Airdrie’s original cool guys

Airdrie’s Original “Cool Guys” BY LAURIE HARVEY

Airdrie pioneers all had one thing in common. They had a desire to make their own way and carve a place for themselves out of the sparsely populated West. They came to this area, knowing that there was not much but open prairies and opportunity. Most of them came here alone, leaving their wives and children behind, so they could scope out their new space and make a few first steps before bringing their families here.

The first settlers to come to the Airdrie area were William Croxford and A.E. Bowers, in 1901. They were brothers-in-law and left their families in Innisfail (known as Poplar Grove at the time) to await word on when they could come. Croxford and Bowers built the first barn and house in Airdrie; barn first and then house. They built Croxford’s house next.

A.E. Bowers took over the postal service from the Stevenson Stopping House and owned the first general store. Croxford donated part of his land to build the first church in Airdrie, after having the services in his home for a while. Bowers built and owned the first grist mill and many stock feeders came to get their grain ground up. Bower sold the hardware section of his general store to Robert Thorburn and he also started the first lumber yard with Thomas Fletcher.

“They came to this area, knowing that there was not much but open prairies and opportunity”

R. A. McDonald bought a building from a nearby farmer and moved it to a corner of Croxford’s land and used it for a boarding house; this was the beginning of the ‘Old Hotel’ on Main Street. J. Chisholm and son Finlay built a general store northwest of the old grain elevator site. They believed their location was where most of the building would take place. Instead, they found themselves underwater as Nose Creek flooded; eventually they sold their building to Farr and Jenkins and it was moved to Main Street.

Dr. W.F. Edwards came to Airdrie in 1907 and decided to settle here. Airdrie did not have a doctor at the time. Edwards wired his father in Ontario, who sent him $200. Edwards bought himself some medical equipment, a horse and buggy (he named the horse ‘Old Pilot’) and rented a building on Main Street. He was the only doctor from Irricana to Cochrane and north of Calgary, so he was a remarkably busy man. He met and married Anna McCracken, who was a school teacher at Dry Creek school. In 1918-1919 during the influenza epidemic, the doctor and his nurse, M. Kinniburgh, used the Airdrie Hotel as a hospital and treated patients there, only losing one in all the area. Edwards also owned the first ice cream and soda fountain parlour, as well as selling stationary, china and school supplies. He also owned a small dispensary with his medical practice. Dr. Edwards was Airdrie’s doctor until 1940, when he passed away from an infection.

R.J. Hawkey was the first school teacher in Airdrie. In 1906, Hawkey and his students decided to raise some money for the school. They held a concert and a box social and a large crowd showed up. The bachelors of the community were hoping to buy lunch from a young lady and many ending up eating lunch with an incredibly young student. It was with these funds raised that R.J. Hawkey ordered the school bell, which was used from 1907 until 1957. The bell now sits in the Nose Creek Valley Museum (NCVM). At the end of the First World War, Hawkey opened a bake shop, the first in Airdrie. Until 1950, R.J. Hawkey ran a dairy, was the mayor of Airdrie, worked with the school board and was the treasurer for the United Church.

The men who laid the groundwork for the city that we now live in were brave, adventurous and risk takers. They came out west to make their mark, and battled harsh climates, hard work and loneliness. They survived by collaboration with each other, relying on their families and welcoming strangers. They built a hamlet, then a village; they got involved in local events and organizations. These men held many jobs in their lifetime, one day a dairy farmer, the next day a general store owner, but what they never did was give up. We live within their footprints every day.

Visit the NCVM to learn more about Airdrie’s history! life