Historic Usher Ranch

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Established in 1904 by Tom & Charlie Usher

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RANCH HISTORY by Les Usher, President of Usher Ranching Limited

"On June 04, 2004 the Usher Ranch at Big Valley, Alberta marked 100 years of continuous operation by the family. The management records through the years are still fully complete. The idea of the ranch was formed in 1896-97 when Thomas Usher, a farmer from Hawick, Scotland went around the world visiting South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada to assess farming opportunities for his sons, Tom and Charlie, who were still in school. Stopping in Calgary he met a prominent rancher of the time, W.R. Hull, who offered jobs for the boys. Tom, at 19 years of age, came out in the spring of 1902 and was first given a job by Hull herding sheep on Nose Creek north of Calgary for $10.00 per month and was then moved to the Gallagher and Hull packing plant in Edmonton. A year later Tom was joined by Charlie and the two were sent to Hull's 25 Ranch west of Nanton where they worked for $15.00 a month. While there they took part in the last of the great cattle roundups and learned some of the basics of ranching in Canada in their daily work on the ranch.
In the spring of '04 the Usher brothers went in search of a place of their own. A trapper, Jack Boodie, suggested the Big Valley country so they bought two saddle horses, a wagon and two draught horses and set out south and east from Blackfalds. Initially they camped at Lavingtons, S.E. of Ewing Lake, and ranged out from there. In exploring the ranching opportunities in the Big Valley country they came upon Charlie Mott, a squatter, who lived in a log cabin on the banks of Mott Coulee - now Big Valley Coulee - at the present location of the Usher Ranch and near the current site of Scollard. There was shelter, grass and several good springs of water. A deal was made to purchase Mott's log cabin, barn, corrals and equipment along with 59 cattle, 21 horses and 500 sheep. The total price was only $7500.00. There were no fences so the cattle could roam 60 mi. from home. When the land survey came through later that year the brothers took out homesteads to secure their holdings.
It was 85 miles to the nearest town, Lacombe, where they traveled twice a year with horses and wagon for supplies. Their first cattle were marketed there after a week-long drive and brought $40.00 for the best three year olds and $3.00 more for four year olds. Mail was brought from Lacombe to the Ewing post office once a week and then homesteaders took turns fetching it from there some 20 mi. A sister of the boys, Lizzie, joined them in '05 to keep house. So by degree the Usher Ranch became established and in 1910 a modern frame house was built, followed by a barn and sheds. All these buildings are still in use 100 years later.
In 1913 Tom Usher returned to Britain to marry Dorothy Usher and bring her back to the ranch. Charlie, two years later, also returned to Britain, but to join the King's Own Scottish Borderers and fight in World War 1 in Italy and France. The Imperial lease of two townships held by Pat Burns came on the market in 1917 and was purchased by Usher brothers and J.L. Walters of Clive, Alberta, along with some 1400 Burns cows and calves. Later the parties split the lease in two, each retaining one township.
Charlie returned from the war and married Nellie Jones in 1926. The brothers then purchased the Thumb Hill Ranch in the Hand Hills, which Charlie managed for the next ten years. Together on both places the Ushers ran about 2600 head of cattle. Because of education difficulties and the drought, the Thumb Hill Ranch was sold in 1937 and Charlie then bought the Watson Ranch on the Red Deer River west of Big Valley where he and Nellie were able to get schooling for their family, Charles, Howard and Trudy.
Tom and Dorothy Usher were predeceased by their daughter Jean and they themselves passed away in the '70's. Usher Ranching Ltd. was then set up by the immediate family, Tom, Margaret, Dave and Les. In 1990 the Rumsey Ecological Reserve was established on 8228 acres of the lease while the remaining 7986 acres was declared a Natural Area. These designations remain today but allow for the continuation of ranching. The lease was sold to the Wilbur Stewart family in 1999 leaving the ranch consolidated where it originated on the banks of Mott Coulee."

Features:
In 1904 the Usher brothers found what they felt was the best grass, the best water, and the best shelter for establishing a cattle ranch. I feel it is still the same today. It has been well managed and the grass, water and natural shelter has never been abused.

