The one thing constant in this world is change.
Cochrane has seen more than its fair share of change, even though we cherish our history and try to keep the past alive. We will not forget our hard working dairy farmers and how they managed without the convenience of refrigeration in the early days.
D.M. Ratcliffe (later Brealey’s Creamery) built a creamery at the present site of Big Hill Springs Provincial Park in the 1890s, even though it was difficult to access with the surrounding steep hills. The clear, cold water served as a refrigerant for the cream and it was the first operation in Alberta to produce butter. In 1915 the Cochrane Creamery’s butter won first prize and a gold medal at the Brandon Fair, making the creamery’s butter the consumer’s choice.
Because of the difficult trails getting into Big Hill Springs, with some farmers losing their hard earned load, a farmers’ association was formed, opening the Cochrane Creamery on Highway 1A and Centre Avenue where the Shell service station used to be located.
In 1921 it was moved west, north of Highway 1A on the banks of Big Hill Creek. Jim Loughery was hired as manager when it opened. He was experienced in operating a cheese factory and creamery in Bottrel. The Lougherys purchased the creamery from the shareholders during the 1930s. Mrs. Loughery’s brother, Sam Atkhinson, would pick up cream from farmers in the Bottrel and Dogpound area; however, some farmers would deliver it themselves. Sam Loughery passed away in 1938; subsequently Irene Loughery’s nephew, Sam Peverell, purchased the creamery in 1954 after managing it for a number of years.
In 1975 the Cochrane Creamery was closed and the building sold. At this point, our agricultural industry changed its 80-year history drastically. Ranching, grain and hay operations had taken the place of small mixed farming.
In speaking to Marg Chalack, she explained, “Years ago there were dairy cows on every quarter section farm. Farmers raised pigs, chickens, milked their cows; women baked their own bread and had a big garden; they were all very self-sufficient and yet had lots of time to socialize.
“Just to mention a few dairy farmers on our road alone, were families by the name of Turner, Standring, Cox, Wearmouth, and Clifford.”
Today, Marg Chalack still owns the property on which her son David is operating Rocky Mountain Holsteins with two other partners and says, “We are the only dairy farm left within a 30 mile radius of Calgary.”
Marg added, “The oil companies coming in created much of this change. They paid well and young people were no longer available for weekend work. It’s a new world out there, no neighbourhood mix. Everyone is in such a hurry and has no time to socialize, except for social media.”
Sunni Turner stated, “There were so many dairy farmers in our area, such as John Copithorne, the three Norris brothers, Bancroft, Neilson, Berchal and many more. We had dairy cows for over 43 years, but gave them up for beef cattle in the 1980s. There were too many rules and regulations to follow, and it was very intensive work. You had to milk the cows every morning and night. The farmers could never take a holiday.”
In looking back on all of this, ‘change’ may be a good thing. It sometimes gives us more freedom to enjoy life.
