Ogilvey Ave, Wills Road, Bruce Road, Jeanette Street, James Street (Fairmont Hot Springs)
Fairmont appealed to the Ogilvy-Wills family, and they soon made the transition to live there permanently, [on a ranch] known as “The Meadows”.
The Ogilvy-Wills family, including mother Helen and two children, James and Jeanette, became long time residents at Fairmont following the First World War.
The Ogilvy-Wills Family
Helen Bruce Ogilvy and her husband, Alexander Wills, were both Scottish, however Alexander was “always on the move” being invested in various mining enterprises.1 As a result their first child, James Robert Ogilvy-Wills, was born 30 November 1888 in Manhattan, New York,2 and was reportedly only a few weeks old when the family returned to Scotland.3 They were living in Glasgow for the birth of his sister, Jeanette, on 29 July 1891.4
The family would not remain in Scotland. According to James, his first memory was, “leaving a cottage in Scotland for London to board [a ship] for China.”5 This may have been a trip that ended in tragedy. At an unknown date, the family were together in China when Alexander, a mining engineer, was murdered.6
In 1898, Helen, James and Jeanette arrived in the United States, and in the following year James suffered severe cases of both malaria and smallpox.7 By 1900, the trio was living in Branciforte Township in California (near to Santa Cruz), along with a servant.8
Relocating to Canada
In 1906 the family moved to Canada, initially to Toronto, and a year later to Alberta, where in 1911 they were living at Lavoy, near to Vegreville (east of Edmonton). Having arrived in Canada at about the age of seventeen, for the first year James “worked without pay” with surrounding farmers and ranchers to learn more about the business.9
By the time of the 1911 census James was head of the family at 22 years old, and the household had four lodgers, including three labourers and a domestic helper.10
James and Jeanette seem to have joined forces on the farm, which they named “Cherry Grove Ranch.”11 In April 1912 the siblings purchased two registered Clydesdale mares,12 and that September they received two awards for their horses at a local Exhibition.13 James also placed a regular advertisement in the local newspaper for horses for sale between July 1913 and January 1914.14
[Advertisement], Vegreville Observer, 30 July 1913, p 5. [Unique Identifier CU11396477, img 1485, “Vegreville Observer 1910-01-05 – 1913-11-26,” Courtesy of Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/ ]
Military Career
James Ogilvy-Wills, meanwhile, in addition to raising horses, was serving as a local lieutenant for the 19th Alberta Dragoons.15
When the First World War broke out, in August 1914, he was “among the first to leave the district [of Vegreville] to the call for men,”16 being commissioned as a Captain for the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles on 7 January 1915,17 before later signing Attestation Papers at Medicine Hat on 25 May 1915.18
James sailed from Montreal in June, and landed in France on 22 September.19 Later that year he was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, and at some point his rank was changed to Lieutenant.20
Injured
On 1 April 1916, while fighting on the Ypres Salient in Belgium, James was “dangerously wounded” by a high explosive shell with shrapnel wounds to his head, back and shoulders, abdomen, and left leg, causing him to also go into shock.21 Twelve days later, when he was admitted to the Empire Hospital in London (a private nursing home for officers specializing in neurological injuries), his head wound was septic, he had lost all hearing and his voice, his eyesight was defective, and all of the right side of his body and his left leg were paralyzed.22
It took three months for speech to return or for James to be able to move his right side, after which he made a rapid recovery for another three months. 23 His hearing and eye sight were recovered, and the paralysis on his left side disappeared,24 while exercise and massage gradually improved movement on his right side.25
James’ recovery stalled in September/October,26 and in November he arrived back in Canada, returning to Vegreville.27 That January, he addressed a large audience at the Lavoy school house, where he gave a “graphic description of his experiences at the front,” in aid of the Red Cross.28 His speech, “strangely blended” images of “nature’s beauty and war’s destruction.”29
