COCHRANE— Well, this Thursday Tack and Tales is bittersweet for me, Cochrane as I have to bid farewell for a little while to tend to a little human that's been growing in my belly for the past nine months. In the time being, I hope you make out OK without Tack and Tales, and I hope I make out OK with this new addition to the family. With all that being said, here comes one final Tack and Tale from Stockmen's Memorial Foundation.
This week, the story of the very talented stonemason, William Camden.
William Camden was born in England and would come over to Canada, more specifically the Winnipeg area as a young boy. He travelled back to his native land in his later years returning back to Canada in 1912 with a pretty accessory around his arm, his wife. The pair landed in Calgary and William quickly got to working in his trade as a stonemason and stonecutter.
"He was an amazing stonemason, unfortunately he didn't pass a lot of that stonemason or carpentry down to me," chuckled grandson Cam William Camden.
Talented in his profession, William played a significant role in constructing many buildings in the Calgary area. His craft became an in-demand treasure sought after by many as he helped build King George School in Calgary and would later receive a request from one of Alberta's first prominent politicians, Charles Fisher. At the time, Mr. Fisher like I mentioned in another Tack and Tale, was erecting a mansion for his wife on the Cochrane Hill. He was known to have brought over some of the best stonemasons from England to help with its construction and must have got wind that William was one of the finest around, insisting for his hand.
Here in Cochrane, a few other buildings were crafted by the talented hands of William including many fireplaces in various homes throughout Exshaw and Banff. After the Fisher Block burned down he helped construct Andison's Store and was even called upon by the Kerfoot family to build a memorial for a family member whom they lost in World War II.
Some interesting information about the Camden brand. William had four children, George, Elsie, Cyril and Doris.
"The brand that was on the farm originally was a Reverse G W over a Half Diamond," said Cam William Camden. "That would have been the brand that was on the farm when my mom and dad (Cyril and Mildred) took it over in about 1955."
William's son Cyril registered a cattle brand in 1956 which is read 3 over C and placed on the right hip. The 3 over C brand was chosen with Cyril's children in mind explained son Cam William Camden. At the time his mother and father registered the brand they had three children. A year later, in 1957 Cam William was born and had they registered it then the brand might have been 4 over C to signify the four children. Either way, Cyril and Mildred passed down their 3 over C brand to their son Cam William who has since passed the 3 Over C brand to his son Travis Camden, and passed down the original Reverse G W over a Half Diamond to his other son Kyle Camden.
"Once we gave the two brands to the kids for the history, we registered a C Diamond H," explains Cam William Camden.
Cam William recalls his grandfather as being a very quiet, very English and very traditional man.
"He used to make dandelion wine and we used to pick all the dandelions for him," laughed Cam. "We used to get paid 25 cents to pick dandelions. That was his thing."
