COCHRANE– We are already half way through May, Cochrane and things are starting to look up. It has been a while since a Thursday Tack and Tale has made an appearance, so let's make things right and get to it.
This week the story of Charles Wellington Fisher, or as his son believed him to be - Mr. Cochrane.
Charles Wellington (C.W) Fisher was born on a farm in Thames Valley near London, Ontario in 1871. His family tree stemmed back to Pertshire, Scotland and after his fathers passing, Fisher ran the croft in Ontario before heading west to Cochrane in 1899.
Upon his arrival, Fisher eagerly made two purchases. One, the Merino Ranch, and two, a large business block which was more commonly referred to as the Fisher Block. This building housed the village telephone switchboard, a hardware store, a meat market, doctors' offices, a bank, and the village newspaper, among other rooms and flats. Fisher also designated a private office space for himself and there were other work areas dedicated to community and business matters.
Around 1901 Frank White sold the Merino Ranch to Fisher who then sold it to A. McPherson a few years later in pursuit of his diplomatic side.
Fisher fostered a strong interest in the political realm. He was an avid liberal supporter and always admired Sir Wilfrid Laurier, often a time quoting his incidents and phrases.
Prior to Alberta becoming a province in 1905, Fisher formed a political club. In Alberta's first election in 1906, Fisher ran for the Cochrane-Banff constituency and it came as no surprise when he won by a landslide as he had a wave of followers. He was appointed the first Speaker of the House by Albertas first Premier, Alexander Cameron Rutherford and remained in this duty until 1919.
Though his ambition to become a lawyer never came to fruition, he was an instrumental part of instating many parliamentary foundations for Alberta.
It wasn't long before Fisher laid eyes on Miss Marjorie Powell, the niece of Mr. and Mrs. Carling - a prominent brewing family. He would be tasked with showing the three around the country and a romance soon ensued. It was evident that Fisher wanted to make Powell his bride and the determined soul he was made this a reality on April 7, 1907.
Fisher was eager to build his new wife an extravagant home as he had learned about her affluent upbringing and wanted to habituate her to the west. He purchased thousands of acres north of Cochrane, including all of the Big Hill. The home sat on the west side of the commonly referred Manachaban Hill. Fisher drafted the ideal home and stonemasons were called upon from England to help with its construction. The newlyweds were known to have lived a lavish lifestyle as they had servants, maids and cooks. This made life all that much easier for his love as she quickly became accustomed to her surroundings. The colloquy around villagers stated Marjorie Fisher as the "The Duchess of Manachaban Hill."
In May of 1919, Marjorie Fisher received a telegram informing her that her husband was ill with the flu. At the time, World War I was nearing at an end and the great influenza pandemic of Spanish Flu was claiming more lives than combat had. Before Marjorie could make her way to her husband she would receive another telegram learning of his passing.
Fisher's half brother, Tom, would reside on the ranch until 1931 before selling it to a Calgary contractor. In 1940 it was purchased by Greg McConachie, president of Canadian Pacific Airlines. The home would become the famous "Just Home Ranch" before the Franciscan Order purchased it in 1949.
The once estate of Charles Fisher is now known as Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre.