Main House:
Style: 1 ½ storey
Size: 1158 sq ft
Age: 1910
Bedrooms: 3 up, 1 down
Bathrooms: 1
Basement: partial concrete
Garage: 980 sq ft

House #2:
Style: bungalow
Size: 1258 sq ft
Age: 1950
Bedrooms: 2 up, 1 down
Bathrooms: 1 & 1/2
Basement: partial developed

Greenhouse
Garage: 14 x 24

House #3:
Style: bungalow
Size: 1,060 sq ft
Bedrooms: 1 up, 1 down
Bathrooms: 1
Basement: partial developed
Garage: 22 x 24

Shop:
Size: 28 x 73 with 28 x 44 heated, insulated c/w 11 ‘ overhead door, 220 power, cement floor, hot & cold running water, built 1991
Machine Quonset:
Size: 48 x 80 c/w 14’ walls

Grain Storage:
- 9900 bu steel storage
- 800 bu fertilizer storage

Hip Roof Barn
- 32 x48
- Metal roof
- Wood siding
Open Face Sheds
1- 24 x 48
2- 16 x 48

LAND BASE DEEDED:

 

 

NE 23-34-21-4 containing 157 ac home quarter
Assessment: land 13,600, 140,700
Taxes: $844.51 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $3200

NW 23-34-21-4 containing 156 ac
Assessment: 10,640
Taxes: $141.40 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

SE 23-34-21-4 containing 157 ac
Assessment: 9,380
Taxes: $124.66 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

SW 23-34-21-4 containing 157 ac
Assessment: 11,270
Taxes: $149.76 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $2,800

SW 13-34-21-4 containing 157.62 ac
Assessment: 13,970
Taxes: $211.56 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $2225

SE 13-34-21-4 containing 58 ac
Assessment: 6,270
Taxes: $94.95 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

NW 13-34-21-4 containing 160 ac
Assessment: 15,550
Taxes: $235.47 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

NE 13-34-21-4 containing 158.81
Assessment: 14,930
Taxes: $226.09 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $3300

NW 14-34-21-4 containing 157 ac
Assessment: 18,180
Taxes: $275.30 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

NE 14-34-21-4 containing 157 ac
Assessment: 18,150
Taxes: $274.84 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $3,100

NE 15-34-21-4 containing 128.87 ac
Assessment: 8,300
Taxes: $125.69 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $2,500

NE 24-34-21-4 containing 160 ac
Assessment: 12,880
Taxes: $171.16 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $2,250

NW 24-34-21-4 containing 160 ac
Assessment: 14,590
Taxes: $193.88 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

SE 24-34-21-4 containing 160 ac
Assessment: 21,070
Taxes: $279.98 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

SW 24-34-21-4 containing 160 ac
Assessment: 19,730
Taxes: $262.19 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $2,600

SW 25-34-21-4 containing 156.01 ac
Assessment: 25,850
Taxes: $343.52 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $1,886

SE 26-34-21-4 containing 153.1 ac
Assessment: 12,770
Taxes: $169.7 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

SW 26-34-21-4 containing 1152.1 ac
Assessment: 11,750
Taxes: $156.14 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

NW 19-34-20-4 containing 64.8
Assessment: 7,470
Taxes: $99.26 / 2006
Surface Revenue: Nil

Lot 1 - Block 2 - Pl 4120AJ
NW 19-34-20-4
Assessment: 170
Taxes: $1.77 / 2006

Lot 2 - Block 2 - Pl 4120AJ
NW 19-34-20-4
Assessment: 170
Taxes: $1.77 / 2006

GRAZING LEASE:
Sec 29-34-20-4 containing 631 ac
AUM’s: 270
Assignment fee: $13,500. split 50/50 buyer/seller
Rent: $626.40 annual
Taxes: $608.12 / 2006
Surface Revenue: $3,600

Link To Inventory List


ASKING PRICE INCLUDES ALL INVENTORY: $3,600,000.
( Vendors Prefer to sell Company Shares at Discounted Price of $3,300,000.)

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While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information herein, neither the owner nor the agents assume responsibility for any errors or omissions, which may inadvertently occur. The listing and description of the various lands, buildings and improvements contained herein has been prepared solely for the convenience of prospective buyers and is not warranted to be complete or accurate, and does not form part of the terms and conditions of a sale.

Contact: Greg Cripps- Remax Real Estate Central AB
4440-49 Ave
Red Deer, AB
T4N 3W6

Ph. Bus (403) 343-3020 (Res) (403) 347-7103
Fax (403) 347-2846 Email – gcripps@telus.net
Website: www.canadiancattleranches.com