If These Boots Could Talk

Some deep ranching roots were showcased in town on Wednesday May 9.

Organizers held the Guy Weadick Days launch at Maggie's Diner, with a special display of Florence LaDue's boots and Guy Weadick's hat from the Highwood Museum.

Guy Weadick founded the Calgary Stampede in 1912, and Florence LaDue was a famous trick rider.

Lenore McLean grew up on her family’s ranch near Longview which was next door to the Weadicks’ guest ranch, and Florence gave her the boots when she was younger.

"She had such really small feet," McLean said. "But when I grew out of them Lou Bradley had at the store, if you bring in your old boots you'll get a rebate on new ones. So of course I thought, well that's an excellent idea! I couldn't get my feet into them."

She says, a girl in Okotoks bought the boots from Bradley's Western Wear and Saddlery when she traded them in.

The location of the Wednesday's event was fitting, as Maggie's Diner is a part of the old Bradley's Store in High River.

"So a girl in Okotoks had bought them," McLean said. "Then they had a sale over there of Alcox things, and they were in the sale, and a friend of mine had bought them and returned them to the museum."

Lou Bradley and McLean's father, Joe Bews, were good friends with Guy Weadick, and when Weadick passed away they decided to donate his hat to the Highwood Museum.

McLean said, she's thankful the boots and hat are in High River, where both Florence and Guy contributed so much to the town.

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