May 2007 - Ramsay Community Association in Calgary

People in RamsayBeth CarterRamsay is a diverse andhistorical inner-city neighbourhood,which is artsfriendly,family-based, and active. We area village surrounded by green space in themidst of the city. In this monthly column,we will meet one person who helps todefine our wonderful community.Patrick Burns - Ramsay Cattle KingYou have probably heard of PatrickBurns – one of the most famous earlycitizens of Calgary. We often hear abouthis links to the Stampede – one of the“Big Four” who helped fund the firstofficial Stampede in 1912. But did youknow that he also has a street, a school,a garden, and a mountain named afterhim? Although he never lived in Ramsay,he has many links with this communitythat continue to this day.The Stockyards with Scotsman’s Hill inthe background, 1937Patrick Burns was born in July 1856in Oshawa, Ontario - the son of Irishimmigrants Michael Byrne and BridgetGibson Byrne. He lived on a farm andhad little formal schooling. Like manyothers, he was lured west after theNorthwest Rebellion. In 1878 he walked250 km northwest from Winnipeg to hishomestead near Minnedosa!To help raise money to support hisfarm, he ran a business bringing freightgoods from Winnipeg. He also tookhis neighbours’ cattle to the markets inWinnipeg. In only a few years, by 1885,his business had grown so much that hewas buying cattle full-time. With therailway boom, his business continued togrow and expand into ranching, packingand the retail meat trade.In 1890, when Burns was 34 yearsold, he moved to Calgary, where thePatrick Burns as ayoung man, ca1900population wasjust over 3,000people. After therailway arrivedhere in 1883,Calgary becamerecognized as astockyards centre.At that time,Ramsay wasknown as EastCalgary, and wasthe industrial part of town. The CPRStockyards opened there in 1887. Burnsbuilt his abattoir (slaughterhouse) rightnext door, supplying beef from the manyranches he owned. He branched outinto produce, opening several Burns Co.Meat stores in Calgary and other areasof the province. He adopted the name“Shamrock Brand” in reference to hisIrish heritage.In 1905, Pat Burns started theThe interior of the Burns’ meat packingplant, 1900Standard Soap Company – providing anatural industrial use for animal byproducts(fat) from his abattoir. The companyhad five branches across the west, andwas later bought out by Royal CrownSoaps of Winnipeg. The building, whichstill stands today just east of 11 th Street,cost $10,000 to build. It stood emptyfor years, but is now being renovated asoffices.By 1911, the population of Calgaryhad grown to 43,704. With the boom,a whole bunch of houses were built inRamsay to support East Calgary industry– especially the CPR and the Stockyards.When the streets were laid out up thehill, the main street was named BurnsAvenue. When a hotel was built in 1914to serve the workers, it took the nameShamrock after the meat brand name.Pat Burns married Eileen Ellis (1873-1923) in 1901, and they had one son,Thomas (1906-1936). They built aPatrick Burns, 1927. Can you seeRamsay School in the background?huge sandstone mansion on 4 th Street,where the Colonel Belcher Hospital nowstands. When Alberta became a provincein 1905, a reception was held at BurnsManor for Sir Wilfrid and Lady Laurier.Over the years the Burns’ entertainedmany important visitors, includingmembers of the royal family, aristocrats,authors and politicians. When the housewas demolished in 1956, the sandstoneblocks were moved into the hillside atRiley Park, where they form the SenatorPatrick Burns Memorial Garden, a popularplace to take wedding photos.Patrick Burns was described as anastute and no-nonsense businessman.He was sometimes referred to as the“Cattle King of the West.” He was apillar of early Calgary society, and gavegenerously to support civic development.In 1928 he sold his packing businessfor $15 million but retained his vastcattle ranches, which included the BowValley, C.K., Ricardo, Circle, Walrond,Bradfield, Lineham, Glengarry (44), BarU, Flying E., 76, Two Dot and Rio Alto.He dabbled in mining and other businesses,but Patrick Burns always consideredhimself first and foremost a rancher.He loved to travel in the foothills, anda mountain was named for him in theSheep River Valley.To honour his contributions as one ofCanada’s most successful business people,Burns was made a senator in 1931.He died in Calgary in 1937.Ramsay News page 15