.-\rthur \V. C eater
,-\rt:lUT B. .Iachon
juiln Jamies.oll
C harles I<niA'ht s
F. Anthony Knip:hb
Charle. P. Lu,k
George ;\J[ilnrl'
Frank I\·lilnC'r
Hugh Morris
Frank A. Sh,w
I
I
John Trevenen
Harry \VaL"i-on
Consecration of the Ground
Leonard A. \Velsh
Halph \Vil"wood
BY THE RT. REV. THE LORD BISHOP OF CALGARY
Unveiling of War Memorial
BY BRIG.-GEN. A. H. BELL, C.M.G.,D.S.O.
On Sunday, September 26th, 1.920, at. 2.30 p.m.
Front of booklet of Dedication Service for War Memorial, Sept. 1920.
Order of Service
The Address
HY\l l\
::\.-\TIO::\,\L A::\THD!
Fo r 1\11 the Snint:<: , w ho (rom I!""i r bbor,.
r CAI ,
Who Thee. hy f:"l ilh, Iw ior(' 11\1' worM
con (c.'".'< 't.)
T hy n:"l me, () .' ~ \l , br i"TC \ ror 1l1('......, d.
~\ llclui:l!
Hnl::\
To be tiung tn (he t.lInC' (Jf "\\'11('11 I :--:w"\' (' ~' lh r Wnndrnu~ C'rM.....
The sign :lud f;vmbo\ of Thy j!r:lC'e
\r(' raisc, 0 LonJ-thc C'ruC'ifioo­
For denr me morial , in Ihis: p):H'C,
Of (ho~ who for t.heir fellow s diet!' Frll 'mid thr.
(pi!
r.'l;.:f' uf the w;:\r,
Th f' li l orm-to:'(."{'( ! watc~, hlond-ro:lkt.:d
linl '.
:\1111 W;Il r! ,:"Wf' l't. SP:l ('(', where airpl:lllK ~n:' r.
f.'ro t1\ l um "ll , to T h.\· P !'.'H' C' Di\' in!'
The sign of Lovc, of VirtMY.
Of triumph on'r Death :.llld H cll :
Th.'"lt. Lrill ~ l.he hlN.'>'oo !'e rt :l int y
O( s~\\'in g gT.'"I e!' for those who fell .
Th \" H an d h,'\S INllh('.Ol . Cr:lllt. I h:ll II'P.,
llcll e:lt h the ~h ado\\' o f Thy Cross:
n ~IlI(' llll lt'r Tht'C :\IId (.hc III in T It(·c, )bde I"lcan nnd pu ,c fr.. m ~!\r!!ll y II n·;:.<; . Thou WIL.'St. their rock, their fcrtr~s, and
their mj~hl;
T hou, uml, till'ir Caplnin in thc \vel!·
rou~ht fip:hl;
Thou , io the da,l\n('!l.." drc:\r, thcir one tnl<'
Ii.l!ht..
Oh m:w Thv !" 11dier.::., faithful, Irue .'\nrl
))()ld , .
f'i~hl .'"IS th(' S-.'l inl !< who noblv fOU;1:ht. or old
1\11(1 will . wil h Ll l! ~m, the \"irt.(Jr":- crown of
golt!.
So for the pe.'\('e th:"\t l he\' h Avc \\'1) 1l
We nwgni(y T h:r na me, :lnd r:l if':('
To ThCi', the C:t('rn:li Thrc(' in O.m·,
Ollr thunkofTcrillJ.: or pr:tYt'r :11111 pr:', i~l'~
I :1rn the i1esurrC't'tion and the Lire. s,'\ith th e Lortl ; he th nt bclic\·cth in :'\'1(', t.hmlj!h
he were u!':ld, y!.:t 8h1\11 he live: :lnd \\"ho ~O~'\'N liv (' th :\!l e! h!'li ('vc th ill ;\r e sh:ul nl'Y N
die.
I know th.'lt my Redecm('T livelh, oml t hat He !; ha ll s t:l nd at th e IAUer d:\)' uj)On the
C.'\rth lind (ho\lgh :-tHer 111 .\' s kin, worllls 1\('Slroy I hig Ix' ely, )" ~' t in 01 ..... flesh sh .'IJI I ~·U!
Cod; whom 1 s hnll f:CI' kr 111y",(·11. nnd m ine l'yC'S ... ha ll Lch01d , an d nut anol.hc r,
We bl"OuJ!ht nothing inlo Ihis 1\'1,rlcl and il. iR !'f'rt:li ll wc ron r~'\rrv not.hinll: Ol ;t. 'J'lle Lord 1-.:1\",' :\1111 Ih!' ! rd 1,·,Ii.> ",L· ~ .. ! fI\\· ' I.\·; I, ! "'-'i l,d I ll' ti ll' 1I :1 1OC ur t he Lm·d. L ei II'; Jim!) .
Lord hn\'c IO Ct Cr llpon II ."".
The golden evcning brigh tens in th e W(' ~ I ;
Seon, soon to f:lithful w:'\rri ors eom ~ th(> ir
rp!'It;
Sweet is the culm of Pnrndisc the bless'd,
Al\eluinl
From e.arth'~ wid~ bounrls, from oee:J.n'.,>
farth est. r n:ls l,
Throup;h $l:ates of pc:tr! s l·reams in thc
:ount.lCAA
ho~ t.,
The Unveiling
( With the words following )
" T o the $tlnry of God nnd in $rr:lt cful m<-mur y of thMe who .(1::\\"c I hei r li ves for T(inl!;
('ounlrv and a ri;!:htecHL<; (';:au"e we h:lve r.Li!'ed t illS Me moriAl. ~In }' all wh o lo ok
upon it rC.'lli r.c tl1(.' joy or r:lithful ~T\·i ,..! nnd t IJc po wer o( t ne ~ ncll{'.,,~ li(e, to whic h
C l)d ,' n\l r h~:d(' t o brill!.! us a ll ; t.hroll~h J c"-t LS Christ our Lord,"
"meel.
; III ~I
III: .)'
HF.ADl\,C OF THE
I\A ~IE;:;. 131' jC'f SilC'IH' C' . ( ' hr il"Jl/lfI L"t' III CrC!l 1I11()71 1( 1i.
\I ~.
((ur Fa lhf'r, whirh a rt. ill hf':\n'll, Hal1nw(..'C 1 I:c Thy Xnme, Thy I\ingdolll corn e.
Thy will hI' lionl', in c~rth :L<;. it. is in h ca \"( ~n . (;i vc II... t hi::s day our 1I:\ ily brcnd, ;\nu
lllrgive liS our In',. p: LS.~, :1f: wc fo r~ i v c t hell! tha t. Ircspa:-lS :lll.ll in :4 ~l~. And Ie!l.d WI
not int(, tc mpt:l tion : lint d('livcr us f rom c\'il : For Thine i'i t ht..' J\ inJ,!:dom, th e Powcr
:.Lnd the ( ;")ry , fur (" ,'cr :md e\·~· r. ..tll/t·".
1\lmighty G od, with whom do li\"(' the spi ri l ~ of t hcm thnt dr-p!lTt. hencc in the Lord,
:lnd with whom thp. so \ll~ or Ih(> rai t hful , :.ftl' r the\' :\rC' d elivered from t he burdcn of
t he nt:~h .:l ~ in j<.;y :lIld fdi ,·il y: \rr- ~ i ,'c "l"h(;(, he:', rl y th:lll ks fo r thc liic a nd I'x:lll lpic
of o llr brothenl whom it ha lll plenscII T he'e t.) dd in'r oll t of thc m i sc ri~ of t.h is s inful
wnrld : hesCC<"hilll,:: Thee, thut it. Ill:ly plc:JSC Thee, o r Th )' gr:lciotl.s g()(ldness, shurtly to
:\ Cf'om pli:lh t.he lIumhcr o i Thinc elcd , :\1111 to ha,.t ('1\ Th \' J\ inll:uolll : th:Lt. \\"1'., \\"it.h
" II thw~c Ih:lt. !Itt' dC}J:n tt'iI in t he tn le ra ith or Thy H ol.Y ~ n rn c, llI~ y hn \'c ollr pcrf,"'('t
N J!l ~ umm:lti o! 1 :md bli!l-"!, bo th in hoily nl\d ~, "1. in Thy e te rll :!1 :l nd c\'NIn.slilllot glury:
throllp;h J ('Sus Chri s t our Lord .
Amell.
~~ll~e~~;[u:h~: \~~~,(:~I~~~~~I~~~~t~~~~ll~~ (;:~~J t~~;~-I~~~:t~r. n(T~~dl:~h~i,~~ \~):~t
all p:lticll ce :lnd forlilude : li(t. lip Th y l'QunlpII: lllfC UJlflll the m and J!i\'c thc m
lhrollp;h .Jesus C'hr i;;t ollr Lortl. .'l m(·/I ,
.'\nd whe n the ~ Irjre is fil'rcc, the wnrr:.rr'
lonll:,
Su.': ds on the e:H the dist a nt t rillmph-.sonp:,
And hear1.~ nre brave. ag;\i l1 , nn<l nrms :lTC
strong .
.\)l d llif\!
!=:inJ:ting to Father, SO!) , .'\!l(1 Holy Ghost
,\lIelui::r.l Amen.
COl\SECRATlO::\ OF C Ht;nC HY ,\HD
J. llrd huYr Illerry IIpun
Oh hle.'> " Communion , fellow s hip d ivinr '
We ('1"'1.1." f: lrl! ~~I (', the)' in glory ~ hil)(~ ;
V I'I :111 :.rr' one in Thr-r-, (or :\11 'Jr(, Thin e.
.\IIc1uia!
pe~: ("("';
1\lmip;hly Cori. who hnst rnnde I l~ cililen;; of thi.<: Rr:llm , cll nh le us to he w(.rt hy of
those who hu.vr dird fill" us. Grant Wi with:1 w ili ill C: ~p (r i t III lif) wh: Jtcv cr d uty Illay
hc laid upon U.'"'; and with lllld ;\unt Ni i:l ith In shed a l,ro:l d in the he:lrt.... of th l' JX"'IJlI<,
buth 1"Ullr:lj!p find gnod ("hn.'r; Ihnt wil('lill'l" n.\' p:ll il:nl"~ or I,)" ~er \'il 'e wc 1Il:1.'" t:. k('.
our parl wilh. Ollr nr!'rh1"l'll in t hp hour "r "l lr "01ll1r r'y'~ IH,(,II: Ih rnll;..:h .ff''<:I L' C lI ri'it
"Ill" IA,rd. .1!lrrll .
fli .qhn p : 111 t o!' nnme of t h(' r :lt hN, .';)il nile! Holy Gho... I., We d l'llir-a l(' this ~ e m o rbl
t il lil(.: Clllry of Cnd.
,\Irni ~ht)' G od , wh o h:l~t knit Ingethrr Thinc !']{,(·t. in one ("ommulljnn :lnd fello ws hip
ill I he rnystif'al hody fJf Thy ~n, Cor;:-;t. our Lonl: f!:r:\ nt u~ ~rt\cc :iO to follpw Thy
hl l":-.~· d . . ~ i l1l s in all "irt\l(lll~ an d JI:,d l\' li\'ing-, th:1t we m It)' come t o th osc unspcnk:lble
jn\".'1 \Vh id, ThOll has t prrp:lrC'rl ror thelll I·bat \lnfeigncdly lo\'c Thr-c; throu gh J esus
C[ll· j ~ 1 !.' Ill" Lord. A m f'.'/'
Hn1N
o G r.·d,
Our help in f\·~CS P:lst,
()nr hope (or ycnnl to comc,
()ur s helLer from thc stormy hln:<;{.,
:\ pd o ur ctc rnnl home:
;\ thom,aml :l.j:!:{'fi in Thy ,'l.i.c:;ht
.\re like:tll c\'enin ~ gonc;
thc wa t.c h that ellds t.h!' nij:!:hl.
nerorc t he risi n.u: sun .
~hort n.~
BC'l""I':l lh the f: h:ldow of Thv thro1lc
'fh y S.'li ll t.<: h:w o dwclt ~ccurc.
Thine :. r m :lio n<',
. \n d o llr rlcfCIl!'C i1> surc.
Timc likp nn c\· cr. r(,l1ing !' I.rc:llfl.
Ik'nr." nil it .~ I',)IH: n\\..,\y;
They fly formLlpn, :1...' \ :t drcam
Dip,:..; :Lt. the O Pf')1 j ll ~ d .'l.\' ,
lkfo rc t he hill s ill o rder Mood,
O r cll rt h rec<'i\'('d h('r frnme,
FmOl C\ r-rlast inJ: Th Ull :ut Gud,
T n r- ndl ~<: ~T:I~ I he ~1I 11r.
o God, our help in
~lIffi !'ie nl i ~
:lj!CS pos l.,
01lr hopc for yonTS 10 l'OIllC ;
no T hou o ur gU:lTCi wh i1 t", li(' !': hnll In.'> t.
,.\ Ild o llr e trrn al homl'.
THE TIE::\EJ)JCTl ON
FIR I"(C PAnTY LM,T T'()":T . INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC OF 1918-19 - Wm. K. and
Jennie MacKay
As the war of 1914-18 drew to a close the dreaded in­
fl uenza epidemic spread it's deadly virus across many
a reas and took a heavy toll. The Honor roll of the M illar­
ville community is testimony to the many lives given in
the fight for freedom, but the district does not have an
honor roll for those who gave so much to help their
eighbors as the epidemic spread rapidly through the
ountry, when the problem of medical assistance became
a real concern .
The nearest telephone in the M illarville district was
a n oil well connection at the Southern Alberta Oil camp
about one mile north of the present town of Turner
Valley. The line which had been through Millarville had
been removed, so this being closest, the residents of the
a rea were very grateful to be able to use this phone. Dick
von Stralendorff had an old Model T Ford and it was he
who made many trips to get a doctor. As all doctors were
going day and night it was most fortunate for the district
that Dr. Wm. E. Spankie of Calgary was contacted and
he said he would come as soon as he possibly could. At
that time his office was full of sick people but come he
d id and kept coming as often as he was called upon to do
able to do so themselves, cooking and bringing food to
the the many sick people, showing their neighbors that
they cared. Among these were Mr. and Mrs. Carl
Ohlson, Dick von Stralendorff, Mrs. M. Stewart, the
MacKays, and so many others it would be hard to name
them all.
MAIL SERVICE
"The Postmaster General's annual report for 1895-96
shows that on June 30, 1895, R. Gillespie took over the
Calgary-Millarville route from J. Dickey . Mr. Gillespie
made one trip per week over the 28 mile route for which
he was paid a sum of $200. per annum.
Subsequent annual reports show that R. Gillespie
continued as the contractor for this route for the next 14
years . During this time, on December 30, 1907, the
number of weekly trips was increased from one to two.
o.
The road from Calgary across open prairie to the
Weasel Head Hill was usually blocked with snow, with
winds that always were blowing. In winter, as soon as
now was shovelled out it drifted in again. From the
Weasel Head down across the Elbow River the road was
a narrow dirt one between two wire fences and wound
through the Sarcee Indian Reserve to Priddis then on to
Millarville. This was the trail over which Dr. Spankie
travelled to get to his patients, and often he had to resort
to getting help to get to his destination with team and
sleigh, but we all knew that when he said "I will come" he
would get there as soon as humanly possible, with
medicine and as ofte·n as he could obtain one, a nurse to
help out families who were completely exhausted and not
a ble to carryon by themselves . Often it was midnight
when he arrived and now one wonders when he slept and
if he ever did .
