Buffalo Jump Arts and Crafts – with Jon Dirks
Located close to the historic site for which its named, the Buffalo Jump Arts and Crafts store not far from Gleichen is abandoned and forgotten and close to collapse. Empty and open to the elements, it’s only a matter of time before it’s gone.
This structure is located along the Trans Canada Highway at the junction to town. It’s sits at a crossroads and from the building one can see the namesake Gleichen Buffalo Jump to the southwest (link to it below), a long low bluff with an east facing slope where the animals were dispatched.
I am afraid data on the building seen in this report is rather scarce. What it was before, when it became the Buffalo Jump Arts and Crafts store, and when it closed are all unknowns to us. In spite of in-depth research, we have only been able to find little bits and pieces and there are so many holes yet to fill. I hate reports like this, where we come away uncovering so little. As always our quest for information continues and if new data is found updates will be forthcoming. Also, we always welcome input from our readers.
At one time an old train depot was located at this site, which explains why the store is often called Buffalo Jump Station. I recall passing that building while on oilfield hotshot trips in the 1990s but never found the time to photograph it (doh!). That industry is go-Go-GO and there was never any time to stop and smell the roses. I so regret that.
At some point in the early 2000s or so the station was moved to the town of Cochrane west of Calgary and this author saw it in that community around 2004. It has since been moved from that spot and for now its location is somewhat of a mystery. It’s also not clear where the station came from (was it Gleichen’s?).
Some online reports, because of the train station I presume, state that this was a train stop. It wasn’t and the nearest rail line is a couple kilometres away in Gleichen.
In the 1990s there were other buildings near the arts and crafts store, mostly sheds and the like, their exact purpose unknown.
Based upon photos this author has seen, the building was in the early to mid 2000s boarded up and in much better shape then it is today. In fact it has deteriorated a lot (once open to the elements decay is quick). Not seen in our photos (for some reason) was the cinder block foundation, which was crumbling badly and I suspect it will soon collapse. The sign has faded a great deal too. Inside the building there is lots of bird poop and little else.
It also appears that at one time a gas station once operated here and an old broken sign can be found nearby.
One snippet uncovered online, sadly, was about the passing of the person who used to run the business but it makes no mention when she did this. This lady died only recently. Another article online mentions a store being at the spot where the Buffalo Jump craft store is, in the 1950s – perhaps it was connected to that gas station?
It’s assumed that many of the arts and crafts sold the at the establishment were sourced from the nearby Siksika First Nation, located just south of Gleichen.
On this adventure I was accompanied by fellow history explorer Jon Dirks. He’s provided a couple stunning photos which can be seen below. Together we explored this site, the Buffalo Jump itself and an old barn nearby, which will be the subject of it’s own report.
To see the nearby Buffalo Jump mentioned in this article, go here…
Gleichen Buffalo Jump – with Jon Dirks.
If you enjoyed this post, you may like these ones as well…
Bow City townsite – with Forgottenalberta.com.
Rowley Alberta ghost town.
Abandoned coal mine cars.
If you’d like to know more about what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: October, 2013.
Location: Gleichen, AB.
I love this. So sad that these treasures, at least some of them, can’t be kept and moved to a museum’s yard or somewhere of significance. At least there’s the photos. Thank you for these ones. 😊
This one may have been too far gone to do anything about, sadly. Perhaps had someone acted earlier, it could have be repurposed or saved in some way. Glad you like the pictures. With the building gone, they mean something a little more now.
It was looking very sad last year.
It looked close to collapse last time we saw it too…now it’s gone.
I saw that back in 2010.
We recall when it was an open business. Like in the 1990s perhaps. And that old train station that once stood on the property that was later moved to some place around Cochrane.
When I was there years ago it was in very bad condition. It was collapsing in to itself.
And now it’s gone. We haven’t been able to determine when exactly, but it must not have been too long ago.
Love it thank you for sharing ❤
You are most welcome.
(ed: the building is now gone.)
Hi …I just purchased a black and white photo of Hubert Richardson’s house. I was the lucky bidder on the photo at the Hope Bridges fund raiser this past Saturday in Strathmore. When my friend and I first saw it, we both agreed that the house was familiar…and we both knew immediately that it was the old homestead of Hubert Richardson who lived just .5 km from our house at the WID on the correction line…(originally the CPR headquarters) where I grew up….we were both amazed that our memories had not faded…… Thanks so much for the photograph…it’s truly a treasure and brought back old memories…..I have it hung in my home, and will be passing along the story to my kids, and grandkids…
I’m curious, is the Buffalo Jump building the Richardson House you speak of? You say thanks for the photograph – did the one you purchase at that auction come from us (BIGDoer.com)? I’m trying to make a connection here. Thanks for posting.
They are two different houses…the Richardson house is approx 8 km NE of the buffalo jump building.. along the correction line….this is the website that came up when I put in Jon Dirks name…(on the photo) my apology, I thought perhaps you were connected
We do do have a connection. I know Jon and have collaborated with him on a number of articles, but this is not his site. He’s a great photographer!
looking for pictures of van bavel stone house on hwy 21 by jon dirk we are the new owners
I’ll have him contact you.
Wallpaper’ed, thanks! (ed – he asked permission before).
No problem and thanks for asking permission before hand – we’ll never turn you down, but asking is nice.
You had good light there!
It was magical!
I remember scanning a newspaper article from The Cochrane Times showing the train station was being moved out towards Water Valley, but I’ve never been able to find it in my travels in that direction.
Thanks! Water Valley, eh? Gives me an excuse to go looking for it.
I shot this building 15 years ago. Where is it now?
It’s still at the Gleichen turnoff.