Woven throughout the stories of Bragg Creek’s history, are references to Wake Siah Lodge and Ida May White. This is because the White homestead was a hub, where much of the hamlet sits now and explains why the main street is named White Avenue.
About 1910, arriving from Ottawa, Harry and Ida May White first operated a grocery business in the Bankview area of Calgary. Jake Fullerton and family had been friends and customers there, so when Jake moved to his ranch in Bragg Creek in 1913, the Whites visited. In 1917, the Whites entered the adjoining quarter NE ¼ 12-23-5W5 in the registry. The Whites cleared the land with a hand stump-puller for their first crop field while continuing to operate the early post office. Now, the Community Centre stands close to where the original house once did.
“Ida May – ca. 1938”, photo courtesy of Barbara Teghtmeyer.
Harry died in 1925 and in 1930 Ida May lost the home to fire, with only the fireplace and stone chimney left standing. Neighbours and friends helped build a new home, which was named Wake Siah Lodge. Wake Siah is believed to mean “near” or “not far” in coastal First Nation languages. Ida May rented rooms and provided campers with an area to tent. She also built and ran a small grocery store beside the lodge, installed the first gasoline pump, and continued operating the post office (with a few interruptions). Ida May died in 1953, remembered by both residents and summer visitors as a grand ol’ lady, young at heart and a true pioneer who was integral to the development and history of Bragg Creek.
The store represented the centre or hub of the community for a long time. Jack and Gene Fullerton took it over in the 50s, then Gene and wife Eva after that. Their kids had a huge role in the operation: it was common to see Sam or Carol at the till, Harry or Ian pumping gas from the Texaco pump, and June manning the telephone switchboard. Today, the building is the home of a popular ice-cream store.
Photo Credits:
“Wake Siah – White Avenue”, photographer Michele McDonald.
“Ian Fullerton at the pumps 1978”, photographer Jamie Treit.
“Ida May – ca. 1938”, photo courtesy of Barbara Teghtmeyer.