Much anticipated local history book to be released May 29

KBPV Curator Farley S. Wuth keeps a constant eye on Pincher Creek History
C. Davis file photo

• "From Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass" revised and much expanded

KBPV press release

Have you ever wondered how Pincher Creek was named? Which rancher was removed by the Hudson’s Bay Company from his picturesque foothills ranch? Who was the pioneer nearly blown off the steeple of St. Henry’s Church during the windstorm that embedded its hilltop construction into our collective folklore?


Who were some of the early settlers from the Pincher Creek area? How did these arrivals travel far distances and adapt to the harsh frontier conditions on this unique southwestern corner of the Canadian Prairies more than a century ago? Chronicles of general mercantiles, livery stables and sandstone banks are interwoven with the religious and political zeal of this third oldest surviving settlement from what was to become southern Alberta. Long ago agricultural tales from nearby localities abound with their ranching and farming roots, their rural identities often furthered with fond memories of beloved country schools, post offices, places of worship and country stores. Some even had their agrarian economies supplemented by coal mining or the logging industry.

Those half forgotten days from the Canadian frontier are indeed what pioneer history is made of. Local history buffs will rejoice in the knowledge that the much anticipated local history book for the Pincher Creek area, Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, is about to hit the streets. The latest edition of this classic from nearly forty years ago will be officially released the evening of Wednesday, May 29th here at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village. The fun filled gala evening starts at 7 p.m. with a book reading, auction of the coveted first copy and musical entertainment.

This 984 page volume chronicling the early days of the history of the Pincher Creek district has been extensively updated over the previous editions. Existing family histories have been added to and genealogies inadvertently omitted the first time around have been added. A series of community histories outlining the economic, political and cultural heritage of Pincher Creek and its outlying districts are new to this effort. The written text is accompanied by a series of visually stunning archival photographs, many of which have never published before.

This is a must read for anyone with an interest in local history! This latest effort is a limited edition print and the book is unlikely to be updated nor reprinted again in the foreseeable future. For those people who have pre-ordered this book, you will be able to pick up your copies the evening of the book launch gala. Limited additional copies of the publication may be purchased at the event for the full price of 125 dollars.

Special thanks go out to all those people who assisted with the research, writing and production of this valuable heritage work. For more information on this exciting heritage project, please contact Farley Wuth, the Curator of the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village at 403-627-3684.