Dr. Andrew Park has been mentioned in some of my history stories as being the first resident doctor in Cochrane. When my curiosity about this man led me to research his story, I was amazed at all his accomplishments.
Andrew Park was born on July 2, 1879, in Durham, Ont. After he completed school, he became a teacher for two years and then attended McGill University in Montreal to become a doctor.
After he graduated in 1904 he travelled to Calgary to write his exam to be licensed to practice medicine in the Northwest Territories (Alberta was not part of the Confederation of Canada until 1905). While he was waiting for his exam results he started looking around for a place to set up his practice.
Once he saw the view of the mountains from the top of the Cochrane hill, his decision was made.
Years later, after travelling to many places in the world, he still said “there was no view to equal the view from the Cochrane hill.”
From 1904 to 1906 Dr. Park lived on the second floor of the hotel in Cochrane, however, his office was on the second floor of the Fisher Block. At first he would ride his horse to visit patients because there were no proper roads; then he changed to a horse and buggy so he could carry more medical supplies; and finally he was the proud owner of one of the first cars in Cochrane, a McLaughlin, later called a McLaughlin-Buick. His territory was large; it included Cochrane and surrounding area. The federal government also appointed him as doctor in charge of the Morley Reserve.
In 1906 he went back to Durham to marry his sweetheart, Amelia Meredith, who was born in Durham the same year as he was, and had also taught school there.
Dr. Park bought a house which was just built by James Quigley prior to their marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Park lived there from 1906 until 1918.
A facility was badly needed for patients requiring hospital care, so when Mr. and Mrs. Davies were building a new house in Cochrane in 1909, Dr. Park asked them to add an additional wing to their home to serve as a hospital. Margaret Davies had been a nurse in England and could assume the role of Matron. Her daughter, Annie Beynon, also had nursing training. The Davies home, now designated as a museum, was moved to the Cochrane Ranche Historic Park this past summer.
In 1915, after training at Sarcee in Calgary, Dr. Park enlisted with the Eighth Field Ambulance as a medical officer in England and was later stationed in France. Mrs. Park and their little daughter, Lorna, stayed in Cochrane during his absence.
Dr. and Mrs. Park enjoyed living in Cochrane and were both quite active in the community here. Dr. Park was a worshipful master of the King Solomon Masonic Lodge and Mrs. Park was the organist at Saint Andrew’s Church.
When he was discharged from the army in 1918, Dr. Park became a medical officer for the Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment (now called Veterans Affairs Canada) and subsequently moved his family to Calgary.
In the 1920s to the early 1930s Dr. Park became the chief medical officer of the Colonel Belcher Hospital.
Later he became the Calgary district administrator for Veterans Affairs Canada until his retirement in 1946. He continued to live in Calgary until his death in 1962. Dr. Park was predeceased by his wife, Amelia, in 1960.
As quoted by their daughter Lorna “…the happiest years of their lives were the years in Cochrane.”