James would never fully recover from his injuries, although he continued treatment at the Military Hospital in Calgary.30 By August 1918 he was walking with a “spastic gait” with the aid of a crutch due to continued partial paralysis on his right side.31 Unable to flex his right thigh, he had a rubber spring slung over his left shoulder, and had to have a cane or crutch in his left hand.32 His disability was considered permanent, and he was recommended for discharge.33
Continued Military Service
Despite his injuries, however, James continued his military service. Having been struck off strength on 31 August 1917, he was re-enlisted the following day by the Military Hospital Commission Command at Calgary.34
James spent the rest of the war in command of military hospitals, including the Edmonton Convalescent Hospital, as well as those at Frank, Alberta and Saskatoon.35 At the Edmonton Hospital, James contributed prizes in July 1917 to a sports day, with events including a crutch race and a hopping race for men with one leg.36
It wasn’t until 31 July 1919 that James was struck off strength in the army by reason of general demobilization.37
Post War
Through this disruption of war, both Helen and Jeanette carried on at Cherry Grove Ranch, for example with Jeanette posting in a February 1917 newspaper having captured a colt “Estray”.38
Later that year, likely in July 1917, the two moved south to Jumping Pound, near Cochrane.39 The move brought the family closer to Calgary, where James was first receiving medical treatments, and would live following demobilization. James could be found welcoming in the New Year of 1919, the first following peace negotiations, amongst the “many coloured streamers and gay flowers,” at the Palliser Hotel.40
The Jumping Pound Ranch was homesteaded under James’ name, in July 1919,41 but it seems that Jeanette took control of day to day operations. James is noted on occasion as “holidaying” at the ranch,42 while when Jeanette came into Calgary to attend a horse show, she was a “the guest of her brother.”43
The area just inside the gates of the Ogilvy-Wills ranch is described in one motor touring article as, “one of the prettiest spots on the Jumping Pound.”44
While living in Calgary, James became very active in veterans affairs, and in April 1918 was a founding member for an officers’ club there.45 He was later the secretary treasurer for what was then known as the United Services Club for returned officers,46 and would become an “enthusiastic member” of the Royal Canadian Legion.47
The Ogilvy-Wills family did not stay in Calgary, leaving at the end of 1922 to spent the winter in Victoria.48 From there they jumped across the mountains to Penticton, with plans to stay for the summer,49 although this may be a case of incorrect reporting as in June the Ogilvy-Wills are noted as leasing a ranch near Creston.50 By the end of the year, Helen and Jeanette were leaving Creston for a short visit to Fairmont: James was spending the winter there, attracted by the hot springs.51
The Meadows
Fairmont appealed to the Ogilvy-Wills family, and they soon made the transition to live there permanently, purchasing the former Joseph Young ranch (Lot 53) where they ran cattle. Over time, they also started a tourist resort on the side, and together their ranch/camping resort became known as “The Meadows”. They had given the name, “after admiring the 200 acres of meadows which was indeed a welcome sight after they reached the place from Cranbrook over a trail the ruts of which were buried in six inches of dust.”52
The house at The Meadows was built by Joe Young, who pre-empted the property in April 1887, and in 1952 was, “thought to be the oldest inhabited house in the district. Ceilings of split birch in excellent condition, they are thatched with birchbark and clay and roofed with shakes. Pegs were used instead of nails throughout the building which is estimated to be about 75 years old.”53
The house at The Meadows, where the Ogilvy-Wills family settled. Windermere Valley Museum and Archives, A1077
James later described an evolution in camping at The Meadows: “I remember when the visitors brought their own tents and put them up in a spot handiest to water and wood. The first improvement was a canvas fly over the tent to keep off the heat. Then came the era of board walls with a tent roof. Then the [log] cabins. Now they are back tenting.”54
Life in Fairmont
The Ogilvy-Wills siblings, along with their mother, remained at Fairmont for the rest of their lives. Helen passed away 2 February 1945 at Fairmont Hot Springs at the age of 73.55 She was buried at The Meadows, in what became known as the Fairmont Cemetery (it is unclear but very likely that Helen was the first to be buried here: Joe Young is buried at the Windermere Cemetery).
