Category: Glenbow

Winter Sport

The stoneworkers of Glenbow Quarry (which was located in today’s Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park) experienced a chinook in mid-December 1909 and they decided to make the most of the warm weather. A special charity football match (soccer to us) was scheduled for Christmas Day. Admission was 35 cents, with proceeds going to the widow of… Continue reading Winter Sport

The Gift of Glenbow

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is a beautiful ecological preserve where the past meets the present, with native grasslands and wetlands, abundant wildlife, and unique historical resources. Its striking  mountain views and wide open spaces make a lasting impression on visitors. Senior citizens who spent their youth surrounded by plants and animals repeatedly tell me that… Continue reading The Gift of Glenbow

Remembrance Day: The Norris Family

Although the Norris family homesteaded and farmed in the Glendale District, they had a notable impact on Glenbow, which was located in today’s Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. They also made a significant contribution to Canada’s armed forces. Thomas Henry Norris and his son Arthur came to Canada from England in 1903, arriving in Alberta the… Continue reading Remembrance Day: The Norris Family

Frank Coombs

When researching the history of Glenbow village, the ghost town at the centre of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, I inevitably ran into dead ends. Admittedly, it is impossible to know every detail of any particular person’s life. However, sometimes the tantalizing trace of a Glenbow resident still haunts me. Such was the case with Frank… Continue reading Frank Coombs

Ghosts of Glenbow

Join Shari on June 3, for her talk entitled ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ which will be the third presentation in the Cochrane’s Hidden History series, sponsored by the Cochrane Historical & Archives Preservation Society. Come hear stories not previously revealed – either in Shari’s book or otherwise. Those familiar with her work will be… Continue reading Ghosts of Glenbow

Isabella Sarah Gillespie 

The exploits of powerful men form the basis of recorded history, while the life experiences of other groups, such as people with disabilities, are often neglected. This skews our view of the past, since in reality, many people face health difficulties due to genetic or infectious diseases, accidents, or aging. The former residents of Glenbow… Continue reading Isabella Sarah Gillespie 

Marion Moodie: Botanist

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 provides a great opportunity to highlight the diverse scientific endeavours of a woman who called Glenbow home. Marion Moodie’s medical career was featured here in a previous article, however she was accomplished in another scientific discipline, as well. Marion arrived in Glenbow in… Continue reading Marion Moodie: Botanist

Auld Lang Syne

At the close of 1909, the people who lived at Glenbow Quarry (located in today’s Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park) marked the New Year with a luscious turkey dinner and lively entertainment, concluding with Auld Lang Syne. More than just a traditional New Year’s Eve anthem, this song is a clue to the lives of the… Continue reading Auld Lang Syne

Evelyn Edwards

Just as in the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, each of us impacts the lives of others in vital (but sometimes forgotten) ways. Like the film’s hero George Bailey, Evelyn Edwards performed a crucial act of bravery one winter during her childhood. Evelyn was born at Glenbow in April 1912, the first child… Continue reading Evelyn Edwards