Friends of the Bar U
Box 168 T0L 1H0 Longview, AB, Canada

The foothills community was saddened and hundreds gathered to honour the founder of the Calgary Stampede this month in 1953. American showman Guy Weadick passed away on December 13 at the age of 68 and on December 22 his favourite horse Snip led the funeral procession followed by her new foal Miss Weadick from the Memorial Center in High River to the cemetery with Guy’s boots reversed in the stirrups. He was laid to rest beside his wife Florence. The bridle was a gift from... the Prince of Wales; the saddle a gift from the Big 4 founders of the Calgary Stampede including the Bar U’s George Lane. He was a tireless promoter of western culture and the foothills of southern Alberta. He and his wife made this area home from 1919-1950. His headstone epitaph: "Guy George Weadick, founder of the Calgary Stampede and loyal son of his adopted west." Calgary Herald Archives (We're not sure who is holding Snip.) See more

‘Twas a Great Victory exclaimed the High River Times on this date 100 years ago. An overwhelming majority voted in favour of creating the High River Municipal Hospital which was officially opened almost exactly a year later on November 15, 1921 and through various renovations served our community until the new hospital opened in 1982. Four rural polls did return a negative vote including our district of Pekisko. From the news coverage at the time it seems that passions were high. Bar U owner George Lane who was openly opposed to the scheme, evicted two businessmen who were staunch supporters from his Lane Block complex in High River after the results were announced! Pictured is the South Fork Trading Post which served as a polling booth for the district for many years.

A foggy morning in the foothills. Mark your calendars. 90 days from now we will be getting some moisture (probably snow but it could be more fog). Really. It's usually accurate!

It’s Eb Johnson’s birthday! Everett C Johnson, a former Bar U foreman was born in 1858. It’s believed that Owen Wister, the author of the famous western novel The Virginian, based his main character on Johnson. Johnson had encountered Wister while working on a U.S. ranch. He came to southern Alberta in 1888 and started working on the Bar U. In the 1890’s, he hired a friend to break horses on the ranch called Harry Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid. The Kid stood up for Johnson at his wedding in Calgary. Johnson ended up running a butcher shop in Cochrane before retiring to Calgary in 1923. He passed away in 1946 and is buried at Queens Park Cemetery. Johnsons descendants still ranch in the Cochrane area.

December in the foothills.

One this date in 1906, one of the first severe winter snowstorms of the season slashed across the Canadian prairies. The Killing Winter of 1906 -07 changed a way of life almost as quickly as the disappearance of the Bison. Following the deadly season, the open range era of ranching ended and cattlemen started to fence in their land and bring their charges closer to home to feed and look after. The foothills of southern Alberta were spared the worst effects but it’s guesstimated George Lane lost about 1,000 head with a value of 23 thousand dollars. Pictured, the headquarters of the Bar U about a decade later with a full feed rack ready to depart and some scattered animals at home.

It's Friday the 13th! Keep the tips of your horseshoe "up" so the luck doesn't run out...

December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a reminder of the importance of removing barriers . World War 1 presented a lot of disability issues to our society. Turner Valley’s Bob Carry wasn’t one to let a disability stand in his way. Born in 1894, Carry cowboyed for Pat Burns before signing up to serve in the trenches. His left leg was shattered by shrapnel in 1916 and he was fitted with a wooden prosthetic. Discharged in 1917, Bob returned home... and got back on a horse to resume ranching. In his spare time, he judged rodeo competitions. One story about Bob involves him being late for a wedding. When asked what held him up he said his horse sideswiped a tree and he broke his foot so he had to take the time to whittle a new one! Bob passed away in 1966. canadiancowboycountrymagazine.com Bob Carry near Turner Valley in 1956 See more

Lest we forget. Our neighbour Oscar Beaudry of the Eden Valley Ranch enrolled in the 12th Mounted Rifles and served in France during World War I. He returned to his beloved EV and continued to raise horses on the ranch until he sold it in 1927. This photo, dated 1904 is entitled "Bathers on the Eden Valley Ranch". Canadians then and now believe that when all else fails, we do have something worth fighting for.

Thanks for sharing Judy Dahl!

Have you noticed all the brands displayed at the Bar U in the Vistor's Information Center? Here's how you can have yours displayed as well.