James, meanwhile, had diverse interests. He continued to be active with the Legion, serving at one point as vice president of the local branch,56 and was also one time chair of a fundraising campaign for the BC Cancer Society.57 He was also involved in the Fall Fair, and was a director of the Windermere District Historical Society.58 Jeanette was also a director with the Historical Society.59
James also became involved in the Windermere District Board of Trade (later the District Chamber of Commerce).60 In a somewhat unique activity, although perhaps not surprising considering the likely nature of “The Meadows”, in 1961 James headed a committee that was “engaged in mosquito control,” in the valley.61
Jeanette and James Robert Ogilvy-Wills at The Meadows. Following his injury in the war, paralyzing his right side, James walked with a cane for the rest of his life.
Box KK (Ogilvy Wills), File: Photographic, Windermere Valley Museum and Archives.
The Meadows Subdivision
The Ogilvy-Wills siblings soon got into real estate at The Meadows, putting the tourist log cabins there up for sale in 1951.62 The sale does not seem to have attracted interest, however, as in 1954, James was in Calgary selling residential and business lots for The Meadows subdivision.63 The ranch, meanwhile, changed direction from cows to sheep, winning awards in 1956 at the Creston Valley Fall Fair.64
Part of The Meadows was finally sold, in 1958, to Mr Bruce Downey from Gull Lake Saskatchewan.65 With proceeds from the sale, James and Jeanette left on a sixteen month, around the world trip,66 including several months visiting friends and relatives in the British isles.67
James and Jeanette returned from their trip to The Meadows where, in May 1960, their new home was destroyed by fire.68 They continued to put lots at the Old Meadows Ranch up for sale in the summers of 1965 through to 1967.69
Death
James Ogilvy-Wills passed away suddenly on 8 May 1970 in Calgary, at the Colonel Belcher Hospital,70 after attending a horse show.71 Following cremation a service was held at the “family vault” at The Meadows.72
Jeanette passed away in Invermere at age 88, on 6 April 1980, having lived in Fairmont until shortly before her death.73
Siblings Jeanette and James Robert Ogilvy-Wills.
Box KK (Ogilvy Wills), File: Photographic, Windermere Valley Museum and Archives.
Unanswered Questions
The Ogilvy-Wills family is a good example of how the availability of written records influences the story that can be told. While there are extensive records about James’ life – military papers, mentions in newspapers, and at least one interview with a journalist – when it comes to the women of the family, there is frustratingly little. Their mother Helen, for example, teases a fascinating life story, first travelling around the world with her husband and two children, then raising those children by herself after his sudden death.
We also know comparatively little about Jeanette. She never married and, reading between the lines, it was Jeanette and their mother who held down the family ranch from the time that James left for war, in 1915, until they moved to Fairmont, and likely even after. It was Jeanette who filed to register a brand out of Alberta, in 1921 (a UU Half Circle).74
On their retirement trip, Jeanette compiled, “a large folio with an amazing diary of a holiday… Glancing through its pages provided a few moments of entertaining reading and Capt Ogilvy-Wills is so enthused about it, he’s sure his sister can compile it into a book. “I haven’t any time,” she stated flatly. “There are baby chicks to look after and new lambs and besides, I wouldn’t know how!”75
Even James, about whom there is a much more thorough paper trail, leaves behind a somewhat mixed legacy. On one hand, he is described as “a delightful fellow with a delightful touch of old Scotland about his speech,”76 and he certainly overcame the odds following his severe injury during the war. On the other, there remain some unanswered questions. He was arrested in September 1935 after he crashed into a man changing a tire near Ta-Ta Creek, pinning the man between the two cars and almost killing him. As the road was straight, “there seemed no reason for any driver to make such a mistake”77 (it seems possible that his injury, which reduced use of his right leg, may have played a roll). James also had civil court cases filed against him on three separate occasions in the 1930s – it’s times like this that living in Victoria, where one could easily poke around the archives, would satisfy a lot of curiosity.78
Legacy
The Fairmont subdivision, “The Meadows”, continues to feature names from the Ogilvy-Wills family. In August 1972, street names for the subdivision were approved both by public works and owners of the lots, including “Wills Rd,” “Ogilvy Ave,” “James St,” “Jeanette St,” and “Bruce Rd”.79
In The Windermere 