The Canadian Pacific Railway granted the town site of Cochrane in 1885, naming it after Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane who had established the Cochrane Ranche nearby just four years earlier. Cochrane would become a village in 1903 and eventually achieve town status in 1971 with a population of about 800. Take a step back in time and take a little walking tour of Cochrane's main street. All of the information you need is presented on signs -- there are no physical containers until you get to the Final.
When you get to the end of the virtual waypoints, you may want to retrieve your car and drive to the final. Take your time. This is not a cache designed for people anxious to get as many Finds as possible; I have created it for those who want to have a nice stroll and learn a little local history. There are lots of benches, especially in the first section so feel free to sit and people watch or maybe grab some ice cream.
The Final Location is at N51 AB.CDE W114 FG.HJK
Chapman Home (Posted Coordinates)
Now a local restaurant, this was originally a house built by twin brothers Andrew and Robert Chapman. Find the year when Andrew became the mayor. Add up the digits in that year and then subtract 17. This will become "A".
Howard Block (N 51° 11.418 W 114° 28.228)
A nice simple stop. Take the year on the building which is the subject of this stop. The third digit will become "B".
Compass Rose (N 51° 11.409 W 114° 28.212)
This little pedestal was placed here in 2005 by the Rotary Club. Find the major American city mentioned here. Tally up how many letters are in the city name. Subtract three from your answer. This will become "C".
Legacy Statue (N 51° 11.404 W 114° 28.201)
This statue is commonly known as "The Chicken Lady". For purposes of this cache, you are more interested in the sign. There is one individual's name on the "The Cochrane Legacy Statue" sign. Take the number of letters in his surname and add two. This will become "D".
Rockyview Hotel (N 51° 11.400 W 114° 28.190)
Remember the Chapman brothers? They were responsible for this building too. Originally named the Cochrane Hotel, it underwent a number of changes before emerging as the Rockyview Hotel you see today. Find the year this building reopened as a hotel after Prohibition and subtract the year that WWI started. Take that answer and subtract eight. This will become "E".
As a bit of a "field check", your answers for the northing should total up to 15.
Andison Block (N 51° 11.399 W 114° 28.186)
You're now at the oldest building on Main Street. Some of the names you have seen from other stops (Chapman, Howard) appear as storekeepers here. You'll also see the famous MacKay's Ice Cream can trace it's roots to this location. Add up the last two digits of the year Fred Maggs bought the business. This will become "F".
Andison's General Store (N 51° 11.380 W 114° 28.136)
Rising from the ashes of the Fisher Block which burned down in 1928, the building across from this sign once housed a bank, the post office, and a general store. Extensive renovations means it looks almost nothing at all like the historical photo on the sign. Take the first and last digits of the year William Andison retired and add them together. This will become "G".
Collins Brick Yard (N 51° 11.374 W 114° 28.100)
OK, so this isn't actually the location of the brick yard, but you will see a structure built from some of the original bricks from it. Take the last two digits of the year the brick yard closed and add them together. This will become "H".
St. Andrew's Church (N 51° 11.318 W 114° 27.908)
Here we find another building built by the Chapman brothers. Take the last digit of the year the original manse was built and subtract three. This will become "J".
James Quigley House (N 51° 11.339 W 114° 27.482)
This location is a little different than the rest. Not only have I made you venture off Main Street, I'm also bringing you to a location without an informational sign. 204 Baird Avenue is listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places. It's historical significance it that it was built in 1889 by James Quigley, who was a successful entrepreneur in early Cochrane. It is an example of a type of Gothic Revival farmhouse found throughout eastern Canada from the 1850s. This is a private residence and there is no need to enter the property. Be sure to show respect for the residents. At the coordinates for this waypoint you will find some signs. One sign will have a number on it. Add four to that number. This will become "K".
As a bit of a "field check", your answers for the westing should total up to 26.
I hope you enjoyed your tour of some historical places here in Cochrane. Time to head for the final stage and find that container!
