
Our History

History: The Medicine Hat Legend
Reprinted from the October 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Medicine Hat Legend By Mary Terrill, Medicine Hat, Alta. ‘Discovery of the oldest known record of the Medicine Hat legend has, in this writer’s opinion, settled for all time three controversial questions which have harassed the city for the last few years. They are: How did Medicine Hat come by its unique name; which […] Read more

History: Barbecuing Beef
Reprinted from the September 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
By Harry J. Hargrave, co-ordinator, Range Research, Lethbridge, Alberta There are few menus for outdoor summer gatherings that are more appropriate or more tasty than barbecued beef. Properly barbecued beef has a distinctive flavour which apparently cannot be secured by other means of preparation and it carries a lot of appetite appeal for crowds both […] Read more

History: Ad McPherson, Oldtimer of ’69, Pt.2
Reprinted from the November 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Ad McPherson, Oldtimer of ’69 (concluding installment) By W.M. Bleasdell Cameron, Meadow Lake, Sask. ‘One winter Ad teamed up with Charlie Smith to go “wolfing” at Big Valley, the location of the present town of that name. Beside provisions, their outfit included among other things their rifles, tools, duffle, moccasins, bedding and an enormous supply […] Read more

History: Ad McPherson, Oldtimer of ’69, Pt.1
Reprinted from the October 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Ad McPherson, Oldtimer of ’69 By W.M. Bleasdell Cameron, Meadow Lake, Sask. ‘On a hot July day in 1881 I dropped into a wooden restaurant in the wooden town of Winnipeg and sat down at a wooden table with a magenta cover. Opposite me sat a compactly-built, red-faced man of medium height who somehow reminded […] Read more

History: Were chuckwagon races first introduced at Calgary rodeos?
Reprinted from the October 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
‘The Corral’ By Guy Weadick, High River, Alta. ‘”To settle a controversy regarding chuckwagon races, can you help us out? A. says that chuckwagon races were first introduced at rodeos at Calgary. B. claims they were on programs at other shows before Calgary had them. If they were run at other places before Calgary, can […] Read more

History: Fred Walker of Twelve Mile
Reprinted from the October 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
History: Fred Walker of Twelve Mile By Sara Emerald Nelson, Manyberries, Alta. ‘One story, really “one for the books” when it comes to quoting the by-gone prices paid for cattle, is clearly imprinted in Fred Walker’s memory. This story entails quite a number of “firsts” – for it was staged at the first annual bull sale […] Read more

History: Some Memories of The Old “76”
Reprinted from the September 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Some Memories of The Old “76” By Mrs. S. E. Warren, Vauxhall, Alta. ‘”The Old 76″… the very name is suggestive of adventure. It echoes richly with that romance which always clings to what is definitely past. There are a few in the fast-thinning ranks of old timers who still remember it in all its […] Read more

History: Early Days of Medicine Hat
Reprinted from the September 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Early Days of Medicine Hat By W.H. McKay, Calgary, Alta. ‘Several people have asked me to write a story of Medicine Hat, its early days and early residents. The following is my effort to comply with their request. I hope it will do for them to read until someone comes along who is better qualified […] Read more

History: Killers to Respect
Reprinted from the September 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Killers to Respect J.H. Reid, Cardston, Alta. ‘No one could even approximate the number of reindeer, caribou, moose, buffalo, mountain sheep, elk and deer which have been destroyed by wolves in recent years in this enormous area, but the figures must be staggering. That the wolves are moving south is in itself some proof that the […] Read more

History: Billy Henry of the Open Range
Reprinted from the September 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Billy Henry of the Open Range By Guy Weadick, High River, Alta. ‘The historic era of the open cattle ranges of the West with its cattlemen, cowboys, trail herds, wagon bosses, roundups, chuckwagons, cooks, horse wranglers, remudas and cavies have for years been the subject upon which fiction writers, motion picture producers, rodeo managements and […] Read more