The Claresholm and District Museum is located in our historic sandstone railway station. The museum had its beginnings with a small display that was set up for the fair. This was very popular, and discussion began about using the items as the nucleus for a local museum. The Canadian Pacific Railway station, which had closed in 1965, was leased for a small sum and items were gathered to display some of our early history.

The Claresholm railway station has a special history of its own in addition to having served our community for over fifty years.  About 1910 the Canadian Pacific Railway decided that Calgary needed a larger station. The sandstone station on the Center Street site in Calgary was carefully dismantled, block by block, and in 1912 half of the reclaimed blocks were used to build our station here in Claresholm. (The other blocks were used to build a new station in High River.)  Our station served the community until 1965 when passenger service was discontinued. This impressive structure has not lost any of its former grandeur, and we are dedicated to its preservation. The station was designated a Provincial Historic Resource in November 2004.

Our railway station played a central role in the life of Claresholm and district. During the years as an active railway station, thousands of people used the station - early settlers, business men, travelers. During World War I our boys left for the army from the station. The local band and crowds of friends welcomed home our returning soldiers. The station also saw our young people go off to war again in the1940's. Between 1941 and 1945, groups of young men from England, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada arrived by train to learn to fly at the airport west of Claresholm (No. 15 Service Training Flying School). Every few weeks new courses arrived and the graduating courses left. Permanent air force personnel also arrived at the station. After 1945 the activity at the station returned to normal, until the airport was re-activated in 1951 to train N. A. T. O. pilots from England, France, Holland, England, for example, as well as from Canada. Once again the station was a very busy place, and this lasted until the airport closed in 1958. However, by that time cars and trucks had changed the way people traveled, and train travel decreased until the C. P. R. decided to close the station. It was a sad day to witness the demise of an institution that had played such an important part in the life of our town.

As Claresholm’s museum, our beautiful sandstone station is again an important part of our community. The interesting historic displays celebrate our ranching and farming heritage, highlight important events of our past and honour the people  who helped our community grow. Louise McKinney, one of the Famous Five and a social reformer, was a Claresholm resident. Claresholm’s part in both World Wars is also recognized. Photographs and artifacts are used to tell about the men and women from other parts of Canada and the young men from other countries who came to R. C. A. F. Station Claresholm during the 1940's and 1950's to train as pilots. Our community has a rich and unique history.  By telling the stories of our residents we give them a voice, and they take their part in the fabric of the Canadian story.

The Claresholm and District Museum also has Claresholm’s first school, a historic log cabin, a C. P. R. caboose and the Louise McKinney Memorial Gardens.    

CLARESHOLM’S FIRST SCHOOL
Claresholm’s original one-room school, built in January 1903 on land a couple of blocks east of the station, was donated to the museum by the Willow Creek School Division and relocated to the museum site in 1967. This small school had served Claresholm for just a few years. Claresholm grew rapidly, from one family in 1901 to about eight hundred people in 1905, and a much larger school was soon needed. In 1907 the new Claresholm Public School was completed on Second Street West and 55^th Avenue. It was an impressive three story brick building, with two floors of classrooms and an auditorium on the third floor. The little one-room school was then sold to the Prairieville School District, and moved to a site eighteen miles north east of Claresholm. It served as the Prairieville School until school centralization in 1939, Like all rural schools, it was also used by the community for church services and as a community hall, uses that continued until it was donated to the Claresholm Museum. Today, Claresholm’s first school, appropriately furnished, re-creates the atmosphere of an early rural school. 

MODEL “T” SCHOOL BUS
The museum has another important piece of our local educational history. The first museum board acquired the Ruby School District bus, believed to be the first motorized school bus in Canada. In February 1916, tax payers in the Ruby district, which was adjacent to the town to the west, voted to use a school bus to take their children into Claresholm instead of building their own school. That first bus was a horse drawn wagon driven by Ray Wilhite. The route went west from Claresholm for four miles, two miles north, then four miles east and a mile south to the school. In April 1918 the Ruby School District ordered a Model “T” chassis from Claresholm Garage Ltd. and a custom-made wooden body from a company in Calgary. This bus was used from 1918 to 1938 when it was traded in on a new panel truck. After the museum acquired the bus, it was on display for a few years, then put into storage to preserve it. The bus will be on display once again when the new expansion building is completed in 2007. 