One time he was called out to the Posegate family,
and on his way back through the MacKay ranch stopped
at their house to find most of them down with the flu . He
realized there was no hope for Johnny and very little for
Billy, however, thanks to Dr. Spankie, Billy did recover.
On another occasion he came to see my father (James
Chalmers), another midnight drive from Calgary . This
was a complicated case which Dr. Spankie was not con­
vinced was the flu entirely, so he stayed with us for a few
hours to keep a check on my father's condition and
became convinced it was appendicitis. He then returned
to Calgary and sent out an ambulance and had an
operating table ready on my father's arrival at the Holy
Cross Hospital. Here he was operated on and made a
good recovery and medical history for those times as he
was seventy years of age.
Dr. Spankie passed away in 1975, at a great age, in
Calgary. He will always be remembered by the remaining
members of the many families he helped so many years
ago.
There were many others who helped their neighbors
in so many ways at this time, feeding cattle for those not
Departure of the Priddis mail, 1904. Passenger and Robbie Gillespie.
39
On June 30, 1909 the route was taken over by J. T.
Waite who continued to hold the contract until
September 30, 1913. It was during Mr . Waite's tenure
that the route was changed, on November 30,1911, from
Millarville to Kew.
From September 30, 1913, to January 31, 1914, the
Calgary-Kew route was contracted to G. Davidson . R.
Gillespie succeeded Mr. Davidson as contractor for the
route on Febru ary I, 1914. In 1916 the route became
Rural Route I, Calgary, serviced twice a week over a dis­
tance of 771f2 miles . (Tuesday and Frid ay).
Although R. Gillespie is still listed as the contractor
for this route in 1917, we have no further record of him in
reports for the years that followed . After 1917 the format
of the PMG 's annual report was changed a nd the practice
of listing rural mail contracts by na me discontinued ."
The above report was sent by J. Guindon, Chief,
Media Relations, Public Affairs Branc h, Canada Post
Office, Ottawa.
In 1924 the route became Rural Route I, Midnapore,
serving all residents from Midnapore to the Kew area as
well as the three post offices. Delivery was increased to
three times weekly - Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- in the early thirties. Kew post office was closed out
about 1955 but the M idnapore route still served the area.
In 1968 the route was changed again to Rural Route 8,
Calgary, delivering to the boxes from Midnapore to
Millarville as well as the Priddis and Millarville post of­
fices, daily, six times a week.
To service the former Midnapore route west of
highway No . 22, Rural Route I, Millarville, 35 miles in
length, commenced in July, 1968, four times a week.
Rural Route I, Priddis, with three deliveries a week to
residents north and west of the post office had already
gone into operation in February 1963 .
Millarville Post Office and Store, ca. 1919. Car used to carry the mail.
Courtesy of Glenbow Photographs
Christmas Day at Millarville post office, at the Millar ranch.
CAlGARY=MlllARVllU MAIL STAlE Leave. Mlllarvflle Pod Offloe every Tuesday and Friday at 9 a. m .. for
Calaary, calli"&, at Prlddi..
Leave. Ca1aary Po.t Office every Wedneaday and Saturday at 8 a. m. for
Mlllarville caflinll: at Prlddl..
SPECIAL ACCOMODATION FOR PASSENGERS AND EXPRESS PARCELS
TARIFF Calgary to Millarville
Calgary to Priddia
$2.50 1.60 SMALL PARCELS 2150 EACH
HERBERT M. WELCH, Mail Carrier
Calgary to Millarville Stage. 1906.
TELEPHONES - by E.J.P.
The first rural line from Calgary to Millarville, in­
stalled by the Alberta Provi ncial Telephones abou t 1909,
followed the Priddis trail across the Sarcee Reserve .
Henry Ford and J. W. Hyneman are considered re­
sponsible for getting some of the first 1500 miles of rural
line in Albert a into this area. There were phones at W.
W. Stewart's, Bradfield Ranch, H . Lee's on NW \4-35­
21-3, deMille's saw mill, 36-21-4, and a t M. T. Millar's.
V. N. deMilie supposedly built his own extension from
Joe Waugh leaving Midnapore with Xmas mail for Priddis, Millarville
and Kew, 1927.
40
the main line. Other installations are not definitely
known. The line ceased to operate about 1915-16 when
the company, now the AGT, had neither men or supplies
to make repairs. It was a costly luxury for those years as
according to a Bradfield Ranch expense account the
phone cost $40.00 and $50.00 for 1910 and 1911. There
was a rural line into part of range 2 from the east, ap­
parently coming as far as the Birney farms. Most of this
li ne remained in operation as far as the Mangan farm.
After 1916 the Sarcee-Millarville poles fell down and the
wire became embedded in the grass, a constant danger to
stock. Many farms had a supply of plain wire just for the
snaking home.
In 1921 ths AGT erected a new line from the east to
service three toll phones in the post offices at Priddis,
\<1 illarville and Kew at 15c per call. As the rural line
gradually extended in range 2 other phones were in­
stalled .
When economic conditions forced the AGT to aban­
don most rural lines by 1936 the subscribers were given
the option to form Mutual companies and acquire the ex­
is ting equipment and lines at scrap value. Stocklands
1utual Telephone Company was formed and each
member bought a $26.00 share to cover the cost of
purchasing the system, and promised several days volun­
tary labor per year if needed. New members paid in full
for any required line extensions to serve them. In spite of
this cost new installations were added, especially after
1950, until each long party line had ten to fourteen
phones on it. All rings were heard by everyone, day and
night, and it was always busy.
By the sixties there were so many applications for line
extensions and new connections that the old line could
not cope with the demand. The AGT started to buyout
the Mutuals in order to install a modern system and
equipment to carry the load. In 1969 the Stock lands
Mutual Telephone Company was turned over to the
Alberta Government Telephones.
Old Rancher's Hall, built on Joseph Fisher's ranch about 1895. Picture
taken 1937.
there was not enough room, others would be blanketed
and tied.
There was such a variety of people in the district,
some of the more elegant wore evening dress and gloves,
while others dressed in their best, but certainly much less
elaborate. Cowboys came to court the young girls and
many romances started in the old hall. Bachelors es­
pecially enjoyed the suppers, as cake was very scarce in
their homes.
A few times a year balls were held, these affairs
attended by invitation only. At these times the ladies
would be decked out in all their finery. The gentlemen
wore gloves and everyone acted as if they were back
"home." Programme cards were the order of the eve­
ning, each one having the names of the popular dances
of th~ era, schottische, waltz, minuet, etc.
Around 1900, the Hall was used as a school for a
time. Also, the Anglican minister held services and
children baptized. Until the 1920s, a pUlpit and kneeling
cushions were stored in the men's room. An organ, which
had been used until a piano was bought, was given to a
Calgary church.
One annual event was the 17th of March dance and
on this occasion there seemed to be a lot of Irish folk in
the country. The good whiskey loosened the tongue and
everyone joined in singing the old I rish songs. Possibly
the coyotes wondered what all the noise was about.
For several years the Hall was the scene of some good
boxing tournaments. In Kew and the surrounding dis­
tricts were some good boxers, including Frank and Fred
Hodgkins, the Thompson brothers from Black Diamond
and Billy Trevenan . Billy Stewart, a very good athlete
from Priddis, would sometimes judge these events, and at
other times it was Jake Fullerton from Bragg Creek.
Jake had at one time been a heavy weight champion .
Training the young men and boys in the art of self
defence was done by the experienced boxers.
The Ha ll was the headquarters for a Badminton Club .
Tournaments were held here, the members also par­
ticipating at other clubs. There were many members of
the Millarville club, as at that time there were quite a few
young people in the district , a nd not too much in the way
of recreation.
One very interesting annual event was held every
Spring. This was the meeting of the North Fork Stock
Association. The members came on horseback , and at
this time it was strictly men in attendance. Usu ally a cou­
ple of cases of beer and a bottle or two were consumed
and the arguments were listened to by neighborhood
children, peeking in the windows. Sometimes dis­
RANCHER'S HALL - by J. Blakley
The Rancher's Hall was built about 1895, on land
donated by Joseph Fisher. The work was a community
effort , all the local ranchers helping to get the logs out ,
haul them to the chosen site and the building done. The
inside was lined with v joint lumber, with a kitchen,
ladies' and gentlemen'S rooms completed. A barn made
of lumber was built a bit east of the hall. It was said to be
th~ first community hall built in Southern Alberta, at
that time the North West Territories.
Before a piano was bought an organ was hauled
across the creek from Fisher's ranch and this and any
other instrument available made the music. People came
for miles to attend the functions, team and sleigh in the
winter and wagons and democrats in the summer. Enter­
tainment was scarce in the surrounding districts, so
news of a dance brought all to the hall. Nearly everyone
brought their children, the older ones dancing along with
the grown -ups and when the smaller ones became sleepy
they were bedded down on benches, although most would
stay awake until after supper was served, about midnight.
Most of these affairs lasted until morning, then the ones
who had a long distance to go usually were invited to
have breakfast at the closer ranches. During the cold
weather, the horses would be stabled in the barn, and if
41
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My father was concerned that we would be late for
the event and discarded caution to the winds when he
drove the team along a steep sidehill. The sleigh skidded
a nd overturned, dumping hay, blankets and scrambling
passengers into the deep snow. There were no casualties
other than frayed nerves and mussed up clothing. The
sleigh was pushed back onto the runners, the box lifted on
and hay and blankets reloaded; but the passengers decid­
ed caution was the better part of valor and walked for
about fifty yards until Dad drove to level ground where
we a ll climbed back in the sleigh and eventually arrived at
the hall in time.
Following a well organized and interesting boxing
tournament, the ring was dismantled , a lunch was served
and the dancing began . When it was all over, we headed
back home, arriving as the sun came over the horizon.
My second visit to Kew was somewhat different. [t
was in early July and after dark one evening, Dad an­
nounced that we would ride to Kew the next morning to
ta ke in the stampede.
The C. P. McQueen family were holidaying at Bragg
Creek and Dad thought that Jean, (Mrs. Brien Horne of
Priddis) would like to go for the ride . [ was sent to ask
Jea n and found her with a group of friends at Spike
Robinson's store. Jean was delighted to go with us but
was frustrated about the condition of her clothing, she
had just heaved herself onto the store counter and sat on
a big, sticky fly pad which Mrs . Robinson had placed
there. Jean's britches were a mess and it was the only
riding outfit she had with her. She hurried home to camp
and made a valiant effort to clean off the fly sticker,
which was not successful but her riding jacket covered the
worst of it. She came to our house for an early morning
breakfast, then we saddled our horses and started out.
It having been a particularly heavy rainy season, the
afore mentioned muskegs were really bad, we often had
to dismount and lead our floundering horses through the
bad spots. The three of us were coated in mud, as were
our saddles and horses and this is the state in which we
looked , upon arriving at the stampede grounds .
Jean and I were nicely settled beside a corral fence,
intent on enjoying the events, when one of the officials, r
think it was Bill Jackson, asked us to circulate in the
crowd and if we saw anyone without a little ribbon, which
signified they had not paid their admission, we were to
collect and give them a ribbon.
We were not too happy at this turn of events but we
both knew that Dad had volunteered our services ­
without our knowledge. The culprits who had sneaked in,
paid us without any problems, except one man. When I
approached him and asked for his admission fee, he just
glared at me like a cornered wild animal. Without utter­
ing one word , hejust st a red at me and [ became frighten­
ed by the look on his face. When Jean and I met a little
later, I related the incident and she said she had the same
weird experience. When we turned in the cash to an of­
ficial , we told him about the incident and pointed out the
man in question. He just laughed and told us to forget it,
the man was known as "Wild Bill" and he worked for
Chester H odgk ins.
During the bucking horse events, we witnessed what
could have been a fatal accident. Slim Watrin, of High
River was riding a bucking bronc when it jumped the
fen ce out of the arena and headed east down a road. [f [
The cast of a play put on in the Rancher's Hall, Millarville. L. to R.:
udy Mulder, Selina Hambling (Mulder), Mrs. Pegler, Richard Lyall, Esther
Jackson, Tommy Lyall. Front row: Elwyn Evans, Irene Evans, Eric Mulder,
Jean Waugh.
agreements would arise as to who were to put how many
attle in certain areas of the Forest Reserve. However,
he following day all was forgotten , no hard feelings held .
Before the Sheep Creek School was moved to the new
location at Millarville, the annual Christmas concert was
held at the Hall. This was an eagerly looked forward to
event. After the concert was over and the gifts dis­
Ir ibuted , a dance was held , sometimes lasting until the
wee hours . The mothers of the pupils brought cakes and
sandwiches to be served at midnight.
In 1950, a new Hall was built at Millarville, also
named Rancher's Hall , and the old Hall was not used
from then on. It is doubtful that the new hall will ever
give as much pleasure to people, as the old one did .
The first races run in the Millarville district was on
the dirt road which ran alongside the hall. This was on
the 24th of May , about 1902 or 03 . Women as well as
men competed for the prizes, donated by the ranchers.
The old building is in fairly good condition on the
Fisher ranch, the logs are still very solid. One wonders
looking at it now how it ever held so many people at one
time.
INTERLUDES AT KEW AND THE RANCHER'S
HALL - by Freda Purmal
The first time [ was ever in the Ranchers Hall was
one winter night when my father, Jake Fullerton, of
Bragg Creek, had been asked to referee an amateur box­
ing tournament being held in the hall.
Dad hitched up a work team to a sleigh, which was
filled with fresh hay and blankets. My mother, one of my
sisters and several friends made ourselves comfortable
for the long trip to Millarville.
We started out about 5 p.m., it was a fairly warm
night and soon a full moon appea red in a cloudless sky.
The six miles as far as the MLincaster ranch was a good ,
hard packed snow trail but the remainder of the route,
which was in the general area of the Stony Trail, was
what seemed an endless muskeg with isl ands of knolls
and acres of large willows. Although most of the muskegs
were frozen, there were spots of spongy ground where
year round springs emerged , so it was safer to keep on
hi gh ground as much as possible .
43
they occupied about a third of the dance floor. It was at
this point the management decided to termin ate the card
game. More lights broke out and things became very
rough but eventually some order was restored a nd the
dancers had most of the floor space.
I remember Bob Carey being one of the principals in
the melee. The reason I remember Bob so well is that he
was well liked in the country and also that he was a good
friend of my uncle, Frank Stewart. They had been
overseas together in the same regiment and had been
both wounded in the same battle.
I have not attended a dance a Kew since those
memorable days but I would enjoy going again some day ,
who knows, something exciting might happen again .
It may be of some interest to the reader to know that
in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the pioneer families of
the Staggs and Wards who lived in the Millarville a rea,
were very close friends of my grandparents, the John
Wilsons a nd also my husband's family , the Cha rles Pur­
mals. Some of these friendships began in Medicine Hat
and Lethbridge and carried on to the early days in
Ca lgary . All these families were associated in some way
with the C .P.R.
There was a very close and lifetime friendship
between Annie Stagg and my mother, also my aunt,
Margaret MacNeil, considered Annie Stagg one of her
dearest friends . At this writing, Margaret is the only sur­
vivor of this trio.
remember correctly, the horse fell when it jumped the
fence, Slim was thrown but his foot was caught in the
stirrup and he was being dragged down the road, the
horse still bucking and kicking. Riders quickly overtook
and caught the horse, they unfastened the cinch and the
saddle fell off, with Slim's foot still caught. With the ex­
ception of a few bruises and a bad scare, Slim was
alright.
In those days there were no regulation saddles and
most of the boys rode in their own "Gibsons." They also
used the smallest stirrups they could find which were very
dangerous for getting their feet stuck in, if they were
thrown or being grabbed by a pick-up man.
