The Vrooms of the Foothills: Volume 2 - Cowboys & Homesteaders

Various elements affected the settlement and development of southwestern Alberta. During the early years of Canada's nationhood immigrants from Great Britain and Continental Europe had a major impact. Using photos taken between about 1885 and the early 1900's and original maps, this book tells about: Tales of old-time cowboys – "Kootenai" Brown, Lord Lionel Brooke, Bill Damon The saga of laying CPR track from Macleod, NWT to Cranbrook, BC Early social history of Cranbrook, Pincher Creek, Beaver Mines Pioneer stories of how homesteads became homes – GLADSTONE, RIVIERE, TYSON, VROOM families Klondikers' & Englishmen's stories of settling the Beaver Mines district Travelling by covered wagon from Idaho, USA, to homestead in Gladstone Valley Original map of the old trails & ghost towns of SW Alberta Original maps of the villages of Beaver Mines & Mountain Mill, AB You may see The Vrooms of the Foothills: Adventures of My Childhood, Volume 1, 2006 edition, online at http://www.trafford.com/02-0653

The Vrooms Of The Foothills: Cowboys & Homesteaders is the second volume in a social history series by Bessie Vroom Ellis. In Volume 2 Bessie, herself the daughter and granddaughter of homesteaders, tells her story using over 220 photographs from the treasured albums of homesteaders, plus seven original maps. She recounts the stories of old time cowboys in the 1880's and 1890's and of the homesteaders who followed the cowboys in the early part of the twentieth century. Bessie rode on horesback - nearly nine miles a day round trip - to attend one-room country schools for her elementary grades. She graduated from Pincher Creek High School and attended Calgary Normal School, taught in the Drumheller School Division and at Waterton Park School. In Waterton, Bessie married and raised a family. She wrote feature articles and a regular column, "Wonderful Waterton", for The Lethbridge Herald, also contributing news items to local radio and TV stations and being active in the Girl Guides of Canada and the Anglican Church. After fifteen years, Bessie returned to her teaching career, completed her Master of Education degree at University of Alberta, then taught in Lethbridge. Upon remarrying in 1975 Bessie moved to Regina, SK, teaching there until her retirement. During her years in Regina, Bessie worked to promote the election of more women. The Bessie Ellis Fund (SNDW) continues her work. Bessie received a "Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation Canada, 1867 - 1992" for community service.