HERITAGE LOG CABIN
In 1977 the Willow Creek Historical Association donated a log cabin to the museum. The log cabin was built in the late 1920's by Bard Critoph on his farm a few miles southwest of Claresholm near Willow Creek. In 1960 Dick and Jessie Mouser, owners of the land at that time, donated the cabin to the newly formed Willow Creek Historical Association to be used as the society’s museum. In 1976 the historical association decided that the cabin would reach a wider audience if it was placed on the museum site. The log cabin, appropriately furnished, now serves as an interpretive display that illustrates an earlier time in our history.  In 2003 restoration work was completed to replace many of the logs that had severely deteriorated, thus preserving this important part of our heritage for many more years.  

LOUISE MCKINNEY - SOCIAL ACTIVIST
Louise McKinney, a Claresholm resident, was a life long champion of women’s welfare. Louise and her husband James came to Claresholm in 1903. She was very active in the community, helping to get a Methodist Church built in Claresholm. She was also an organizer for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in Western Canada. Always interested in the welfare of women and children, Mrs. McKinney naturally took an interest in politics. In May 1917 she allowed her name to be put forward at a nomination meeting for the Non-Partisan League, a group with no affiliation to any of the established parties.

On election day Mrs. McKinney was elected to be the new representative from Claresholm, and became the first woman to sit in a legislature in the British Empire. Soon she became known as one of the most able debaters in the Assembly. One of her major projects was to improve the antiquated legal status of widows and separated wives. With the help of Mrs. Henrietta Muir Edwards of Macleod, a bill was drafted and passed to become the Dower Act, one of Alberta’s most progressive laws. 

Defeated in her second election, Mrs. McKinney was satisfied to retire from active politics. However, she continued to be actively involved in her community, her church, and with the W. C. T. U. She and her husband supported the Church Union Movement, and she was a delegate to the final Methodist General Conference in 1925, then attended the first General Council of the United Church of Canada. She signed the Basis of Union as one of the commissioners, the only woman from western Canada to do so.

In August 1927, she joined with Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung and Irene Parlby, and signed a petition to ask “whether the Canadian Government had the power to appoint a female to the Senate, and if it didn’t, what might be done” (p. 45, The Famous Five by Nancy Millar) When their petition was denied, these women appealed the decision to the British Privy Council, the highest court of appeal for Canada under the British North America Act. On October 18, 1929, the decision was handed down that women were persons in the B. N. A. Act and therefore could be appointed to the Senate.

In June 1931, Mrs. McKinney attended the national W.C.T.U. conference in Toronto. As acting president, she chaired many of the sessions. At the conference she was elected first vice president of the World W.C.T.U.

While in Toronto, Mrs. McKinney became ill. Returning home, her condition worsened, and she died on July 10, 1931. At her funeral on July 15^th, over 100 W. C. T. U. members from all over Canada sat as a block in the packed church.

In 1938 a plaque honoring her achievements was unveiled in the hall next to the Senate Chamber in Ottawa. On June 13, 1947 a memorial plaque to Louise McKinney was placed on the front of the post office in Claresholm. On August 14,1980 a Remembrance Cairn was unveiled at the Claresholm Museum, and in 1990 the museum gardens were named the Louise McKinney Memorial Gardens.

The Famous Five Foundation commissioned a sculpture to honor the five Alberta women who fought to have women recognized as persons. The sculpture, which depicted the five women celebrating their success, was unveiled on Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary on October 18, 1999. In 2000, a replica was unveiled in Ottawa. The Famous Five were also honored on the fifty dollar bill in 2004.  

NO. 15 SERVICE TRAINING FLYING SCHOOL, R. C. A. F. STATION CLARESHOLM
Claresholm was the site of a Service Flying Training School, one of such schools built under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in the early 1940's. Construction began on the Claresholm airport in October 1940, preparing the site, erecting five large hangers, and all the necessary buildings needed for the school. There was a great urgency to have the airport operational as soon as possible, and hundreds of men worked with the construction companies. On March 25^th 1941, the Bennett & White Construction Company crew raised the fabricated framework of a standard size hanger in 7 hours 45 minutes, reported to be a new record time.

As crews worked overtime to complete the airport, Wing Commander Hugh Campbell, the first commanding officer arrived on the Station June 26^th  to take over active command. Hundreds of men arrived and the number of planes seen in the air increased. The strength of the School included 47 R. C. A. F. officers, 401 R. C. A. F. airmen, 30 trainees, and 38 civilians.

