Recent research has unearthed three individuals nearly obliterated by time.

One of the early pioneers of the Summerview District was that of the Augustus & Emma Ritchie Family, where they resided for nearly two decades from 1904 to 1923.

The historical contributions of women in the ranching industry have not been told as often as they should have been. One such sterling local illustration was that of Mary Elizabeth Sharp who with her family operated a ranch south of Pincher Creek.

Tom Scott loved nature, fishing and hunting as well as good books and poetry. His philosophies were “If you own a yeller dog, own him outright”, “It’s always the fellow who is a doer who gets the criticism from the non-doer” and “This (Pincher Creek) is God’s Country”.

TRAVELLING ACROSS THE AMERICAN FRONTIER, BY THE LATE 1860S, BILL LEE VENTURED ONTO THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIES AND WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NAMING OF SOME OF OUR PLACE NAMES.

This step back into time takes a look at the frontier contributions of three pioneers from the Pincher Creek area.

The Lebel family left a lifetime of commitment to the community, and a legacy of spectacular architecture.

As to the rest of us Langs that Bob and Bessie left behind, I guess it best be left to the next generation to write a little about our exploits if they are worth relating, but somehow I don’t think we will measure up too well when we think of how little they had outside of courage, guts and humour to conquer great distances, hardships and all the rest that went with a pioneer’s life.

Alexander Beere was a pioneer of the Spring Ridge District

Mary McLaughlin came to Alberta for a visit, and stayed to build a legacy.

By Farley Wuth, Curator,
Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village
Copyright, Pincher Creek & District Historical Society