When the stampede was over, someone suggested that
we stay over for the dance and then we could help Chester
Hodgkins driving his bucking horses home the next
morning. Chester and Kit lived by Whiskey Creek, the
same route we would be riding home.
We had a wonderful time at the dance. We thought
nothing of dancing in our riding britches, all the camper
girls wore them to Bragg Creek da nces but Jean and I
were very much aware that we were the only two females
at the Rancher's Hall that night , wea ring riding togs.
A year or so later when Jean (Fisher) Blakley and I
became good friends, she told me that all the local ladies
of Kew and Millarville were positively shocked to see
Jean McQueen and me, dancing in riding pants.
Following the stampede, the bucking horses and our
saddle horses were put in Jim Wa rd's pasture for" the
night, and when the dance was over, we also stayed the
remainder of the night with Jim a nd Bea Ward. Their lit­
tle home was absolutely packed with people sleeping
everywhere and the next morning for breakfast, Bea fed
so many people that she had to open canned fruits and
vegetables, we literally cleaned out their food supply .
We helped Chester Hodgkins, his brothers and Wild
Bill, home with the bucking stock, which was the wildest ,
maddest race [ had ever witnessed .
A year or so later, my father was again asked to
referee a boxing tournament in the Ranchers Hall . By
this time Dad had become very interested in the excep­
tional boxing abilities of both Fred and Frank Hodgkins
and made a private arrangement to train Frank for an
important tournament being held in Calgary, a few
months later.
Dad decided to drive our old Model T to this event
being held at the Ranchers Hall. Albert Sanders was
working for Dad at the time, so the three of us went, by
way of Calgary, as there was no road between Bragg
Creek and M illarville or by Priddis, which was suitable
for a car to get through.
The boxing matches were very exciting affairs and by
the time they ended, a large percentage of the male
audience had been fortifying themselves in "mountain
dew," some of which was the legal va riety but there
seemed an endless supply of illegal stuff which was made
of dubious ingredients and whatever it was, it certainly
brought forth the instict of battle. No sooner than the of­
licial boxing was over, fights erupted both in and outside
the hall, it kept the officials busy all night, escorting com­
batants to the door.
The hall was packed and the dance floor crowded but
a few of the older "boys" started a poker game along one
wall. The poker crowd became larger and la rger until
PRIDDIS COMMUNITY HALL - by Jean S. Ockley
(1948)
It is not recorded in the lirst minutes but local
folklore told th at the erection of the Priddis Ranchers'
Society Hall grew out of an overflow dance held in the
school ea rly in the year 1899. Those present, in particular
those who could not get in, decided that something mu st
be done, in short a proper hall must be built. A con­
siderable sum of money was pledged that night. A
meeting was held on March 27,1899, by the people of the
district to consider ways and means. A building com­
mittee was elected at once, comprised of J. D. Patterson
- chairman; J. W. Ockley - secretary; D. Carter ­
treasurer; J. Ferrier , D. McDonald, A. Hone, and Wm.
Mosely. It was decided the building should be not less
than lifty by twenty-six feet. The curling club turned over
the proceeds from a ball given the previous winter.
Action was swift. On April 7th the committee
accepted the site for the hall , one acre given by Charles
Priddis. They authorized the purchase of lumber from
The Bachelors 0/ Priddif
teque.rt the pleaJure oj the company
0/
~";a~lia!l(3:~1/:'h~~ Hall on TueJdtly ev ening, December
Eighteenth, Ni1lf'e", Hundred and Six .
Orchestra from Calgary in aB:endance
M. WALKER, Floo r
44
!vlau a~er
C. GILLESPIE, Secy
r ormer Flint buildings. Right of road from back to front: W. Standish,
South·west, 1904. Left of road: church and Stewarts. Far right:
school, hall and barn, curling arena. Between school and bridge: W. C.
Standish house and shop.
t he Billings Mill with a down payment of not more than
fi fty dollars on account. As good planed lumber sold at
a bou·t $12.00 per thousand this was quite a substantial
p ayment. Subscriptions were taken from local residents,
merchants and business men patronized by the local peo­
p le. Firms like T. Eaton Co., and Tuckets Tobacco
a ppeared on the list. By May they were buying building
s upplies in Calgary and in November Mr. Hollis, (Red
Deer Lake) was engaged to superintend the building.
Arrangements were made for the opening ball on or
about January 17th, 1900.
The opening ball was held on January 17th with a
rented piano and Mr. Augade's orchestra, the best one
frolll Calgary. Programs were printed 'for patrons of the
b all'.
Dec. 28
R. Kemrith (?) Hardwan;:
Dec. 28
J. W. Ockley - stamps and envelopes
1900
Jan. 4
Calgary Hardware Co. by cheque
Feb. 3
I. S. G. Vanwart - on account ....................... .
Feb. 3
Calgary Hardware Co. . .................................... .
Feb. 5
Chas Comer and Co. for Ockley ...................... .
Feb. 5
Paid to Entertainment committee
5.25
2.50
25.00
50.00
34.05
6.75
25.00
444,49
(signed) Treasurer David Carter
1900
Entertainment Expenses for Opening Ball
Jan. 15
Three months rent of piano to L. H. Doll
per W. R. Mosely.............................................. 15.00
Feb. 5
Calgary Herald tickets - Mr. Ockley ..............
3.00
Feb. 5
Chas Flint - coal, oil, hay ... .. .. ... ... .. ... .. ..... .. ....
4.50
Feb. 5
W. Mosely - Programs & tickets returned ......
3.00
Feb. 10
Jim Young (Livery team) ... ...... ..... ..... ... ............
6.00
Feb. 10
Alberta Transfer (Delivering piano) ...................
5.00
Feb. 10
Music Co. (orchestra) ............ .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .... .. 20.00
Feb. 10
Hudson's Bay Co. (on account for
groceries, etc.) .................................................... 20.00
76.50
1900
Receipts for Opening Ball, Jan. 17th.
Credit
D. Carter - tickets sold .................................. . 10.00 Received from J. W. Ockley ............................ . 21.00 Received from J. W. Ockley ........................... .. 39.25 Received from Building Committee .................. . 25.00 95.25
Mar. I
Receipts from Smoker
54.48
(signed) David Carter.
The Hall cash book recorded the following:
1899
Expenditures on Priddis Hall
Debit
April 13
To C. Billings on lumber ordered (cheque)
22.00
April 19
To C. Billings on lumber ordered (cheque)
28.00
May 15
J. W. Ockley for lease expenses .... ,.... ,., .... , ..... ,.
7.50
May 15
J. W. Ockley - stationery................................
4.75
May 15
J. W. Ockley - discount on cheque .................
.25
June 22
Chas Billings on lumber ordered (cash) ............. 25.00
June 22
by order and subscriptions (to C. Billings) ..... .. . 35.00
June 22
Chas Billings by cheque . ........ ....... ..... ...... .......... 119.69
June 6
by discount on T. Eaton Co. cheque ....... ..... .... .
.25
June 6
5.00
Calgary Hardware Co. (by subscriptions) ......... .
Dec. 9
R. H. Holl.is - 12 days work @ $2.00 ............ . 24.00
Dec. 14
Chas Flint - 2 weeks board of carpenter ........ .
8.00
Dec. 21
Insurance receipt - Phoenix Co ..... .. ..... .. ...... .. . 16.50
4S
Hall on Fair Day, Oct. 4th, 1912.
The building committee held their final meeting in
March, 1900, and turned the management over to three
trustees: Wm. Mosely, J. Hunter and Arthur Woolings.
This form of management by three trustees continued for
nearly fifty years. In June a subscription list was started
again to build a stable under a working committee of the
trustees, A. Hone, D. Carter and A. Marshall. Those in
the district were men of action rather than words for no
further reference is made to the barn capable of holding
forty or more horses, nor to the lean-to kitchen, nor the
balcony built in the east end. An old time resident told of
the balcony in later years. "In 1905 the hall committee
decided they needed a balcony in the hall for spectators,
so members and friends met to build it, but as carpenter­
ing is dry work there was a keg of cold beer to quench
their thirst. Then the question arose; "Should we drink
the beer first or last?" Being put to the vote it was decid­
ed to drink the beer first. Time slipped by and before long
it was four o'clock and too late to do any work. They
decided to pay a carpenter to build the balcony and
everyone went home happy to have accomplished
something."
The management of the Hall, election of trustees, and
voting privilege was confined to those who had sub­
scribed to the hall. In 1906 some newcomers were ad­
mitted to the list of subscribers such as: H. Ford, W. J.
Hyneman, Geo .. Taylor, R. Stanton, W. Hulme,
Jamieson Bros., Warlow, Pomery, Wilson, deMille, and
Stewart. In 1912 the privilege was extended to any land
owner in the electorial (polling) district of Priddis. Of
course, it was understood that these were men for at a
meeting in 1920 a motion was passed "permitting the
ladies of the district to take an active part and to act as
officers". Considering the early dances were often ac­
companied by sumptuous sit-down suppers it would
appear that the ladies had already been very active. In
1934 the constitution was again amended to permit
anyone on the voters' list in the Priddis polling district to
vote on hall matters or hold office. (The Priddis Polling
Area was west half of town ship 22 in range 2, all in range
3 and approximately east two-thirds in range 4) .
Finances and repairs were an everlasting problem.
During 1924 the "Ladies Committee" donated $137.00
for the benefit of the Hall. A new noor was laid in 1926
and foundations talked of. When badminton started in
1931 the board authorized the removal of the balcony to
make more room and the addition of new dressing rooms
on the east end. An electric light plant was installed, the
trustees doing the open wiring. Cash and work were
donated to do this .
Continued by D. Griffith and R. Baxter.
In 1948 more improvements, such as a cement foun­
dation, new floor, new kitchen and im proved
cloakrooms, were added, financed by a community auc­
tion sale netting $4,200.00. Again most of the labour was
donated. When Priddis school was closed the yard, com­
prised of the original school yard donated by C. Priddis
to the local children and the early W. C. Standish lot,
became part of the hall property. The school building
became a hockey club house for these using the good rink
built in 1964. A cairn to commemorate the District
Pioneers was dedicated by Lieut-Governor Grant
McEwan at a December 1967 Centennial Dinner. In­
cidentally the dinner guest speaker was James S. ackley,
grandson of the 1899 secretary . The Priddis Recreational
Society was formed that year to become the Priddis
Community Association in 1971. Funds were again
raised by donation, another community sale and a grant
to add space for modern washrooms and furnace.
The 1899 Building Committee would be amazed by
the modern conveniences, vapor light, rink lights, gas
heating, electric power, and large crowds at the annual
turkey dinners and Stampede breakfasts but their
foresight made all this possible. The old timers, who did
such a grand job in 1899 and 1900, and all the faithful
residents, who financed, managed, repaired and cleaned
through the intervening years, should be held in grateful
memory each time the Priddis Hall is in use.
46
YlILLARVILLE RACES - by Hugh Macklin
[t was back in 1905 that a group of Old Country
settlers in the Millarville area conceived the idea of in­
itiating a race meet to test the mettle of the thoroughbred
and half bred horses then being raised in the district.
Prominent among those who took part in the initial
stages of this venture were T . Phillips, who originated the
idea. and E. J . (Sam) Kieran , an irascible but lovable
I rishman known to a wide circle of friends as "the Boss."
I- J. Kieran ,was the first president and held that position
until his death in 1938. He was followed by his son J. R.
Kieran who, with Tom Jameson as secretary-treasurer,
and W. E. Deane-Freeman as clerk of the course, ruled
for the next ten years. Charles Nelson held the position of
president brieny for the following two years and in 1950,
H. G. Macklin was elected and conducted the affairs of
the organization until 1965 when he was succeeded by
Donald Cross. About this time it was decided to limit the
presidency to a th ree yea r period . Donald Cross served
his three year term and the president is now David
Glaister Jr. Many have held the position of secretary­
treasurer over the years . The most notable having been
C. H. Keer, the original secretary-treasurer; Tom
Jameson ; C. W. Adams; Mrs. A. Patterson ; Mrs . David
Johnston; and Arlie Laycraft. It was unusual in those
days for race clubs to have women secretaries, but those
two ladies were most efficient and conducted the affairs
of the orga niza tion as well as any man. Some of the early
settlers who contributed to the success of the initial stages
of the Millarville Races were Hova Wooley-Dod, who
acted as judge and Frank Patterson as starter. Other
enthusiasts were H. H. Barnes, W, H. Cochrane, D. Dix­
on. Justin Deane-Freeman, W. E. C. Hulme, R. de
Malherbe, H. Senior, Dick Von Stallendorff, A. P.
Welsh and others who were referred to as Pike, Bagg,
Edwards, Ford, Grant, Cannon, and Phillips in the old
records.
The original track ,was made possible by the generosi­
iy of Raymond de Malherbe, who permitted the use of
th is site, rent free, to the club which occupied it on this
basis for thirty-five years. De Malherbe moved away
fro m the district after a few years and his property was
acquired by de Bernis and Durand from whom the club,
in 1940, purchased the site. This level piece of land
bounded on two sides by Sheep Creek , dotted with large
ottonwood trees, and with the Rocky Mountains as a
ack drop to the west, is ideally and beautifully situated
fo r its purpose. The Races have prospered over the years
-ill now the plant consists of four horse barns, two large
5ra ndstands, a pari-mutual building. a large community
all . a judges' stand with facilities for photo-finish equip­
ent, and other buildings which can be used when occa­
-ion demands.
The programmes have been varied over the years and
at one time included chariot races and other novelty races
a mong the attractions, but the programme now is con­
fi ned to straight nat racing events for thoroughbreds and
recently some quarter horse races have been included .
The purse amounts to $2,000 at the present, from the
original $105 which was the amount subscribed for the
first race meet in 1905.
The original track, which was as nature found it
without benifit of any refinements, was marked out on
Race Day by stakes with small nags on them and was ap-
Millarville Races, 1912. Elsie Millar, Frank Shaw, Maurice Shaw.
Stampede at Millarville Race Track, early 1920s.
proxim ately one-h alf mile in extent. It was somewhat to
the north of the present track. This had to be abandoned
eventually due to erosion of the bank of the river after a
severe nood. A new tr ack was constructed and accurately
surveyed by a Mr. French , who was living in the district
at the time on what is now the Ray Paterson place. A
reasonably good track was secured by grading and level­
ing through the good offices of the municipality under the
direction of Bill Patterson , eldest son of Frank Patterson,
one of the originators of the Race Meet. Gravel proved a
problem as the area had very little surface soil and was
underlaid with a gravel bed. It was necessary to bring in
black soil to cover most of the inside half of the track.
Removing stones from track has been an annual chore.
The directors at first decided to have a grass track and at
one time it was the only grass track in the west, but dif­
ficulty in maintaining grass satisfactorily resulted in
reverting to dirt. The new track was fenced with rails
both on the inside and the outside.
The ever-increasing number of those attending this
popular feature made it imperative to construct a grand­
stand . This was done under the supervision of Charlie
Nelson and his two sons Jim and Leonard, assisted by
47
some members of the club. [t still stands and is in good
order.
Charlie Nelson was an ardent horseman and while in
England had hunted with the York and Ainsley Hunt
Club and participated in many hunter trial events set up
to test the performance of young hunter-type horses. For
many years he was instrumental in preparing the track
for the day of the races, giving much time and effort for
this pu rpose.
One of the outstanding races of interest was Kew
Maiden Stakes Open for three and four year olds. This
aroused a great deal of interest and competition with the
local horsemen. The first time this race was introduced,
the horse owned by Sam Kieran and ridden by Joe Baker
ran off the track and ended up in Sheep Creek. Most of
the horses competing in this event were bred from the
well known stallion "Homebound" owned by Sam
Kieran . The race was discontinued about 1940.
