Cochrane Historical Museum

06/20/2026

Back a t the start of the depression, about 1932, money was scarce as hen’s teeth. I was offered the job to ride a horse from Cochrane to Exshaw. Bob Hogarth Sr. had a hay and feed business i n Cochrane and he wanted a horse delivered to Stoney Mapsons’ dairy at Exshaw. The horse was to draw a milk wagon.

Going for Broke - CHAPS

It was once owned by the late Boney Thompson. Boney was a bronc rider of note, arriving in the Cochrane area in the early 1900s and fatally injured by a horse in 1921. The good book, Red Saddle Blankets, written by G.J. Fuller and researched by Dorothy Edge.

06/13/2026

When health starts to sneak away it’s time to live closer to where medical help is a little nearer to hand. Cochrane, the Grand Old Lady is our choice. Recognized still by the beauty of her rolling lush hills, rushing river waters and distant beckoning mountains, Cochrane’s laidback charm is just a memory. Only the hint of a bygone era can be found in the preserved buildings and recently constructed replicas. Most of the buildings and landmarks three decades past have been pushed aside by trendy boutiques, tourist shops and upscale cafes. Our quaint little cow town has become a small bustling city of urban sophistication.

Pickup Family - CHAPS

During the invasion, Dad went to France in 1944 with 2nd Tactical Air Force, 439 Squadron. He serviced Hawker Hurricanes and Typhoon fighter bombers in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Dad returned to England after V.E. Day June 6, 1945.

06/12/2026

RETROactive Live

Welcome to the homepage for RETROactive Live: the Alberta Heritage Speaker Series. Coming to you from the historic Old St. Stephen’s College on the University of Alberta campus, RETROactive li…

06/11/2026

Join us for our next CHAPS Members’ Meeting as we welcome Matthew Bailey for a fascinating presentation on one of the most exciting chapters in Cochrane’s early history.

⚡ Cochrane’s Energy Story: 1910–1920

📅 Wednesday, June 17
🕡 7:00 PM
Cochrane Historical Museum

This promises to be an engaging evening of local history, bringing to life a period when innovation, resource development, and community ambition helped shape the Cochrane we know today.

06/06/2026

John Anderton was the brother of Mary (Brooks/Aarsby). He joined the Air force in 1942 was a flight sergeant during the Second World War. John was the mid gunner of the aircraft that was shot down over France on June 11, 1944

John Anderton - CHAPS

John was the mid gunner of the aircraft that was shot down over France on June 11, 1944. His name is engraved on the Cochrane Cenotaph

05/30/2026

The country castle (Retreat) was a beautiful place, and the saskatoons that grew on the hills, I can just taste them now! I would dearly love to climb those hills and pick berries again.

Memories - CHAPS

The theatre was in the Elks' Hall and the movie was usually a surprise; it seldom showed the picture that was advertised, there were always breakdowns, but when you heard a cheer from the audience, especially the younger folk, the show would flash on and it was well worth waiting…

05/23/2026

📸 HELP US SOLVE A LOCAL HISTORY MYSTERY 📸

We’re looking for more information about this tragic newspaper clipping featuring Mrs. Ralph Rueger, a Calgary woman who was killed by a train near Seebe in what appears to be the late 1940s or early 1950s.

The article states that Mrs. Rueger was standing on a railway bridge watching her husband fish when she was struck by a CPR passenger train near Seebe. She was only 26 years old and left behind her husband Ralph and young son Kelvin James.

We would love to learn more about:

• The exact date of the accident
• Where the railway bridge was located near Seebe
• Any family connections to the Rueger or Riebel families
• Memories, photographs, or additional newspaper articles
• Information about fishing, railway activity, or travel in the Seebe area at the time

Stories like this help preserve the human history of our Bow Valley communities and the people who lived, worked, and travelled here.

If you have any information, please comment below or contact CHAPS or the Cochrane Historical Museum.

05/23/2026

Around 1909, they needed more storage and the brick part of the store was built. About this time a petition for a Post Office was presented with the name Bottrel submitted and accepted.

Bottrel Store - CHAPS

Ollie remembered the hardships of hauling groceries after snow falls, plowing through snow that was higher than a cattle truck and also getting home with a load of groceries after a rain. There was very little gravel on the roads and they were not built up.

05/22/2026

A wonderful evening at the Cochrane Historical Museum as members and guests gathered for Gordon Davies’ presentation, The Social Life of Cochrane in the Early Days.

The room was full as attendees enjoyed stories, memories, and fascinating glimpses into how Cochrane residents connected, celebrated, and built community in years gone by. Thank you to Gordon for sharing his research and passion for local history, and to everyone who came out to support CHAPS and the Museum.

It’s evenings like this that keep Cochrane’s history alive and bring our community together.

05/16/2026

A big thank you to Cochrane Home Treasures. Cochrane Home Treasures