The SBCA has had a great month winding up some projects that have been pending. The free community breakfast was a great hit with about 130 people attending. The good crowd enjoyed the chance to converse with neighbors and friends after a long wait for a community event.
The main floor of the Square Butte Hall has had a complete paint job. Maria Vanderham has done a meticulous job of prepping and painting the hall and now it looks fresh and inviting. A big thank you to Maria for such an incredible job!
The handicap asphalt pad has been installed and the 2 week set-up time has passed. There was a little sign that said “No to High-heels.” I guess “stilettos” punch holes in the asphalt.
Sunday, Oct. 2nd, Pie Making Class at SBH from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm. Instructor: Mary Ann Watson 403 931-2098.
November 12th, 7:00 pm to 11:00, Country & Western Dance at Square Butte Hall, live band & evening lunch. Members $15.00 each/non members $20.00 each.
Square Butte Ladies Group
We have had a great year of fund raising so have now added the Millarville Library, Seniors Christmas Dinner, and Millarville Sports Assoc. to our already long list of donations. The next project is our annual raffle quilt assembly at Square Butte Hall on Sunday, Oct.23rd.Come join in the fun of sewing a quilt top together. Contact Jill Fry for further information or anyone wishing to join our group 403-931-3420.
Women in our History!!!
Florence “Flores” Ladue (1883-1951) Recognition of a world champion, Flores LaDue, Champion Lady Fancy Roper. She competed for 31 years and retired undefeated. Born Grace Bensel, 1883 in Minnesota. Her mother died when she was an infant and spent most of her young life on a Sioux Reservation where her grandfather was a government agent. When she was about 15 she ran away to join The Cummin’s Wild West Show where she became a teenaged trick rider/roper. She was less than 5 feet tall but she could lasso 5 galloping horses at one time. While roping upside down on a horse in Chicago in 1905 she caught the eye of fellow trick roper and rider, Guy Weadick. They fell in love and were married in 1906. The first 5 years of their marriage was spent on the road traveling, appearing in vaudeville and Wild West shows throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Guy was quite a promoter so with the help of his wife Flores they came to Calgary, Alberta in 1912 and pitched the idea of a rodeo. They received the backing from the Big Four: George Lane, Pat Burns, A. E. Cross & Archie Maclean, and staged the first Calgary Stampede. They continued running and promoting the Stampede for 20 years after its inception.
In 1920 they purchased a ranch at Longview, AB. that became the Stampede Guest Ranch which they operated for many years. It was the first guest ranch in Canada. Towards the end of Flores’ life, in hopes of improving her failing health, they sold their ranch and moved to Phoenix, AZ. She passed away of heart failure in 1951. Guy Weadick passed in 1953, known as the, “Father of the Calgary Stampede”.
A wonderful book “First Stampede of Flores Ladue” by Wendy Bryden is the love story of rodeo promoter Guy Weadick and trick rider/ roper Flores Ladue. That her story is told at all is thanks to the memories of current Alberta rancher Lenore McLean, who grew up next door to an elderly Mrs. Weadick in the late 1940s.
What a wonderful story of love and athleticism. Our history often overlooks women’s contributions to the settlement and success of our communities
Submitted by Mary Ann Watson
www.squarebuttehall.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sqbuttecommunity
Rental Inquiries: contact@squarebuttehall.com
Membership: sq.butte.comm.assoc@gmail.com