The Relay Race involved two horses, each of which
ran half before being picked up by the other, over a
course of two miles. The most consistant winners in this
event were Johnny One Spot and Neil Campbell.
The Open Five Furlongs was introduced by Sam
Kieran. This race was won consistently by "Maylady."
Ridden by J . Nelson , she was ten years old when she last
won, a great achievement for a horse of her age.
To include the public in the day 's events, a sports
programme was also conducted in the intervals between
the horse races. This included every type of race from
those for the very young, to race and jumping com­
petitions for adults. The tug-of-war was popular and
teams where selected from the various districts which
resulted in keen competition, but as this culminated one
year in a stand-up fight, it was discontinued. A. J .
Cawthorn and W. G. Birney headed the sports committee
for many years. The Cannon brothers, Nevill and
David , assisted by A. Murry of Okotoks, now handle
these events.
An event of special interest was the Ladies Race, for
lady jockeys only, started about 1920. It was eventually
discontinued in 1941 because of a lack of lady jockeys.
Mrs . John Black rode in this race in 1920; other names
that come to mind are Penny Ridge, Bun Dewdney,
Audry and Joan Gardner, :vtikie Kieran, ' Vi Thomas,
Ann Buxton , Marie Rimmer and Mrs. Dunford. Promi­
nent woman jockeys in later years were Lavona Dixon,
who won the Kieran Memorial Cup on two occasions,
but was defeated on her third attempt which would have
given permanent possession of the cup, and Barbara
Millarville Races, 1920.
Eresman who has ridden in more races at Millarville
than any other woman.
Betting, which is an essential part of any 'race meet,
was conducted in an unofficial manner for many years
and it was not until 1951 that betting began under the
auspices of the Federal Government's Department of
Agriculture which is responsible for regulations govern­
ing pari-mutual betting. Space was first found for this
activity under the old grandstand, but it was soon found
that this was not adequate to accommodate the staff re­
quired to conduct this operation, and a pari-mutual
building was eventually constructed to handle the rapidly
expanding business. It is necessary now to have a staff of
some twenty-five to thirty persons to adequately accom­
modate the public on the day of the races, which, by the
way, has been on July First for many years now.
:\s mentioned before, July First has been the day on
which this unique event has .taken place for a great many
years past. As this is a statutory holiday it was ideal from
an attendance point of view and over the years many have
attended in great numbers. Recently the Calgary Exhibi­
tion Board has included this date in its racing programme
and some concern was felt that it might innuence the
attendance at the M illarville Races. Recent events,
however , show that many still feel a day spent in the
beautiful foothill surroundings of Millarville Race Track
has an appeal not found in a day at the city track. So long
as this sentiment prevails, Millarville Races will grow
and prosper and may the day never come when the races
will have to shut down due to lack of support.
Eventually the original Race Club amalgamated with
the two other groups, the Priddis and Millarville
Agricultural Society and the Race Track Community
Hall, who at this time were using the same grounds and
facilities . The assets which up to this time had been
owned by the Race Club were turned over to a central
body. The affairs of the different groups are conducted
by committees, who appoint their own chairman and
officials. This was considered a more satisfactory
arrangement, and has been functioning in this manner
since 1968.
The Millarville Races would never have achieved the
success they have without the unselfish efforts of the local
community . No officials are paid and a great deal of the
preparation for the races is carries out by local help. This
is truly a community effort.
LONG TRIP TO THE MILLARVILLE RACES - by
W. Parker
[n IY05 , a young cowboy riding in the Hand Hills
area near Hanna heard there was to be a race meet at
Millarville.
He decided to take part so started on the long ride to
Millarville. riding one horse and leading another. When
Race Track and crowd. Millarville. early 19205.
48
Mille's Iniss; F. L. MacBride's Gee Gee; M. L. Fraser's
Emma K and Brownie; Geo . Lee's Pincher and Melos; A.
S. Cannon's Bobby (an outstanding distance horse won
at other meets as well as winning at Millarville many
times) and Lady Retort; W. H. Cochrane's Eunice (by all
accounts the most outstanding mare bred in this district),
Why Not and Baronet; C. Wilkinson's Dauphne and
Bronzewing; J . D. Freeman's Glen Bow; E. L. Tay lor's
Marquis; A. C. Shakerley's First Principal; W. Jack­
son's San Toi; M. Hendrie's Grey Cloud; R. M. Hett's
Lucy; J. Kirk's Trudie; T. McCall's Brumby; John
Watt's Ranch King and Strath Blane.
A fter the war horses wh ich won two or more races at
a meet or won at two or more meets are as follows: The
Kieran's Mae Lady (one of the best at 5 or 6 furlongs),
Mickie, Gangboard, Rightway , Miss Fortune, Zoe and
Cherrie (owned and ridden by Mikie Kieran, winning the
ladies' race several years running) . Dick Knights'
Starlight that won the Black Jewelers Trophy for winning
the one mile Millarville Plate three times in succession,
ridden by his owner this horse also won races in Calgary.
T. Willan's Novis and Midnight; Bob Elliot's Moonlight;
Jim Nelson's Red Skin, Some Baby (good sprinter, win­
ning 6 out of 7 starts) and Home Maide (never beaten at
Millarville); Niel Campbell's Mizzentop (outstanding at
5 and 6 furlongs), Rainy Day (one of the best half breds
to run at Millarville), Patsy Lewis, Golden Sport, Home
Waltz, Dizzy (winner of many pony races), Billy and
Babe (both stake race horses); Tom Phillips' Lady,
ilomely, Ethel , Lady Blythe and Ben Ethel; Clem
Gardner's Stranger, Baintree (outstanding in mile and
half hurdle race), Micky Hannon (a good mile horse) and
Gangboard bought from Kieran; F. Sinclair-Smith's
Mona (stake race winner); Billy Haynes' Kola Bay
(many times winner of saddle horse and stake race); San­
dy McNab's Benny (stake race winner, later owned by F.
Patterson).
Some of the Thoroughbred stallions that stood or
traveled in the district were Eagle-Plume, Chanter, Hor­
ton, Isia, Crowfoot, Winkrose, Lord Glen, Yorkshire
Lad, Tarbut, Homebound, Latour, Ben Arra,
Nepperhan, Gangway, Hearts of Oak, Springside, John
Jacket. By George, Stmtford Rock , Bad News Bob,
Jopagan, Yowell, Double Dale, Golden Error, Forcett ,
Blond Buddy, Barbican and Tantallon.
e got to the Red Deer River at a spot near Dorothy, he
fo und the Red Deer in flood.
At that time there was an old trapper who had a cabin
ear the river and supplemented his living in the summer
by ferrying travellers across the river in a small boat.
-\fter much persuasion, the cowboy coaxed his horses
into the river and sitting in the stern of the boat he led the
orses which swam behind.
Lpon getting to the south shore the cowboy realized
-e had left a good racing bridle on the opposite shore. He
cided to leave it behind and so rode on to take part in
Ule first Millarville Races.
The young cowboy later became famous as one of
Ca nada's greatest horsemen . His name - Clem
Ga rdner. This story was told to me personally by Clem .
WINNING HORSES AT MILLARVILLE RACES
P RIOR TO 1940
During the first 35 years of Millarville Races roads
ere poor and there was very little trucking, so the horses
me to the meets on their own power, being ridden or
ed to the track the morning of the races; they were
ent ered in 2 or 3 races and then ridden or led back home
:hat night. Consequently the horses competing were
;nostly locally bred, raised, trained and often ridden by
rheir owners.
.
The following are some of the horses who distin­
_uished themselves at M illarville Races, owing to the fact
:-hat about 15 years of the records have been lost some
orses will be missed out that should be mentioned here.
Before the first war some of the horses that were winners
,\e re: Lansdale's Gerry and Terry; E. B. Iway's Nero; J.
R. Kieran's Breeze, Climax and Zephyr; C. Douglass's
Va nity and Antelope; Dempsey's Brownie and Snake (a
stake race winner); A. J. Rodger's Darkie; W. Free­
man's Ronnie; Miss Freeman's Antelope; H. Ander­
so n's Molly and Stella; E. J. Kieran's Dodds, The Friar
(o utstanding distance and hurdle horse) and Busy Body;
:Vlrs. E. J. Kieran's Amber; E. J. Hill's Robert; R. Von
trallendorf's Kelly , Baronet and Pride of Ireland; De
. ",' --~--...,..."""'"
'ii'n-;t?
~~ ~!~ ..:.
Yowell, greatest son of Yorkshire Lad, started a career by winning
races in Calgary, then going on to win races in Canada and U.S.A. Stood
at 1. R. Kieran's. Bred by Charlie Wilkinson.
Starlight, owned and ridden by Dick Knights. Winner of the D. E. Black
Trophy for winning Millarville Plate for 3 years in succession, 1920, 1921,
1922.
49 THE PRIDDIS AND MILLARVILLE FAIR - by
Dessa Macklin
Back in 1907, the people of the Priddis and Millar­
ville districts decided they should have an agricultural
show. consequently application \Vas made to the Minister
of Agriculture for a Charter under the Agriculture Or­
dinance . The Application included the following names:
H. Ford. J . P. Patterson, Chas. Priddis. George Taylor,
John Ramsay, Joseph Standish, Conwil Williams, J. L.
Bremner, C. F. Lee, F. G. Standish, Richard Stanton, E.
Ford, James Hunter, William Jackson. E. Armisstead,
M. Walker, J. W. Hyneman, A. M. Stewart. George
Ethel. Alex Jameson, G. W. Hone, B. Ramsay, R.
Gillespie. H. Wyneham, all of Priddis in the Province of
Alberta , Ranc hers.
H. H . Barnes. E. J. Kiern, E. L. Winthrop, T.
Phillips . C. E. \\,ilinson, C. R. Griffin, W. E. C. Hulme,
James Aird, W. H. King, C. H. Kerr, M. T. Millar, A. P.
Welsh, George Bell , W. H. Cochrane, Herbert Anderson,
all of Millarville in the Province of Alberta, Ranchers.
G. W. Reinh a rdt, G. S. Shortt, A. Eckersley, Robert
D. Rogers. George G. Hamilton, John Robinson Jr., Joe
Hope, W. H. Birney, H. G. Birnl!Y, J. A. Birney, W.
Birney, H . C. Hervey , D. Patton, James Mangan, all of
Midnapore in the Province of Alberta, Ranchers.
The Charter was granted on April 24, 1907, thus the
Priddis and :v1illarville Agricultural Show came into be­
ing.with the headqu a rters at Priddis originally from 1907
to 1914. The first President was H. Ford, with secretary
G. Shortt. Through the yea rs ma ny of those signing the
application for Charter served as presidents and
secretaries.
At a directors meetir.g in 1913 it was decided to
arrange a meeting to draw up a prize list. The ladies were
to be invited, this being the first time, seemingly, that
their assistance was required . In 1914, the Soc;ety started
work on getting phones installed in the di strict. It is noted
at this time some prize winners returned 50% of the prize
money to help wipe out existing debt.
In 1916 the shows alternated between Priddis and
Millarville, the odd years at Priddis and the even at
Millarville.
In February, 1928 , a meeting was held to arrange a
permanent site for th e show. In 1931 the site was chosen
at Fordville School, which was a point mid way between
the two points . The Society purchased three acres adja­
cent to the Fordville School for the purpose. In 1931, the
first show was held at Fordville.
Eventually , in 1946. owing to lack of accommodation
at Fordville, it was decided to ask the Millarville Racing
Priddis Fair, 1911, A.. V. Shaw, Miss N. Dryden, W. W. Stewart and
judge.
Vegetable display, at Priddis Fair, 1912. Entry of Richard Knights.
50
with wagons, democrats and carts loaded with
vegetables, chickens, grains, grasses, nowers etc.
everyone carrying carefully some prize exhibit. There
were riders leading stock, cattle and show horses. Many
,Ire the tales of going to the show, the forgotten entry, the
special cake or pie which came to grief en route, but
somehow there was a great feeling of excitement.
For many years the means of transportation has
become almost purely mechanical. Things are much less
difficult in many ways and the show has grown to a two
day affair, the regular agricultural classes, indoor ex­
hibits etc. being shown on Saturday with a good light
horse show on Sunday.
First prize at early Priddis and MilialVilie early fair. Four horse team,
Vic, Berg and Georgie King, owned by J. C. Wylie.
-~-<
FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF THE FAIR - (contributed
by Sheilagh S. Jameson)
The initiative for the organization in 1907 of the Prid­
dis and Millarville Agricultural Society appears to have
come from Priddis and particularly from Henry Ford but
the country fair it sponsored that October 18 was to re­
main a conspicuous example of successful cooperation
between the various districts. For many years it was held
alternately at Priddis and Millarville and then Fordville
School was chosen as a midway point. In later years the
Priddis sponsors m<lgnanimously accepted the Millarville
Race Track <.lS the permanent site . There buildings
gradually replaced the tents traditionally used to house
the cooking, sewing and other indoor exhibits.
The Society's early business meetings were very well
attended. The first minute book records attendances in
the thirties and for~ies-all men. Apparently at that time
the ladies took no active part in the administration of the
Society, or at least no recorded part. They were,
however, allowed to attend the Fair free - a nice touch
of chiva lry. Up until 1916 Prize Lists contained th~ state­
ment, 'All ladies free'.
This was particularly generous considering the finan­
cial troubles the Society encountered. Gate m;:mey in the
early days was usually in the vicinity of$ \0 and in 19\ \ it
reached a low of $7.65. Year end bank balances
amounted to $7.93, $3.77 and similar sums. However
1911, despite the small total of gate receipts, closed with
a large carry-over of $61.54.
The books reveal that Calgary individuals and firms
were generous then as now in their support. Nevertheless
at times the balance proved to be a negative one. Then
directors calmly made up the deficit or exhibitors volun­
tarily reduced their claims for prize money. The Fair was
not regarded as a money making project. The primary
objective of those conce:ned was merely to 'put on a good
Show'.
They were good shows, too. The Foothills country
has always been a stock raising area and in those days
everyone, it seemed, raised horses. Early prize lists show
a great variety of horse classes with the emphasis on
harness types . There were sections for Heavy Draft
Horses, Agriclliture, General Purpose, Roadster,
Carriage and Hackneys. There were Thoroughbred,
Half-bred and Saddle Horse classes and one for Polo
Ponies. By 191 \ entries had become so numerous that a
second judge was deemed necessary. In 19\6 there were a
total of 97 classes for horSES.
The Institute which then existed in conjunction with
the AgricuitJral Society sponsored regular educational
::y:dis and MillalVille Fair, 1916. Ladie's riding class.
Judging food entries, Priddis-MillalVille Fair. Mrs. R. Ness and Frank
::>atterson.
•.lnd Sports Association for permission to hold the show
rmanently on their property. This was granted and
-\ ugust 1946 saw the show permanently establishc:d at
\ Iillarville. The third week-end in August has been set
aside for the show.
The h;111 aI Millarville provided accommodation at
ih ,lt time for exhibiting classes in baking, handiwork of
..il l kinds, grains, grasses flowers etc. \s time went on and
exhibits increased a large exihibition building was added.
Later, as required, more accommodation has been
supplied.
The Priddis and Millarville Show has the rare distinc­
tion of remaining a purely agricultural affair. From it's
beginning it has drawn both lucal and, support from a
\\ide area , being well attended both by e\hibitors and
spectators.
In the early years Fair morning brought exhibitors
51
vegetables, root, grains and grasses, which were of very
fair quality. Sheaf oats showed up exceptionally well.
