Unpredictable school schedules are not only a recent phenomena; they were common in the past, too. In particular, rural areas (such as those in today’s Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park) were susceptible to schooling disruptions due to inclement weather, inadequate funding, teacher unavailability, or insufficient student numbers. Some upper-class Glenbow families in the early 1900s avoided… Continue reading Governesses
Category: Women’s History
Ethel / Anna Uphoff
Miss Uphoff wafts briefly through the history of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park like a ghost. She appears out of nowhere, suffers a tragic accident, and then vanishes from the historic record. Even her true name is unknown. On Thursday night, 21 March 1912, Miss Uphoff was travelling with her sister — Nellie — aboard the… Continue reading Ethel / Anna Uphoff
Blytha Copeman Pearkes
Constance Blytha Copeman Pearkes, who was born at Glenbow on 18 March 1902, led “an extraordinary life” due to “her wit, good humour and positive attitude” — and a bit of good luck. In 1900, William and Edith Copeman, left England and purchased Waverley Ranch (now in the centre of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park). During… Continue reading Blytha Copeman Pearkes
Betty & Currey Wearmouth
Parenting is never easy, but can you imagine what it was like a century ago? Currey and Betty Wearmouth had the largest family in Glenbow, and Betty rose to the challenge. In 1910, when Currey returned to Glenbow to work at the quarry, he was accompanied by Betty and their first baby, Stennard. Their house… Continue reading Betty & Currey Wearmouth
Gertrude de la Vergne Tanner
In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, this blog entry features Gertrude de la Vergne. In the 1920s, Gertrude worked to “Break the Bias” (this year’s IWD theme) by proving that women could excel in adventurous new fields. Gertrude was born in New York, but was essentially raised on Glenbow’s Millionaire Hill. She… Continue reading Gertrude de la Vergne Tanner
Marion Moodie
Marion Moodie, one of the earliest residents in the area that is now Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, epitomizes the Albertan nurse — a devoted and essential professional. From the age of 12, Marion wanted to be a nurse. In 1891, when she was 24, her family moved from Quebec to Glenbow. On their isolated ranch,… Continue reading Marion Moodie