The First Calgary Spring Purebred Cattle Sale Mural

Legend of Characters Portrayed in the Mural
Figures portrayed in this mural were drawn from old photo archives, mostly from the Glenbow Foundation, Calgary. They include many prominent stockmen who were active in southern Alberta at the time of The First Calgary Spring Purebred Cattle Sale. Whether all these were present at the first Spring Bull sale is a matter of conjecture. It’s likely many were but all would have had a keen interest. The mural is meant as a symbolic representation of the event. Figures are more caricatures than portraits. Faces in the old photo reference are often small and vague. Identities of many of the faces have been lost but some unknowns were included to show the wide variety of individuals involved in the cattle business at the time.

1. A. E. Cross
2. George Lane
3. Patrick Burns
4. Archie McLean
5. William Roper Hull
6. Emmeline Banister Hull
7. Helen Rothney MacLeod Cross
8. Mrs. George Lane
9. Mary Drever MacLeod
10. L. B. Cochrane
11. John Ware
12. H. A. “Dusty” Rhodes
13. Walter Huckvale
14. Capt. James G. Gordon
15. Judge David Lynch Scott

16. Howell Harris
17. Dr. Harry Goodsir Mckid
18. Elliott
19. Sid Hooper
20. Richard Porter
21. Andy Gordon
22. William Stewart
23. James “Dublin” Rodgers
24. William Playfair
25. Mr. Riley (Wm. Roper Hull’s foreman)
26. W. Findlater
27. Unidentified cow-hand
28. Billy Metcalfe
29.A. R. Springett


The Bulls:
Three bulls are portrayed in the mural. A Shorthorn or Durham is featured centrally because in 1901, at the time of this first sale, Shorthorns and Shorthorn crosses were prominent in both Canada and the United States due to their good beef quality combined with high milk production. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bulls appear in the background representing two breeds being introduced at the time and soon to prove successful in western Canada

Archival references:
Glenbow Files: # NA-446-23, Meeting of Western Stock Growers Assn. Calgary, 1901

                              # NA-2006-1, Meeting of Western Stock Growers Assn. Medicine Hat,                                                                1903

                              #NA-5235-2, Mrs. George E. Lane, Calgary

                              #NA-263-1,   John Ware and family

                              #NA-280-6,  Helen Rothney MacLeod Cross
Books and publications:

                              MacLaren, Sherrill. Braehead. McClelland & Stewart. 1986. pg. 96.S.

                              Murray-Trafford. A Magnificent Gesture; William Roper Hull. Hull                                              Services. 2012. pgs. 10, 26 & 31.