One splendid sample of brome grass was on view and we
have never seen a finer sample of this splendid grass. In
the ladies' department some good confectionery, home
made preserves, and pickles were to be seen. Dairy butter
was good all through . Some good samples of home made
cheese were also on view, which tasted very nice and were
of excellent quality. Some very pretty collections of
prairie flowers by the children were generally admired as
were several lots of cut flowers. The school exhibits were
good. Two prizes were given for the best map of the
Dominion and some specimens were on view and the
competition was keen.
Horses
"Clydes were first on view and a very good lot they
were, too. E. D. Adams, Calgary, was awarded first with
"Baron Elsia," a lively three year old which was good in
every way. The judge remarked that he is the finest colt
he has judged this year, and will develop into a horse
which will be hard to beat at any show east or west. He is
a son of "Baron Pride." Second to him was "Gallant
Hero" owned by W. Stewart, Priddis . This horse was
also a very fine animal, being just a little too low in the
back but a very useful horse in any district. In the heavy
class some nice ones were shown, first we had the team in
harness, the red going to J. Mangan, and the blue
to de Mille. These teams were both good movers
and good conformation but perhaps a little on the light
side for heavy draft horses. In the agricultural class the
competition was very keen in all sections. One did not
envy the judge in having to place them, but he was very
careful and took plenty of time to decide on the winners.
Teams in harness under 1500 lbs. were first in the ring.
The competition was so keen that there was very little to
choose between them. C. Williams got the red. E. D.
Adams of Calgary got second, and L. M. Holmes,
Bergen, the third with a fine team of greys. In the
saddle horse class, the entries were large and a splen­
did bit of well mannered and well ridden horses were
on view. Polo ponies made a very interesting sight and it
was wonderful to see the way in which they twisted and
turned in a very small space.
Cattle
"Anyone looking at the cattle would think they were
at a Calgary fair instead of at a country fair for those
shown were simply great. J. Ramsay, Priddis, had his
very fine herd of Shorthorns there and took all the prizes
in this class. Messrs. E. D. Adams and J. Ramsay had
their splendid herd of Galloways there also and we do not
think we have seen such a fine show of this breed this
season. The district is well off for pure bred cattle and
with such quality will soon make a name for itself, if it
has not already done so.
.oj. Hunter, Edmonton, judged the cattle and H.
Conn also of. Edmonton the horses. Everyone appears to
be satisfied with the judges' awards. - - - - - The Alberta
Homestead, October 20th, 1909.
Received through the kindness of Grant MacEwan.
lectures. The subjects dealt predominantly with the
horse. Some of these were "The Most Desirable Sire to
Cross with Light Mares on the Range", "The Standard
Bred Horse as a Money Maker" , and so on .
Other subjects received some attention. The
desirability of growing sugar beets was investigated. In
1909 a 13/4 hour talk was given on "Dairy Cows and
Dairying". The speaker advanced the point that in dairy­
ing two crops a day were produced, definitely an advan­
tage over the usual one a year.
So the Priddis and Millarville Agricultural Society
very successfully passed through the initial period of its
existence. Then came World War I. The minute books
tell the story - fewer present at meetings, certain classes
in cooking deleted because of "Food Control", ex­
pressions of sympathy to members on the loss of sons
Overseas.
After the War came the drought years and the depres­
sion. It became a task to keep the Society in existence.
For some time the holding of regular shows was impossi­
ble and small seed fairs were substituted . The prize list
consisted of a single sheet. Thus the Fair was kept alive
and managed to retain its charter . Then when the
economy of the country recovered, so did the
Agricultural Society and it came successfully through
World War II.
Since the War the Fair has shown increasing growth.
The horse section in 1957 contained about 35 classes ­
proof that, despite the onslaught of mechanization, the
horse is not dead in the Alberta Foothills. The cattle
classes are very well filled with a good showing of
animals owned and exhibited by many nationally known
cattle breeders. The art exhibits are very good, the cook­
ing most enticing, and the flower display a joy to behold
and give the Fair most of its remarkable scope and ex­
cellence.
Among the men who charted the course of this
organization during its first 50 years was Henry Ford, the
first President. Then Joseph Standish held this position
for a number of years. James Mangan, James Hunter
and Conwil Williams each later took a turn in the chair.
Richard Knights served as Secretary-Treasurer for 1908
to 1914. In 1920 E. L. Winthrop was elected President.
He continued in this position, except for a short period,
until his death in 1951-27 years of faithful service. His
was the hand that successfully guided the Fair through its
most hazardous time. C. H. Standish held another record
as official auditor of the Fair books for more than 35
years. E. E. Woodford was Secretary for a considerable
time and then R . Elliot carried on for many more years.
Many individuals, many families have given the Fair
their whole hearted support year after year. Some of the
later workers were second generation Show supporters,
and the third generation carries on, with many young
people enthusiastic exhibitors.
THE FALL FAIR SEASON - PRIDDIS
"The Priddis and Millarville Agricultural Society
held their third annual fair on Thursday, October 14th, in
splendid weather, before a good crowd . Mr. Ramsay, the
president, and Mr. Knights, the secretary, were con­
gratulated on all sides for the way in which everything
was conducted and on the fine show of both horses and
cattle. In the hall were a fairly large number of
HEA VY HORSES - by Dick Lyall
Due to lack of information the following records are
all I have been able to gather, re heavy horses in the area.
52
esdale stallion, Brunstein Pivot, imported by Tom Macmillan.
STUD
AT
THE
CLYDfSDALE STALLION
IMPORI~D
CAY STEWART (VOL. XXX) 14134
(Color) 'Brlght Bay, Face and L.egs White, Foaled June 27th,
1904, Bred by The Earl of Wemyss, Gosford, L.ongnlddry
DMI
SIRE
Gay Everard (10758)
Lord Stewart (10084)
Callendar (4901)
Merry Monarch (5J~)
Clyde (1101)
Hilda Stewart
Young Hilda (10724)
Hilda (1401)
Dapper
GAY STEWART (Vol. XXX) 14134, will make the Sea'lon 1910
starting on
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11th
at the following Places:
MR. ,'I\ANGAN'S Ranch. WEDNESDAYS and fHURSDAYS. Mr. POLKINGHORNE'S Ranch. on FRIDAYS. MR. GEORGE LEE'S Ranch. on SATURDAYS. At (Home) PRIDDIS. MONDAYS add TUESDAYS. Cop), of Certlflcate 01 Pur. Bred Clyd.adal'. Stallion
The i>t"dlgr.::.: of the StallIon "QAY STEWA~T" (Vol. XXX) 1'41J4 IieKr[ bed u 'oll<l"'~ : B~~, Chdt"~­
da k : hrlKht bay. face and Iq:'s while. hied In tile yr-ar 1904 , hL5 been t:'.lAmined In the Dcpart ~ nl, ;nd I
ho:- r ch~· certify that" the .saId Stallion '- 01 Pure 8,n.edJ"I and U rertstfted' In a Slud Hook rccot:n lud by the
lk p:1r(rm:nt. /)alcd at Edmon,on this 4lb Da)' of January, 19u8.
(Slgnod) OEu. H A ~CO U ~T.
o.,.., l1_""""~.
This Horae on May 9th, 1910, wef'ghed 18 cwts.
TI:I.l<'1S:
Y,
T .... ~
narao. 512.00 euh;
W¥et' T ..'O. Iff)
IiIII
I, LEE, Owner, Priddi8.
_ _ _._
.
N("h, til M paid
0...
11:11 M..~
pro..~s 10
be' In fo.:ll.
T. R. T, SHARP, in .Charge. Priddis,
¢o.... ....... . . - ""'. 53
No offense is meant if any breeders names are omitted or
statements are incorrect.
Names of breeders of heavy horses in this area and as
far as Red Deer Lake that I have been able to gather
follows, also a list of some of the well known stallions
they owned.
J. A. Williams - Shires. Massie Brothers ­
Clydesdales, Bonnie Woodside and Dollar. Harry Lee­
Clydesdales, Gay Stewart, McGregors Choice. Basilici
Clydesdales, Northern Star, Laird. Moody ­
Clydesdales. L. J. Wylie - Clydesdales, Gallant Sensa­
tion. Hillcrest Majestic. Dave Wylie - Clydesdales. C.
G. Standish - Clydesdales. Mike Standish ­
Percheron. Conwil Williams - Clydesdales. Belgreggan
Ranch (J. A. Turner) - Belgreggan's Hero. T, Mac­
millan - Clydesdales, Brunstein Pivot. Malcolm Millar
- Shires, High River King. William Jackson - Shires.
Harry Foster - Clydesdales and Percherons. Arthur
Reed - several breeds. Ed Winthrop - Clydesdales.
Tom Phillips Clydesdales. George Bell
Clydesdales, Baron McLivey. Carl Ohlson
Clydesdales. Paddy Kennedy - Clydesdales. V. N.
deMille, several breeds. Albert Stagg, Clydesdales. E. L.
Kendall - Percherons, Templer. Dave Evans - Shires.
Eligah Hargraves - Percherons. Mackay Brotbers Cl ydesdales. Albert Dawes Percherons. Dan
Dudenhoeffer Percherons. Bert Chalmers Cl ydesdales. George Silvester - Shires. Joe Fisher sr.­
Cl ydesdales. Stan tons - Shires. Bell Brothers ­
. Cl ydesdales. Alex Ingram - Clydesdales. John Fulton
- Cleveland Bays. McBee Brothers - Percherons. Sid
Bannerman - Suffolk Punch. Hugh Downey ­
Clydesdales . George and Dick Lyall - Percherons and
Clydesdales .
Many of these horses as \Veil as their offspring have
been shown down through the years at the Priddis and
Millarville Fair, winning numerous cups and ribbons. I
do not have a complete list of winnings so I am not men­
tioning any dates or names so there will be no unfairness
to these breeders.
FOOTHILL RODEOS AND RIDERS
Some of the best riders to come to Southern Alberta
lived and worked in the Millarville and Kew districts. To
these men their horse '~as to them what the car is to the
youth of today . Working on ranches along the foothills ,
they rode wherever they went. Breaking and training
horses for the ranchers gave them lots of practice, and
watching such great horsemen as John Ware and Sam
Howe gave them many tips, and they soon became ex­
pert.
Many of these fellows worked for Joe Fisher, riding
the hills to gather horses, making their home at the
Meadow, Fisher's lower ranch. Besides the regulars, any
cowboy drifting through the country was welcome to
stay, some working for a short while then moving along.
The old log house could have told some wild tales, several
bullet holes in the walls and even in the door knob
showed where some exuberant young cowboy had dis­
played his skill with a six-shooter. A few did carry a hol­
stered gun.
When work was over and on Sundays a bunch of
horses would be corraled and the men would stage some
wild bronk riding. Fisher's JN horses were noted for their
ability to buck and many riders were thrown before they
became more experienced. One Englishrnan, who fancied
himself to be a top rider, said he would roll a cigarette
while riding a bucking horse. Needless to say, he was on
the grou nd before the ciga retle was rolled. There was
great cheering from the children sitting atop the corral
rails watching the performance.
Some of the men who worked on the ranches in those
long ago days were Sid Bannerman, Church, Butcher,
Miles, Gibson, Hank Podgett, Bob and Jim Carry, Frank
Priddis Chuckwagon, 1929.
Joe Fisher on "Sky Blue" Calgary Stampede.
Davis, Tom and Art Livingstone, son and grandson of
Sam Livingstone. When riding a bucking bronc Tom
would say, "All I ask of Thee, Oh Lord, is to throw me
clear." There was Harold Smith, one of the last of these
early day cowboys, Bobby Frakes, who became very well
known in the Bassano area, later trailing a bunch of
horses to the Simonette River country in Northern
Alberta when the Bassano country became too settled.
Here he settled on a homestead, passing away a few years
ago . His family live in the north country. There were so
many of these men it would be hard to list them all. They
were all good riders , but there were few, if any, rodeos to
show their skill. A few riding exhibitions were put on in
Calgary, Sid Bannerman winning one of these events. At
the old Victoria Arena, one ride was made by a young
cowboy on a notorious bronc, which he rode to a
standstill to collect a wager. One onlooker at this exhibi­
tion was young Jack Stagg, not too long out from On­
tario, and in later years said it was one of the most thrill­
ing rides he had ever watched.
Before the first World War, a couple of rodeos were
-taged at the Millarville Race Track and Bob Carry won
one of these. During the l 920's a few more were held and
3mong the contestants were Bill Jackson, Clem Gardenar
3nd Gerald Webster. Also during the l 920's rodeos were
. ut on at Kew by Bob Carry, Sid Bannerman and
Ch ester Hodgkins. At Bragg Creek , Jake Fullerton
:tarted an annual rodeo, also Priddis. Sid Bannerman
· ad a good bunch of bucking horses which he trailed to
3ll the rodeos in the foothill districts, and contracted
·hese horses to the Calgary Stampede. Some of these had
-uch wild sounding names as Gravedigger, Cyclone,
\ 'hiskey Creek and these horses were every bit as wild as
·hei r names suggested. A younger bunch of cowboys had
= own up in the foothills and many of these went on to
in many awards , among them Frank and Fred
Hodgki ns, Joe Fisher Jr. and many other local boys, taking part in the roping, riding and other rodeo events. For
ttla ny years Bob Carry was judge of events at Calgary
nd other rodeos. So very few of these fellows are around
·oday.
="e(j
terested, so by Stampede time a Kew wagon was ready.
A canvas covered wagon was to be used, complete with
stove and grub box. There was to be a four horse team
and four outriders to follow the wagon. Several brands
were painted on the canvas, Sid Bannerman's & Bob
Carry's N2 Walter Phillips' V-V, Bill Jackson 's i.N0
Basi lici 's z R and Mac Kay's su.
The horses used on the wagons were the usual ranch
teams, used for haying and other farm work, but by the
time they returned from the Stampede they had changed,
and the slightest s·nap of a strap or twig would send them
into a wild race, thinking it was the starting pistol at the
races. These horses were unlike the sleek Thoroughbreds
used in today chuckwagon races.
Outriders were easy to find as many local boys were
in Calgary to compete in the various rodeo events. In
these early days they rode their horses into Calgary, and
they and the chuckwagon rode in the big first day parade
and the dai ly one, when breakfast was served to many of
the Stampede visitors, as it is still done 50 years later.
The wagons were set up just inside the main gate,
each wagon having space for a tent for the chuckwagon
crew to put their bed rolls in, and a canvas flap at the
back of the wagon made a shelter for the cook to prepare
the meals which were often shared by Stampede visitors,
curious to get a close look at the cowboys. However,
some of the younger cowboys liked to have their meals in
Hodgkins on "Henley's Pride" Calgary.
THE KEW CHUCK WAGON
In 1923, Guy Weadick, of Calgary Stampede fame,
pproached Sid Bannerman with the idea of wagon races
at the forthcoming Stampede. Sid was sure it would be a
-uccess and agreed to get a wagon together to compete
~· it h a few others. Some of the Kew ranchers were inew Chuck Wagon in trouble in races in Calgary, about 1926.
Kew Chuck Wagon. L. to R.: Sid Bannerman, Alf Hodgkins, Chester
Hodgkins, Joe Fisher, Bill Jackson, Frank Sebring. Standing: Joe Red
Blanket, cook.
organization in the district and social life was somewhat
enlivened by the group. Card parties, fowl suppers,
bazaa rs , dances, etc. were held as a means of raising
funds for community and charity work. Showers were
held for brides-to-be.
Willing Workers were often called upon to sponsor
other organizations, such as Girl Guides, 4-H Girls'
Club, a baby clinic, Cancer Crusade, Red Cross, etc.