Operations started on June 9^th 1941 with a class of about forty young Canadian men arriving to continue their training. As a Service Training Flying School, advanced flying was taught using the twin-engine Avro-Anson and the Cesna Crane. The course provided 75 to100 hours of flying, hours that included night flying, navigational flight, advanced aerobatics in conjunction with a comprehensive ground school course. Most of the graduates would go on to be bomber pilots overseas, some would become instructors here in Canada to train more pilots.

On August 16^th 1941, No. 15 Service Flying Training School was officially opened by His Honor Lieutenant Governor J. C. Bowen. Air Commodore Cowley of District 4 Training Command presented the flying badges to the first graduating class. Several thousand people were on hand to mark this event. That evening the Town of Claresholm hosted a banquet for the graduates of Course 30 and their parents.

A new class graduated about every four weeks. On October 5^th His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor and the Duchess of Windsor toured the facilities at the air base. The Duke inspected the Honor Guard, and received the Royal Salute from the paraded station personnel. After a short address he presented the flying badges to the third graduating class.

On November 5^th more than ninety percent of the fourth graduating class were American volunteers. In late November Wing Commander Campbell was transferred to Ottawa, and Wing Commander W. E. Kennedy took over as commanding officer of No. 15 S.F.T.S.  The training classes now began to include English student pilots.

By 31 January 1942 the Service Flying Training School’s establishment included 84 officers, 1169 airmen, 150 trainees and 63 civilians. The aircraft included 47 Avro Ansons and 70 Cessna Cranes.

On February 23, 1942 a party of 62 of the R.C.A.F.(Women’s Division) arrived in Claresholm, having completed their training in eastern Canada. Their duties would include those of cooks, clerk accountants, general duties, telephonists and motor transport drivers. Assistant Section Officer Elizabeth Bie and Sergeant Margaret Sanderson had arrived the previous week to get things in readiness for the arrival of the main party.

Life at the Station settled down to a regular routine. Courses came and went with clock work precision. The majority of the student pilots continued to come from Canada, but there were also many from the United States and England. Later there would large numbers from New Zealand and Australia.

On May 1943 His Excellency The Earl of Athlone, Governor General of Canada and his wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Alice visited the Station. After a tour of the station and lunch at the Officer’s mess, the graduates of Course 74 received their flying badges from the Governor General.

No. 15 S.F.T.S. continued to train pilots. The course syllabus had become more rigorous, and the graduating classes more skilled. As the war continued the training evolved to meet the changing needs of a wartime air force. The permanent staff at the Station played an important, although often forgotten role in supporting the training. Wing Commander Kennedy regularly reminded the graduating classes of their contribution. For example on May 21, 1942 he is quoted in the Local Press stating “The staff of these schools are the main stay of our continued war effort in the air, and they deserve our full measure of recognition and praise for their efforts.”        In January 1944 the personnel strength of No. 15 S.F.T.S. consisted of 126 Staff Officers, 5 WD Officers, 722 Airmen, 204 WD Airwomen, 296 Trainees, 10 Service Personnel other than RCAF and 75 civilians. Two more hangars were built and many other alterations and improvements were made, for example the addition of a bowling alley.

As the war moved toward its end, Wing Commander, now Group Captain Kennedy was posted to Eastern Command. Wing Commander Gladden took over command of No. 15 S.F.T.S.

The Wings Parade on March 29^th, 1945 was the final graduation as Courses 121 and 122 received their wings, a total of 122 airmen. These were the 34^th and 35^th Courses to graduate here. Station staff members were posted elsewhere, the Station was being readied for closure. No. 15 S.F.T.S. officially closed on August 10, 1945. In the four years between 1941 and 1945 about 1800 young men received their pilot’s wings at R.C.A.F. Station Claresholm. 

NO. 3. SERVICE TRAINING FLYING SCHOOL
The years after World War II did not bring the peace the world hoped for.  On July 1,  1951 the former No. 15 S.F.T.S. re-opened as No. 3 S.F.T.S., with the express purpose of training pilots for N.A.T.O. The advance party arrived on 18 June 1951 under Squadron Leader A. Morrison. Temporary command was assumed by Squadron Leader T. W. O’Brien on 3 July 1951. With the arrival of more of the permanent staff, Group Captain Sampson was appointed commanding officer of No. 15 S.F.T.S., and took over command in mid-August.

On September 10, 1951, Group Captain D. G. Price took over as Commanding Officer of No. 3 F.T.S. Members of the Claresholm Town Council, heads of town organizations and other prominent citizens attended a reception at the Officer’s mess to welcome the new commanding officer.

