Did you remember to pick up your book from the Bowness Historical Society? If not give them a quick call at 403–288-1737 or pick up a copy at the BCA office!
Bowness Valley - Early 1900sThe Bow River and topography of the land defined the first use of the locality now known as Bowness. The valley's first visitors found rich resources and sheltered wintering grounds for cattle. Because of this, the area was inhabited as a ranch in the mid 1890's. Only the railroad track and twin bridges intruded upon the pastoral landscape until the real estate boom of 1911.John Hextall 1861-1914
It was the entrepreneur and visionary, John Hextall whose subdivision plans, registered in 1911, which became the framework for the village and town. Bowness Park and the street car are also closely associated with his legacy.
Hextall’s grandiose plans faded with the beginning of World War One. The land sat primarily vacant until after the Second World War when a settlement of veterans, as well as Dutch and German immigrants grew. The Bowness community quickly grew into a village in 1948, then as a town in 1952 and finally into part of the city of Calgary in 1964.
Baker Sanitorium - Circa 1950
The leisure areas of Bowness Park and Bowness Golf and Country Club, the Alberta Ice Company and the Baker Memorial Sanatorium, helped to shape the identification of Bowness.
The stories and achievements of the families who have lived in the valley are rich and diverse.
Get even more Bowness historical information from the Bowness Historical Society.