They started and maintained a community library . It was
kept at Forward and Walton's store until they passed on,
when it was moved to Pegler's store, later Jappy
Douglass', where it remained until the advent of television, when it was closed.
During the second World War the ladies helped the
Red Cross by making quilts, bandages and knitting.
Food parcels were sent to local boys overseas and ditty
bags were packed for boys in the navy .
Willing Workers fostered the idea of building a new
community hall as the old Rancher's Hall was becoming
too small for the growing population . It was several years
later that their dream was realized when the new
Rancher's Hall was built by the community. Helping to
raise funds for the new Hall was their project.
In 1956, Willing Workers celebrated their thirtieth
anniversary with a dinner at the new Rancher's Hall,
when the first president, Mrs . Knights, was guest of
honor. Charter Members, Mrs . Jennie MacKay and
Mrs. Marian Mitchell were present when the fortieth anniversary was held . On December 1st, 1971, Willing
Workers held a pot-luck supper at the Millarville Church
House for their forty-fifth celebration. Present were
charter members Mrs . Mitchell, Mrs. Pallister and
former members from Calgary, Turner Valley and Black
Diamond. Members from neighboring Institutes, Turner
Valley and Westoe Wanderers , helped make this a happy
occasion.
In 1965, the Willing Workers started on a history
book of the Millarville and Kew districts, hoping to have
it completed in time for Canada's Centennial. However,
this became a much larger project than at first anticipated , so they encouraged a group of residents of the
area to take over the job, thus the Millarville Historical
Society was formed, with many members of the Willing
Workers joining and helping compile the book.
a restaurant for a change. To many Easterners visiting at
the Stampede and eating at the same restaurant they
were a source of interest, and when two of the cowboys
heard a lady say to her companion, " Look; they are
eating with knives and forks" they were very embarrassed, to say the least.
Competing for several years the Kew wagon won a
fair share of the prize money, although at that time the
prize money was not as large as it is today, and the racing
times of the wagons not so fast, they still provided the
crowds with as great a thrill as is done today.
HISTOR'Y OF MILLARVILLE WILLING
WORKERS WOMEN'S INSTITUTE - by Esther
Jackson
Willing Workers Women 's Institute was organized
on November 27, 1926, by the efforts of the late Mrs.
Richard Knights, who invited ladies from Priddis and
Millarville communities to meet at Fordville School to
discuss the forming of a Women's Institute branch . A
Mrs. Garrad, who was Constituency Convener at that
time, addressed the ladies on the origin and achievements
of the Women's Institute. All of those present agreed that
an organization like this was needed , so Willing Workers
was born. Members of the first executive were, Mrs.
Richard Knights, President, Mrs. William Bartlam,
Vice-President, Miss Jennie Chalmers (now Mrs.
William MacKay of Calgary) Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs .
Vivian Shaw of Priddis, Mrs. Harry Lee and Mrs. J .
Cawthorne, Directors. Other charter members were,
Mrs. Annie Hackett, Mrs. Lineham Mitchell, Miss Edith
Knights (now Mrs. William Pallister of Calgary), Miss
Netta Stanhope (now Mrs. Dick Knights of Calgary),
Mrs . Ruth Wilderman and Miss McDonald, the teacher
at Fordville School at that time. Membership in 1927 increased considerably. Among those who joined that year
were, Mrs. David Evans, Mrs. Frank Standish, Mrs .
Joseph Standish, Mrs . Chas. Nelson, the Misses Kate
and Olive Woodford , Mrs. Arthur Stanhope, Mrs. Oro
de Mille, Mrs. N. W. Pegler, Mrs. Annie Walton, Mrs.
M. MacKay, Mrs. G. E. Rawlinson, Mrs. G. M. Phillips,
the Misses Jane, Elizabeth and Nina Basilici, Mrs. E. L.
Kendall, Mrs . B. T . Chalmers, Mrs. J . Barker, Mrs. K.
Woodford, Mrs. E. Fisher, Jean Fisher, (now Mrs. Tim
Blakley), Mrs. William Jackson, Sr., Mrs. Ford
Lochhead, and Miss Annie Colley (now Mrs. Andrew
MacKay of Black Diamond).
After a year or so, Priddis members organized their
own branch.
Getting to meetings was not as easy then as it is today. Few roads were gravelled and while most families
had cars of one vintage or another there were not many
women drivers . Those who did would pick up other
members along the way; otherwise they rode horseback,
sometimes drove wagons and democrats, or, if the distance was not too great, they walked. One member drove
a Model T Ford topless jalopy, would gather up a carload
and hope to goodness it wouldn't rain. If, once in a while
they bogged down in the mud the ladies got out and
pushed, and away they went again. Who cared if they arrived at the meeting in a slightly muddy condition . By
one means or another they got there and attendance was
always good.
Willing Workers was the first non-sectarian women 's
Millarville Willing Workers Women's Institute. Back Row, L. to R.: Mrs.
D. Evans, --, Mrs. Harry Trimmer, Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs. Bert Mulder,
Mrs. Ockley, - - , Ellen Hackett and baby. Front row, L. to R.: Mrs. William
Bartlam, Mrs. Annie Hackett, Mrs. B. T. Chalmers,-- , Mrs. Rawlinson,
Mrs. N. W. Pegler, Betty Wilderman. Picture taken when Millarville group
were entertaining guests from Priddis Women 's Institute.
56
This is just a brief outline of Willing workers through
the years. Many of those pioneer members have passed
on, but to those of us who had the privilege of knowing
a nd working with them they will ever be remembered for
their inspiration and friendship.
in the start of the project that developed into provincial
free treatment for cancer.
The Institute always sponsored entertainments such
as dances , card parties, dramatics, suppers and bazaars.
During the war years this was very necessary to have
some amusement for those left at home. They looked
after the cigarettes for those overseas. The community
hall needed much help, physically and financially. There
were many gifts to the school i.e., the National
Geographic Magazine and later scholarships for Red
Deer Lake. The final war effort had been the preparation
and presentation of the World War II Honor Roll.
There was a W.I. Community Library for a few years
of about 500 books. It was supported by a $1.00
membership and provincial grants. When space was no
longer available in 1954 the books were given to the
Oil fields Hospital. In 1949 the Priddis W.I. was credited
with obtaining our $1.00 per day hospitalization, at that
time only available to the taxpayers through a municipal
resolution. When, after several years of requests by in­
dividuals and groups, the Council still did not think it was
necessary, the members called a public meeting for the
north part of the Turner Valley M.D. The Deputy
Minister of Health and the Chairman of the Rural
Municipal Hospitalization Board were invited as
speakers. The almost 100 ratepayers present voted un­
aminously in favor. The Council passed a resolution im­
mediately. Later one official observed, "if the Priddis
W.1. wants something, they will never give up until they
get it."
Through the years our objectives and needs have
greatly changed. Most important projects are now sup­
ported by public funds, adult education classes are
everywhere and entertainment is within easy reach. In
\969, after 41 years of service to "home and country",
self improvement, friendship and fun, declining support
forced the Priddis Women 's Institute to disband.
WOMEN'S INSTITUTE IN PRIDDIS - E. J. P.
On April 17th, 1928, at least eight ladies met in
Stewart 's former store to hear about W.l. from Mrs. A.
Wilderman of the Millarville Willing Workers Institute.
T hose present elected a slate of officers and applied for a
harter. When some of those elected found they were un­
a ble to hold office - reportedly due to home disapproval
- a new slate was elected at a larger meeting on May
17th. The first officers on record were Mesdames A. V.
Shaw, C. G. Standish, E. J. Waite, F. Hopkins, H. L.
T rimmer, H. C. Wallis, J. Hamilton , J. Mangan, and R.
Priddis·Westoe W. I. bridal shower for Kathleen McConnel (Mulder)
1931. Mesdames H. L. Trimmer, C. G. Standish, C. Griffith, J. Tomlinson,
J. Mangan, Betty Champion, Mesdames P. Henderson, F. Hopkins, G.
Moore, E. Woodford, A. Estill, W. Stewart. Front: Fay Tomlinson, Maxine
Trimmer, Barbara Champion, the bride, Mrs. Champion.
Elliot. Mrs. C. Standish and Mrs. Trimmer proposed
Priddis-Westoe W.I. as the name.
The original25¢ membership fee lasted until 1950. Of
the first 26 members two or three transfered from Will­
ing Workers. The area from Champions, six miles west
of Priddis, to Eckersleys, six miles east, took a lot of
travelling. Roads were questionable, few members drove
cars so most arrived on foot or by horse, either riding or
driving. In \935-36 it was necessary to divide the area
and Westoe W.l. was formed to the east. The parent
Institute carried on as Priddis W.l.
Throughout the years the members diligently
prepared and presented papers on important topics. Well
attended demonstrations, some lasting several days, were
sponsored under the Department of Home Economics
and Agriculture such as dressmaking, slip covers, home
decorating, obstetrics, personal grooming, and various
handicrafts. A W.I. Girls Club nourished for some years
and all worthwhile local and provincial causes were sup­
ported . When W.I. District Four decided to buy radium
in 1936 for free use, placed in Galt Hospital, Lethbridge,
it took great effort to raise our share. Five dollars was
a lot of money at that time with all the other demands
on the funds. Priddis W.I. sent their share so had a part
Priddis W. I. 30th anniversary, 1958, at Camp Stewart. Mesdames S.
Jones, C. Griffith, J. Mangan, H. deMille, G. Park, W. Stewart. Seated:
Mesdames R. Quigley, F. Standish, Jo Snyder, and G. Moore.
WESTOE WANDERERS W.1. - Mrs. V. Whitney
In 1936 a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Geo.
Moore on July 3rd, the object of which was to try to
organize a "Women's Institute" for the Westoe district.
Mrs. Joe Mangan was chairman and Mrs. Geo. Moore
secretary. Nine women were present and several others
57
V. Whitney's home with fried chicken and gifts for the
charter members .
During the yea rs we have contributed towards worthy
causes such as the Lacombe Homp., Woods Home, Red
Cross, lay ettes for the Unitarian Services, parcels for the
boys overseas during the War and liberal donations in
cases of illness and disasters, as well as Christmas
hampers to the needy.
In 1965 we adopted two patients in the Mental Home
at Ponok a so we could send them gifts and letters. Mrs .
R. St anton took ca re of this project and still corresponds
wit hone pa tien!. In 196 I we adopted two Pa kistani boys
contacted through Mrs. Ahmid, whom Louise Cameron
had met at the ACWW conference in Glasgow. It re­
quired $150.00 yea rly to educate these children. The two
boys were Sa leh Moh a mmed who graduated from High
School and is with their Air Force and Ishaq. Later we
adopted our las t boy, Ali .
Our generou s donation to the Red Deer Lake Home
and School helped send the grade 9 class to Expo in 1967 .
Mrs . May Whitney served as Constituency Convenor
for four yea rs . In 1971 Mrs. P. Pryke and Mrs. May
Whitney attended the ACWW Conference in Oslo,
Norwa y, bringing back interesting pictures and stories.
All through the years we have had marvellous co­
operation from our W .1. husbands, brothers, sons and
daughters for transportation a nd stage hands, as sub­
stitute cook s and mother s, and as catering assistants.
Their help has made our W.I. activities so happy and
successful.
Westoe Wanderers, 1954. Back row: Mrs. Smith (mother of Mrs.
Mangan), Louise Cameron, Irene Waite, Thelma Mangan, Blodwyn Davies.
Middle row: Margaret Strauss, Margaret Johnston, Florence Fedderson,
Mae Whitney, Olive Stanton, (behind) unknown, Phyllis Hunt, (behind)
Muriel Pryke, Victoria Whitney. Front: Violet Stanton with Donna , Sophia
Standish and Katie (Mrs. Whitney's sister, a visitor.)
who were unable to a ttend th a t day had given their
promise that they would join should we organize. Those
present were Mesd ames Walter Birney, Dave Gerl itz, Joe
Mangan , Hugh McNain , Ed Kunder, Geo Moore , Frank
Standish , Dora Whitfield, Victoria Whitney.
Mrs . Moore suggest e d the name "Westoe
Wanderers" as the meetings we re to be held from "house
to house". Mrs. Whitney seconded the motion and it was
carried. Mrs. Whitfield moved that the membership fee
be 25 ¢.
It was decided th a t the meetings would be held on the
3rd Wednesd ay of each month and JO,,: charged for tea.
At the second meeting at the home of Mrs. Walter
Birney the following officers were elected:
President, Mrs . J. Ma ngan; 1st Vice- President, Mrs.
Dora Whitfield; 2nd Vice-President, Mrs. G. Moore;
Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs. A. Eckersley; Directors, Mrs.
Birney, Mrs. R. Stanton, and Miss Irene Smith .
Our means of tra nsport ation was quite different from
now. Those with ca rs picked up a neighbor or two, some
came with horse and buggy, a nd those close enough
walked. As newcomers a rrived our membership in­
creased.
When Westoe School closed in 1956 our Institute put
in a bid for the one acre with the school buildings and the
piano. We were a ble to purchase it. Now we had a place
where we could hold our meetings and practice for the
severa l evenings of entertainment that we usually held.
We had two or three meetings there before the building
was gutted by fire after a young peoples party. So in truth
we kept our name, "Westoe Wanderers".
An early resolution sta rted a $2.00 savings account
for a member's new ba by. The first two babies to receive
it were Phyllis Ann Hunt and Rita Lynn Whitney. We
still do this.
On the 20th Anniversary in 1956 the meeting
was held by Louise Cameron and attended by Mrs.
Husby, Constituency Convener, and complete with 20
candles on a cake. Our 25th a nniversary was held at Mrs.
THE HAPPY GANG OF MILLARVILLE - by Joanna
Hanson
In the summer of 1942 a group of young wives whose
husbands worked in the oil fields gathered at the home of
Flora Haley to form a club. They came from many areas
and lived in small homes they moved in or built on the
cattle ranches of the original settlers. They were anxious
to become pa rt of the community and to give of their
many talents to help .
Some of the group th a t met that day were Millie
Mathewson, Bett y Nelson, Anna Hagen, Verona Beebe,
Maude Hagen , Belle Lampman, Kaye Stewart, Maude
Robertson , Hazel Bird, Eunice McNary, Rachel Bur­
4uist, Margaret (Robertson) Lochhead and Joanna Han­
son .
When the name of the club was to be chosen it was
decided to call them selves the "Happy Gang" after the
Millarville Happy Gang. L. to R.: Mrs. Burquist, Mrs. Hagen, Mrs.
Robertson, Joanna Hanson, Verona Beebe, Rene Wiener, Irene Beebe,
Margaret (Robertson) Lochhead.
58
radio program that was so popular at that time, Bert
Pearl's Happy Gang.
One of the first projects was building a skating rink
for there wasn't one in the area. All the husbands of the
community donated the material for the fence and did the
work at Battery 9 which was located below where the old
Sheep Creek School formerly stood. The employees at
the battery kept the rink flooded along with their work
duties. Many a happy time was enjoyed there.
Another time a family was burned out and the ladies
gathered many useful articles and carried them in a huge
wash tub for a surprise shower. They also had many get­
logethers, picnics, weiner roasts, card parties and dances.
T hey gave showers for young married couples and spon­
sored youth groups, buying hockey sweaters and
su pplies, and baseball bats and balls.
As the oil field boom died out in the area the
ra ncher's wives took over and the work continues.
their families. Engraved silver spoons were given to those
of the original members who were still active in the
group.
Down through the years many ladies of the district
have belonged and still enjoy projects such as quilt mak­
ing, teas, bazaars, bingos, evening get-to-gethers and just
plain visiting.
4-H ORGANIZATIONS
In 1913 the first schools of agriculture in Alberta
were opened at Olds, Vermillion, and Claresholm.
