Every now and then, the inevitable question arises: how did Bragg Creek get its name? Referencing a variety of sources to help sort through the many different answers, the Bragg Creek Historical Society goes to the source, great-grand daughter/niece, Marilyn Symons Bragg.
In the autumn of 1894, two young men climbed aboard a Harvest Excursion train to travel, with other Maritimers, to the wilds of the Northwest Territories in search of adventure. Albert Warren Bragg and his 13-year-old brother, John Thomas left their home in Collingwood, Nova Scotia with dreams of becoming cowboys and taking up the ranching life. Upon arrival in Calgary, Warren applied for a homestead and received Grant # 61787 from the Dominion Land Corporation on September 17, 1894. The homestead was SW 14 23-5-W5 and was situated about 35 miles west of Calgary, in the magnificent foothills of the Rocky Mountains. (The northeast corner of present-day Range Road 52 and West Bragg Creek Road).
The boys travelled out to their land and began preparations for winter by building a small cabin on the tiny creek that ran through their quarter section. A. O. Wheeler and his crew from the Dominion Land Corporation happened along in the ensuing months and stayed with Warren and John while they surveyed the area. It wasn’t until many years later, the boys discovered that they had named the little creek by their cabin “Bragg Creek” in their honour.
By spring, the boys had decided that the land in the foothills was not suited to the type of ranching operation they wanted. In 1897, Warren received a letter from the Land Corporation rescinding the Bragg Creek Homestead Grant due to lack of improvements on the property. Warren applied for and was granted a homestead at Gleichen, east of Calgary, and John returned to the family home in Nova Scotia.
Warren married Mary Mossop and raised a son, Earl and daughter Mabel. He operated several successful ranches in the Rosebud area until retiring to Calgary where he died in 1948 and is buried in Calgary’s Burnsland Cemetery near his brother, John.
“John Thomas & Julia West Gamble Bragg”. Circa 1910-1920. Courtesy of Marilyn Symons Bragg.
John Thomas Bragg returned to Alberta in 1903 where he homesteaded near Rockyford. He married Nova Scotian Julia Gamble and the couple raised four boys: Raymond, Norman, Russell (Marilyn’s father) and Edwin. John was a founding member of the United Farmers of Alberta. He passed away in 1944 at Rockyford and was buried inBurnsland Cemetery in Calgary.
Although their connection to Bragg Creek was short, both men went on to become active and respected members of the Alberta Ranching Community, a fact that can make the residents of the “Creek” proud.
Photo Credits:
“Homestead Grant Application, 1894”, “Alberta, Canada, Homestead Records, 1870-1930, Acc.1970.313, Ancestry.ca., ( Alberta Genealogical Society).
“John Thomas & Julia West Gamble Bragg”. Circa 1910-1920. Courtesy of Marilyn Symons Bragg.