The first group of flight cadets arrived at R.C.A.F. Station Claresholm in the latter part of August. Twenty-five Canadian cadets were already at Claresholm when the 25 English cadets arrived from London, Ontario where they had completed the initial portion of their training. Their new home was Barrack Block No. 14,  joining the Canadian cadets already in residence. The Station was still being restored to operational levels, so this first Course had to cope with limited facilities and a flying field in disrepair.

Flying training started on the second week of September. The state of the apron and runways were a problem, but the airfield at Fort Macleod was made available for take-offs and landings. Slowly conditions at No. 3 F.T.S. improved as the cadets worked hard to master flying the Harvard aircraft. 

On October 12, a Public Reception honoring the personnel of No. 3 F.T.S. was held in the auditorium of the Claresholm High School. The local residents and guests from the R.C.A.F. who filled the  auditorium enjoyed a variety show followed by refreshments. Group Captain Price expressed thanks to Claresholm for the warm welcome.

The second intake of Canadian and Royal Air Force cadets arrived in early November 1951, becoming 30 Course, 2 Squadron. As the senior flight, 28 Course had to provide a squadron commander, flight commanders, adjutant and discipline officer for the new squadron.

The cadets quickly settled into the training routine. For the first two weeks at Claresholm, the cadets attended daily ground school. They then spent 28 weeks on half day ground school and half days flying. In the last segment of their course they spent the full day flying.

On Thursday May 1, 1952  Wing Commander W.B. Hodgson, DFC, CD took over command of R.C.A.F. Station Claresholm from W/C Gilmore, AFC.  W/C Hodgson come from Rivers, Manitoba where he had been the Chief Administrative Officer.

The first class to graduate from No. 3 F.T.S. (Course No. 28 with 15 of the 30 cadets from the Royal Air Force) received their wings May 8, 1952. This was the first graduating class of a NATO course from an R.C.A.F. Flight Training School. To mark the significance of this graduation, RCAF Headquarters, Ottawa assigned Air Commodore W. W. Brown, C. D. to present the pilot’s wings. Pilot Officer Rhind of Scotland received the Honor Scroll for obtaining the highest marks in the school. Pilot Officer Glover of Red Deer, Alberta received the Siddley trophy for highest marks in flying. 

The second wings parade was held on June 19^th when the 37 cadets (16 from the RAF) of Course No. 30 graduated.  On July 30^th the eleven Canadian and nineteen Royal Air Force cadets of Course No. 32 graduated. Another impressive parade on September 14^th marked the graduation of Course 34, the fourth course to graduate from No. 3 F.T.S.  New courses of cadets had arrived at No. 3 F.T.S. every six weeks, and as they completed their training, wings parades were also held every six weeks.

On November 26, 1952 Group Captain Hodgson met with a delegation from the Claresholm Men’s Club and Chamber of Commerce, the purpose of the meeting being to promote a better understanding between the Station and the citizens so that they know what is being done with their tax dollars. He explained that this knowledge would help counteract reports circulating that money was being used extravagantly on air force stations. “R.C.A.F. station Claresholm has a payroll of $2,000,000 per year and to re-activate the station cost about three-quarters of a million dollars. It took another $250,000 to rebuild the runways and make repairs to the buildings. The housing contract, which eventually will provide 150 units, was for $1,000,000.The school will cost $75,000.”

“There are seven hangars on the station housing 95 Harvards or a cool $7,000,000 in planes. To keep the station moving there is another 1/4 million in vehicles. It is estimated that present installations would run about $10,000,000.”

“Despite this staggering figure this station is most economical to run. A Jet aircraft station would cost about ten fold.”  The group of business men were then taken on a tour of the station. (from The Claresholm Local Press, November 27, 1952)

The first class containing continental European students graduated October 22,1952. The graduates represented the French Air Force, the Netherlands Air Force, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Air Commodore J. G. Kerr, CBE, A.F.C., CD, Group Commander Tactical Air Group, Edmonton presented the graduates with their wings. Air Commodore Kerr was the first Commanding Officer at No.15 S.F.T.S Claresholm in 1941. The students of Course 38 who received their wings on December 3, 1952 had the honor of being the last class to graduate from R.C.A.F. Station Claresholm. Further courses would complete their training here and leave for advanced training in other parts of Canada. There they would graduate and receive their wings.