Following this a school fair program was introduced. The
Department of Agriculture provided vegetable seeds in
the spring, these vegetables were shown and judged.
School Fairs rapidly extended over the Province.
In 1916 the first District Agents, now Agricu ltu rists,
were appointed. They organized beef and swine clubs in
rural areas. Boys and girls were assisted in securing
livestock, and in the marketing of the animals. Prizes
were awarded. The object of the early clubs was the im­
provement of livestock in the Province. Beef, swine, and
later dairy clubs were only the beginning of a movement
which was soon to branch in many directions. The trend
in thought changed from the project to the member being
all important. Training in citizenship as a means to in­
terest club members in home and community life and to
develop those qualities of character that are needed for
leadership became the main goal.
"Learn to do by doing," is the Motto of 4-H Clubs
throughout the world. The 4-H standing for head, heart,
hands, and health.
The Millarville 4-H Beef Club was formed in 1952
with Charlie King as leader and George Bull Uunior) as
club president. The first two years the Achievement Day
was held in High River. The third year the Achievement
Day was held in Calgary in A ugust. This was a three-day
show and sale in conjunction with several other clubs.
Later the 4-H Clubs' Achievement Day was changed to
the same time as the Calgary Stampede.
Mr. Charles Yauch was the District Agriculturist for
the Millarville Club. In the twenty years it has been going
there have been five leaders; Charlie King, William
Massie, Edward Poffenroth, William R. Jackson, and
Harry Hobbs. Many more people served as assistants
and on advisory committees. The club has won many
achievements; Grand Champion Calf, Champion Show­
man, first in stall decoration, and also awards in Public
Speaking.
The next 4-H club in the Millarville district to
organize was the Millarville Clothing Club on October
Ninth, 1955. The leaders being Mrs. Betty Akins and
Mrs. Kathleen Tosh. After a year Betty Akins moved
away and Ruth Hoy took her place. The Club, named the
Reddy Robins, was sponsored by the Millarville Willing
Workers Community Organization.
4-H at that time was set up by the Department of
Horne Economics under the Department of Agriculture.
Miss Amelia Randall, Home Economist, was in charge.
Ar. efficient and well qualified person, she set a high stan­
dard of achievement.
As a Clothing Club this group operated for two or
three years until they changed to Food under the able
leadership of Grace Bull and Ruth Hoy. The Club was
SQuARE BUTTE LADIES' GROUP - by Helen Lyall
The Square Butte Ladies' Group had as its beginning
a baby shower for Mrs. Peggy Nylund (nee Lyall) in
.-\ pril of 1941. As the afternoon proved to be an enjoyable
one, the ladies decided to get together once a month in in­
div idual homes.
As this was during the war it was decided at one of the
mee tings to become an auxiliary group to the Red Cross.
During the war years many pleasant hours were spent
knitting and sewing articles to be sent overseas to soldiers
a nd refugees.
After the war was over, the group continued their
monthly meetings. Many quilts were made and other
projects initiated. Money was raised for local efforts as
well as donations to many charities, such as Cancer, Red
C ross, Crippled Children, Heart Fund and many others.
Some of the original members of the group were,
\:lrs. Peggy Nylund, Mrs. George Lyall, Mrs. S. A.
Lyall, Mrs. Fred Kosling, Mrs. Paul Gardner, Mrs.
Gladys Grainger (McLay), Mrs. Bell, Mary Bell, Mrs.
\o1aurice Ingeveld, Martha Ingeveld, Mrs. Katherine
Kendall and Mrs. Dick Lyall.
On the 25th anniversary of the group in 1965, a
supper and social evening was held for the members and
Square Butte Ladies' Group. L. to R.: Mrs. Tom Lyall, Mary Bell, Peggy
Nylund, Gladys Grainger, Eleanor Nylund, Betty Lyall, Mrs. Bell, Mrs.
George Lyall, Marthe Ingeveld Pallister, Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Katherine
Kendall. About 1946.
59
well attended by girls from all over the districts of M illar­
ville and Kew.
The 4- H progra m stressed co-opera tion and efficien­
cy while covering many different projects. In many cases
members remain in the clubs for five or six years. They
receive a good working knowledge of cooking, both basic
and specialized , as well as meal planning, formal and in­
formal, entertaining, and food values. One of the most
valuable programes sponsored by 4-H Clubs is in Public
Speaking. This teaches young people how to write and
deliver a prepared talk . Impromptu speaking is also prac­
tised . Many become good speakers and go a long way
through the different levels: Club, interclub, area, dis­
trict, semi-finals, and final. This programme is in­
valuable in teaching confidence and poise and the ability
to express ideas.
A second Food Club was organized at Red Deer Lake
on October 31 st, 1959, covering that area and taking in
Priddis as well. The leaders for many years were Louise
Cameron and Dessa Macklin.
Through the years interest has remained high in this
club. Public Speaking being one of the areas in which
several members excelled. Both M illarville and Red Deer
Lake Club members have won many awards and trips for
efficiency. Edna Hilton and Mrs. Shelton of Priddis also
helped out as leaders. Many parents gave invaluable help
and support during the years. Recently Carol (Bamford)
Potter and Patty (Hoy) Webb have been leaders. Both
girls were top 4-H members themselves; Patty of Millar­
ville Food and Carol of Red Deer Lake Food Club. Long
may 4-H continue.
The Foothills 4-H Dairy Club was organized in the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Art Webb with the assistance of
Mr. Charles Yauch, District Agriculturist, in October
1963. The initial slate of officers were President, Bruce
Bamford; Secretary, Jane Webb; Treasurer, Patty Hoy.
Nelson Hoy was chosen club leader and served for four
years. Mr. Fraser Armstrong, Mr. John Van Brunshot
and Norman Atkins were club leaders during the follow­
ing years and this year Mr. Les Malin is leading the club.
This club has maintained a good record and won major
awards at the 4-H show in Calgary - Grand Champion
Showmanship, Grand and Reserve Champion calf and
yearling class, as well as stall awards.
CADETS AT MILLARVILLE
In 1964 approximately eighteen boys from Sheep
Creek School were encouraged to join the Oilfields Army
Cadet Corp based at Turner Valley Armouries. Milita
provided transportation. In 1955, Bill Dube became
Commanding Officer of the Corps. When the Armouries
were closed down in November 1958, the Corps was
moved to Millarville and parades were held in the school
until 1965. Many boys took the local training (drill,
schemes, shoots, tours , etc.) and several attended
summer camps at Vernon . Many shooting awards and
trophies were won.
In 1960 the Corps was rated top in Southern Alberta
(R) with sixty-six boys on strength and it was one of the
first Corps to allow girls to attend parades. Many young
people benefited from the activities of the Corps.
The Commanding Officer, Bill Dube, was principal of
Sheep Creek School for eleven years.
Cadets at Millarville. Captain William Dube and cadets.
60
~ d is
Sports' Day, ca. 1916.
:any sports
day south of Patterson·Bremner buildings.
Priddis Races.
had many active players in the various sports. No doubt
many names have been forgotten but these residents
played for enjoyment, not to attend meetings and leave
written records. Credit and sincere tribute must be given
to the skilled sportsmen of the district who gave
generously of their time to lead and to coach the local
adults and young people.
SPORTS
The Priddis district was fortunate to have a focal
int at The Forks with the creek , open nats, post office,
sto re, school, curling rink and hall to facilitate all types
of sports. The settlers quickly organized clubs of their
ra\' orite sports, most of which will be told separately. A
rew did not have too much success.
Addison and G . W. (Pie) Hone with Wm. and Harry
~ losley, all rine polo players, are believed to have prac­
tised and trained their ponies on the nat in N 1/2 -21-3 but
th ere is no record of a Priddis Club . From the press and
pictures it would appear they played as the Priddis team
with Fish Creek (Midnapore) and Calgary clubs.
From early days the community always enjoyed a
good rodeo or sports day, usually held in Fish Creek
\ a lley. J. Standish wrote in his diary, July 12 , 1910,
"Priddis races. Police ordered everyone to fight lire."
There are many pictures of races and rodeos but few are
da ted, except for one in 1916. Many still speak of riding
or driving from a distance to attend these events that con­
ti nued into the thirties.
For many years Bill and Tom Stewart tried to
organize and coach a football team to playa pick-up
team rrom Calga ry or the Boy Scouts when in ca mp.
There were never sufficient volunteers, big enough to
stand the sport, to really get a team going.
From the start, curling on Fish Creek, until the pop­
ularity of casual community sports waned, this district
CURLING - Excerpts from article by M. M. Lee
Will' Edgar remembers well stories told by his father,
Wm . Edgar, about curling in the old days on Fish Creek.
"When the young Scots, Edgar, "Big" Jim Hunter, and
"Little" Jim Hunter, settled at Priddis before 18Q2 they
were thrilled at all the ice on Fish Creek. " Unable to get
curling rocks they made their own from hlocks of green
wood with rake teeth for handles. During the winter they
curled every afternoon a t "Big" Jim Hunter's place.
Before long they were joined by Jim Aird (Millarville), J.
D. Patterson, G. Ethel , Mike Devine and J. Ockley.
About 1898 a one-sheet curling rink was built of
rough lumber just north-e as t of the present Priddis hall .
It blew down soon afterwa rds but was quickly re-erected .
It was a ravorite local gathering place. While two rinks
happily curled the spectators could watch through a win­
dow from the waiting room that was heated by a pot­
bellied stove.
Will' Edgar has a vivid memory of the bucket brigade
that used to nood the rink . i\ plaform extended out above
61
Curling on creek at Priddis ca. 1900. W. Edgar, Big Jim and Little Jim
Hunter.
the creek and all available men would line up on it to pass
along the bucket of water scooped up by the leader. The
last in line poured the water into a trough that sloped into
the rink. "Then", said Wilf, "they nooded a rink on the
creek for us boys to curl with the old wooden blocks. The
men used to curl every afternoon, ride home for supper,
and back to curl each evening."
Another boy of that era, Richie Stanton, reminisced
about the curling days. He recalls that two men used to
raise water from the creek with a hand pump placed
above the rink level so that a pipe from the spout allowed
the water to now naturally to the rink. Extra rinks were
made on the creek during bonspiels. In 1908 and later the
bonspiels ended with a smoker in the hall.
D. C. Bayne, of Banff, wrote in the Calgary A Iberian
in 1936 in part as follows: " . . . many famous games
were played in the old Alberta Rink on Fifth Avenue .. .
and vis iting clubs were entertained there during the curling season. In the nineties (and later) Calgary and Priddis
clubs quite often visited each other, and some of the
prizes were characteristic of the period. At one Priddis
Bonspiel the first prizes in the Grand Challenge were four
quarters of beef . . . In the early days Priddis used
wooden blocks and a few years ago John Irwin recovered
one of these and presented it to the Banff Club . . . .
John A. Turner who was connected with the Priddis Club
brought in some iron rocks for use in this part of the
province. Priddis had a membership of about sixteen or
seventeen and used to turn up at the Calgary bonspiels
several rinks strong. They were famous curlers, hard
working and vigorous opponents."
The Calgary Curling Club was organized in 1888 and
were affi liated with the Manitoba branch of the Royal
Ca ledonian Curling Club until the Alberta Branch was
formed in 1904. The Priddis Club was also a member of
the R.C.C.C. and Jim Aird was on the 1904 Alberta
Branch executive. There is no record of the first Calgary
Bcnspiel in 1894 but curlers from Sheep Creek and Fish
Creek were invited to the 1895 Calgary Bonspiel. Fish
Creek was represented by J. W. Edgar, J. Hunter, Aird
and J. Hunter (skip), and Sheep Creek by M. McMillan,
J. A. Turner, B. Wright and Robert Turner (skip). "Bob
Turner, who had curled in Scotland, brought his own iron
curling stones, which were much lighter than the ones
George Lee, Walter Birney, Harry Lee and J. Hunter (Little Jim),
1912.
used in Canada and were black in color. He would not
curl with any other rocks or without his Scotch bonnet."
(Calgary Power's Alberla Album of Curling) In 1896 his
rink captured the Visitors Trophy .
The Priddis rinks were strong contestants at nearly
every Calgary bonspiel until 1914-15. When Ban ff 'spiels
were instituted in 1908, Priddis usually sent two rinks.
The Sheep Creek club drops from the news after 1900, as
only two more skips, J. Aird, and Marshall, were mentioned by the press. From then on Sheep Creek names
appear on the Priddis rinks. Other prominent Priddis
curlers reported in the press were Edgar, G. Young,
Ockley, J. Patterson , Senior, Saunders, Ethel , Ramsay,
H. Ford and H. Lee. By 1908 man y of the original curlers
had sold out but others replaced them: - W. G. Birney,
H. Wenham, C. and J. Gillespie, G. Lee, A. M. Shaver?,
Ben Johnson, J. McLeod , and V. N. deMille. Their activities at Calgary bonspiels were frequently reported by
the Herald.
1902 "Lang and Edgar had a close game . . . but the
sturdy men with white fishes on their stones won out."
"The Fish Creek men played like whales." "The Whale
Creek rink . . . (Edgar) went on to win."
1903 " . . . Hunter won, thus the only winner of two
trophies at the 's piel."
1907 "That deadly Hunter rink. " "The inhabitants of
Oatmeal Valley are thirsty for more . . . Scotmen's
blood this morning."
1912 " .. . the one rink at the bon spiel which . . .
62
overed itself with gl ory is the Lee rink. These curlers (H.
Lee, W. Birney, J. Hunter, skip G. Lee) have won sixteen
ga mes. Lee's rink also won the largest number of ga mes
of the bonspiel." In the same issue pictures of curling
notables by the Herald artist included Ethel and Harry
Lee.
According to the press Priddis sponsored one or two
da y annual bonspiels from 1902 to 1909. There must have
en earlier and later events that were not reported . Priddis put up good awards (no doubt solicited) such as silver
ups. tea sets, jugs, biscuit jars and cruet stands, carvers,
ladies slippers, beef. live pigs, and cartons of Red Rose
Tea . Other clubs were just as imaginative as at Banff,
19 11, the Lee rink won a fancy vest , 2 pairs of boots and
_lbs. Blue Ribbon Tea. The Herald , 1904, reported that
·n the Priddis grand points competition at noon "Cappie
mart (Calgary) won first prize, one bag of turnips; Jim
Ockley, second, half a bushel of doughnuts. " In 1906
Pri ddis put up six rinks against I from Okotoks and 4
ro m Calgary. Until after 1907 each bonspiel closed with
.'.l ba ll that was duly reported by the Herald. The 1902
- all was described thus; "On Friday, the 17th, the annual
all took place in the Hall at Priddis, and a very enjoya ble affair it turned out to be. About 30 couples
trip ped the light fantastic to the Priddis orchestra, Mr.
Tri ckett, Graham, G. Young, W. Phillips. G. Hamilton
a nd severa l ladies assisted on the piano, kept the musical
pa rt going strong and fresh until morning. The ladies
fr om Calgary came out in strong force, adding greatly to
th e enjoyment of the ball by their excellent dancing and
a miability . Thanks are due to Messrs. Hunter, Woolings
a nd Jamieson as floor managers. Dancing interspersed
'' ith songs, cake walks, etc., was kept up until nearly 6
3. m. All expressed themselves well satisfied and by request another dance will be given in about a month. "
"On the da y of the dance the Calgary curlers brought
out a strong rink to sweep up the Priddis curlers. The ice
\\ as in good condition and the rinks crossed brooms as
oon as the Calgary team arrived. The Calgary men were
ti ff after their long ride, fell behind at the start but after
three or four ends . . . ca ught up to Edgar. Edgar's combination was too hard for them and after Stafford trying
his best to break it up, Edgar finished the game 2 to the
good, 9 to I I. It was a good game, the Calgary ladies
eeming to take as keen an interest as the men. Priddis is
going to keep on working hard so as to be in good shape
fo r the Calgary spiel. The teams, after mutually congratulating and cheering each other, retired to get ready
fo r the dance."
Next year, 1903, the Herald mentions the January
22nd dance, " . . . one of the most successful dances . . .
enjoyed by over I00 dancers, keeping the musicians going
from 9 p.m. till 4 a .m . . . . one rig from Calgary broke
their axle and had to walk at least six miles to the dance,
but they did it, and danced with the best of them all
night."
The Herald continues, "Priddis is nothing if not up to
date and there will be 'whisper', a ping-pong tournament
a nd curling on Feb. I Ith next , and concert in the hall
with Calgary artists and the usual liberal supper provided
by the local ladies . Altogether it will be one of the best
evening's entertainment ever held in Priddis and deserves
to be well patronized as it is to raise funds to buy an
organ for the church (Fish Creek Presbyterian Mission
?). The present orga n has a bad attack of asthma and has
to be repl aced . Those who are too heavy handed to ping
in the hall. can pong in the rink . Prizes will be given and
all at a cost of 50¢.
References; Calgary Hera Id, Alberta Tribune &
Calgary Albertan from the files of Glenbow-Alberta
Library and Archive~.
GUN CLUBS AT PRIDDIS - excerpts from article by
M. M. Lee
Shooting with rifles and shotguns became popular in
the district in 1900. That year the men formed the Priddis
Gun Club and judging by information gleaned from the
Calgarr Herald a lot of fun was had by all. On Jan. 31,
1900, the Herald reported, "A meeting was held at Priddis last Thursday and a committee formed of Messrs.
Woolings, chairman; Mosley; Hone; Young; Flint; and
Ockley, secretary. It was decided to hold a shooting tournament and smoking concert at the Hall on Feb. 8th . . .
The programme for the day will be (first and) second
shoot from traps. Sweepstakes, after rifle shooting, for
turkeys and other prizes will take place at 100 yards off
hand , and at 200 ya rds any position, with artificial rest.
Shoot commences at 2:00 p.m. and will be followed by
supper and concert."
Sometime in 190 I the serious marksmen formed the
Priddis Rifle Club. As many of the neighboring communities had rifle clubs there were many competitions,
held mostl y on the Calgary Elbow Range. The rifles in
common use were the long Enfield .303; the Ross .303
and the Winchester Carbine 45-75. The long Lee-Enfield
.303, lighter than the army rifles, was introduced in 1902.
In 190 I the coveted Priddis Cup was given by the H udson's Bay Co.
Names in the press reports indicate that this was a
combined Priddis-Red Deer Lake Club. Harcourt
Hervey was the outstanding marksman, winning consistently at all shoots. The Lloyd sons, also avid rifle
shooters, had built a range and target house on their
farm. (R .D.L. residents)
By June 1902, D. Carter had sold out and Arthur
Woolings, sec.-treas., had gone to the Boer War. " . . .
H. W. Dod was made president and Charles Priddis
secretary-treasurer, with Frank Harris as range officer
on the Red Deer Lake Range and J. D. Patterson on the
Priddis range. " The association affiliated with the
Territorial Rifle Association and had $20.00 on hand. A
vote of thanks was passed to C. Priddis, Nielson and Mr.
Lloyd for refreshments supplied at shoots; to B. S. Lloyd
and Priddis for the use of private grounds for rifle ranges;
and to the prize donors . Some of the donors mentioned
were Mr. Doll; Calgary Hardware; Calgary Liquor Co.;
Hud son's Bay; Calgary Clothing; F. Adams; R. A.
Wallace; M.L.A. and Mr. Hamilton."
"Priddis Cup"
"July, 1902: The second annual competition for the
Priddis Cup will take place on the Priddis range on
Saturday, July 19th, at 10:00 a.m. Conditions as follows:
7 shots at 200 yards standing; 7 shots at 500 yards kneel-.
ing: 7 shots at 700 yards any position, with head to target;
sighting shot allowed at each range. First three prizes are
cups and $5.00. $5.00, and $3.00 then $2.00 and $1.00.
Entrance fee for non-members $1.00. C. Priddis,
Secretary P.R.A."
63
"H. Hervey wins the Hudson's Bay Cup at Priddis.
Good Scores Were Made." headlines the Herald on July
HOCKEY
between the supporters as between the teams. People who
were close friends at any other time hurled insults at one
another during the games but this was all forgotten when
the game was over.
As -there was only two Model T Fords in the entire
area, it wasn't unusual to see sleigh loads of people
heading for the hockey rinks, also many others on
horseback. Distance or lack of transportation did not
stop the fans from going to cheer on their favorite team,
and many would get to the rink to help shovel snow.
The cup finally became the possession of the Kew
team and was at Pat and Nina Rodgers' home for several
years, and is now at the M illarville School.
Many of the players on those early teams have passed
away but are well remembered for the enjoyment they
gave to the local residents at a time when there was very
little in the way of entertainment.
Hockey was played and enjoyed by many of the early
settlers and in the days just after the First World War,
teams from Millarville and Priddis played against each
other. In the early l 920's a league was formed that included these two teams and also Kew and Turner Valley.
The oil fields were just beginning to boom and Turner
Valley had a choice of many players. There was as much
competition between these four teams as there is in the
National Hockey League today . A silver cup was put up,
to become the permanent possession of the team that
won it three years in succession.
Among the Millarville players was Ron Freeman, the
goaltender, Bob Stanhope, Campbell Aird, Willie
Deane-Freeman, Billy King, Mike and Dick Knights,
and Ed Winthrop. On the earlier Millarville team Wilbur
and A. B. Cook, along with others were among the
players.
Kew hockey team, about 1925. L. to R.: Bill Jackson, Gavin
Calderwood, Joe Jackson, Buck George (back), Paddy Rodgers (checkered
shirt), Walter Phillips (goal tender), John Fisher, Ford Lochhead, Bob
Calderwood.
23rd. The fourteen member contestants were, first six in
order; H. Hervey , F. H . W. Dod , E. Lloyd, D. Carter, W.
Reinhardt and J. W. Ockley . The others were Draycott,
Edgar, Ethel, A. Hudson, E. Johnson, W. King-Hunter,
H. Lloyd and J. Patterson.
The Herald describes a match on the Elbow Range,
July 28 , 1902, with the Elbow R. A. - "the young club".
It was "a good close match", Priddis winners by 14
points. The return match was to take place sometime in
October on the Priddis or Red Deer Lake ranges.
It is not recorded how long the Priddis Rifle Club
flourished. Turkey shoots, recorded in pictures and
folklore, were a popular event down. through the years.
With Fish Creek for a natural rink there was alw ays a
hockey team to compete with Red Deer Lake, Midnapore, Kew, Millarville and Calgary teams . Some of the
members before 1914 were Jack and Hope Hunter, Stantons, Harry Birney, Bill and Tom Stewart, and Vic
Bermejo. Bermejo always played goal, protected by hi s
bright orange angora wool chaps. Most of the local
fellows, including the Bradfield students, joined in the
fun. When the curling arena blew down during the first
War the lumber was eventually used to build a hock ey
rink on the old site. Members added were Jack and Ted
H1Jnt, Miles and John Standish, Larry Williams, Bill
Scott, Cook Brothers, Walter Ockley, Edgar Billings,
Lee St. Clair, McDonald and the Reynolds boys. Robert
Patchell was the referee.
When the snow was too deep to clear by shovelling Ed
Winthrop would bring his Fresno and sharp shod team to
help. Priddis owned a water pump to get water from the
creek a nd Stantons provided the engine. Flooding and
clearing the ice became a problem, few ready to work but
many ready to enjoy it after the work was done. Except
for spasmodic efforts of revival hockey tapered off to the
occasional game with a pick-up team.
During the thirties the Westoe Rink, on Mangan's,
beside the Standish Service Station, flourished for about
ten years until it became a victim of the war years. Most
of the good skaters joined the forces .
The present Priddis rink in the old, old school yard
Millarville hockey team. L. to R.: Ronald Freeman, Campbell Aird,
Robert Stanhope, William Deane-Freeman. Front: William King, Arthur
Knights, Ed Winthrop.
The Kew team consisted of a group of ranchers, with
Walter Phillips and Jim Ward as goaltenders, Paddy
Rodgers, captain, Ford Lochhead, Bob and Gavin
Calderwood, Bill and Joe Jackson, John Fisher, John
McGregor, Buck George and others who were willing to
play as spares when needed.
The home rink at Millarville was a large slough near
Fo rdvill e School, which often was covered with water
during a chinook. Kew had their rink near the post office,
where Mr. Walton had a store and did a thriving business
on the days hockey was played at Kew, which was
generally on a Sunday. There was as much rivalry
64
was built by community residents in 1963-64. With the
mpty school as a heated club house and Ilood lights it
aters to skaters from near and far. There are several
boys' hockey teams, well coached, that play in competi­
ti o n.
BOXING
Probably from the start of local social activities box­
ing would be enjoyed by some of the residents. R. Stan­
:o n recalls that J. Gillespie and Jack Hunter would put
n the gloves at curling smokers. During the twenties Bill
lewart, who was still in training, sponsored a winter
xing club that ended in an annual evening of bouts for
:;;lost weights . Some of the participants were Jerry,
Geo rge and Frank Woodford, Richie and Charlie Stan­
on . Jack Hunt , Jack Lee, R. Patchell , Ben Johnson ,
Jim my Jones , Gerald Webster, Walter Ockley, Tom
ewart, Ollis Persley, and, at one match, Jim Russel
ho was trained by A. Estill. One year Stewart and A. J .
Ca wthorne staged an exhibition match. At the same time
3ill Stewart sponsored a Boys' Boxing Club that was
uch enjoyed by the younger lads. Jack Waite recalls
.13t Ollis Persley, on his knees with one hand behind his
~a c k, would dare them to hit him. Many tried but few
Junior Tennis club, 1932.
BADMINTON
In 1929 A. M. Stewart urged the starting of a bad­
minton club in the hall that is still in operation. To make
a regulation court it was necessary to remove the balcony
and build on new cloakrooms. Then a 32 volt plant was
installed so there could be evening playing. Some of the
early members who played Sunday afternoon and eve­
ning as well as one evening a week were A. M. Stewart,
Mr. and Mrs. W. \V. Stewart, Mrs. Waite, Kathleen
\1cConnel, Vic Heaver, Bert Mulder, Walter Ockley,
Harry Brogden, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Trimmer, Bob
Waite, Tom Stewart, Doug Scholfield, H. C. Wallis, T.
H. Bond, Winnie Shiach, E. Shaw, F. H. Brooks, the A.
Eckersley family, C. H. Griffith, Ted Hunt, Bill and Wilf
Fleming . There were some wonderful tournaments at
Priddis and in Calgary, occasionally preceded by a sit­
down supper.
In 1933, there were many young people in the Millar­
ville area , but lillie in the way of entertainment, so a Bad­
minton club was formed . It was very active until 1939,
when many of the young men of the community enlisted
in the Army, to take part in the Second World War.
Headquarters for the group was the old Rancher's
Hall. Priddis had a Badminton club also and many plea­
sant days and evenings were spent in friendly competition
between the two clubs.
The names of some of the Millarville club are: Bill
-~c c eeded.
When Stewart quit training the cll\b was continued by
3ilh Trevenen into the thirties. At that time Pete Flem­
- g. John , Mike and Miles Standish were in it.
T E'\NIS
.; tennis court was marked out on the hockey rink
_vo ut 1923 and a better one built on the north side of
Priddis Trading Store about 1928. The club was active
.:ntil 1946. Some of the enthusiasts were Bill and Tom
h:\\"art, A. M. Stewart, Vic Bermejo, Walter Ockley,
\I r. and Mrs. H. L. Trimmer, A. V. Shaw, Mrs. Waite,
-=-. H. Brooks, N. Moysey and Bill Mitchell. In later
_ea rs a few younger members and newcomers swelled the
::iu b. It was a Sunday afternoon sport, complete with tea,
hich often included Calgary friends to add to the fun. In
' is heyday the club sponsored a few tournaments.
Millarville Badminton Club, with guests, March, 1938. Back row, L. to
R.: Alex Lyall, Joe Waite, Dick Lyall. Hevie Schultz, Eric Mulder, Bob Elliot,
Bill Jackson, Bob Waite, Jock Campbell , Tommy Lyall, Herb Larratt. Front
row: Don Boggs, Bert Hodgkins, Esther Jackson, Carlton King, Annie
Silvester, Jim Nelson, Selina Hambling, Jean Waugh, Josephine Waugh ,
Val Mack.
Tennis tea time, 1924. Mrs. Trimmer, A. M. Stewart, V. Bermejo, T.
Stewart, W. Ockley, and Mrs. Waite. In car: Mrs. Shaw and Eunice.
65
and Esther Jackson , Bill and Ethel Lee, Rose and Jim
Kerr, Lyle and Merle Heine, Jim and Leonard Nelson,
Marian, Peggy and Jean Waugh , Jesse Hackett, Bill
Fisher, Doug Wilson, Rudy and Eric Mulder, Sally
Hambling (Mulder) Dick Lyall, Val Mack, Bert
Hodgkins, Elwyn Evans, Irene Rickett (Evans) Richard,
Alec and Tommy Lyall, Eleanor Galbraith, Janet Bucher
(MacKay) Russel and Kay King, Harold and Joyce
Thompson, and Jim Colley.
BALL
Ball games must have always been a part of com­
munity sport whenever there were enough players to
make up two teams . It became very popular during the
thirties on the usual sports' ground on the S If2-22-3 . It
would include all those who wished to play and those who
wished to watch and cheer. At that time there were both a
mens' and a girls' team to compete with local and
Calgary teams. Some of the men were A. Estill,
Trimmer. Streeting, Bill Hamilton, John Standish, John­
ny McNab, Lawrence Whitney, Mac McCallum, Harry
Brogden, Eddie Eckersley, Vic Ham and Stan Gilbert.
For awhile there was a strong girls' team that held
their own with Calgary and other small town teams.
Some of the players were Recka, Evelyn , lIa and Polly
Estill, Winnie Shiach, May, Edna and Ellen Standish,
Mary and Bernice Eckersley. The war came, the men
left and most of the girls married.
Priddis VS. Millarville, 1932.
Girls' Ball team ca. 1936.
66
J. Big Plume family and their home during the 90's.
Courtesy of the Glenbow·Alta. Institute
St. George's Roman Catholic Church, Sarcee Reserve. Built 1910 and
replaced by "Our Lady of Peace" near the east end in 1963.
405
At the Sarcee Indian Agency Office about 1935. Back row, L. to R.:
George Heaven Fire, Dick Starlight, Chicken Many Wounds (killed
overseas, 2nd WW), Alex Bull, Dick Night, Robert Poor Eagle, David One
Spot, Pat Grasshopper, Narcisse Pipestem. Centre row: Dick Big Plume,
George Big Plume, Jim Simeon, Jack Waters, Two Guns, Dr. Murray
(agent), Joe Big Plume (chief 1920-46), Tom Many Horses, Peter Many
Wounds, Wolf, Tom Heaven Fire. Front row: John Whitney, Tony
Crowchief, The Otter, Running in the Middle.
Grave of Roached Mane near the Cow Camp, 1915.
Early sports day on Priddis flat.
Pupils and congregation at the Anglican Mission during the 1890's.
Courtesy of the Glenbow·Alta. Institute