William Roper Hull

Above Photo: Portrait of William Roper Hull 

 http://wpmedia.blogs.calgaryherald.com/2012/03/hull-portrait3-keep.jpg

Underneath Photo: Portrait of Hulls Opera House

http://postmediacalgaryherald.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/hull-opera-keep.jpg

Bibliography

The information on this website was gathered from the following websites.....

http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/hull_william_charles_james_roper_15E.html

http://www.bowvalleyranche.com/pioneers.html

http://www.albertaparks.ca/fish-creek/information-facilities/history/european-settlers-industrial-developments.aspx

http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5111

http://www.hullservices.ca/about/mr-hull-man 

http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/hull_william_charles_james_roper_15E.html

"William Roper Hull was an Artist, he had an idea of how he pictured Alberta, but instead of painting that picture, he turned it

William Roper Hull was said to be an Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, but I believe he was more. He created opportunity and played a vital role in Western Canada's early Economic Development.

William Roper Hull was born in Somerset, England in 1856. Years later in 1873, when he was in his late teens he sailed to Panama with his brother John. From there he traveled to Kamloops, British Columbia with his brother, and together they worked with their uncle until they bought the Cherry Creek Ranch. Over time they:

- Supplied the North West Mounted Police 1200 horses and sold the North West Cattle Company many cattle as well.

-Supplied beef to the Canadian Pacific Railway and shipped 400 head into Calgary.

-They brought 3000 cattle to Alberta

In 1892, William and John Roper Hull bought what they called “Bow Valley Ranch”. They also purchased two more ranches located near Nanton, Alberta. By 1888, they owned the largest meat business across British Columbia and the North-West Territories. Now we know how important beef is to us Albertans!

In the 1890’s, William and John ended their partnership, with John taking control of British Colombia, and William taking control of our beloved Alberta.

Later on William married Emmaline, (nee Banister) and together they controlled the social upper class lifestyle of Alberta. The Bow Valley Ranch evolved into the focal point of elite society, and William added onto this iconic monument, by building the Ranch House which was to be on a lavish scale.

William is responsible for many Albertan landmarks such as the Grain Exchange building, the Alberta Block, the Albion Block, the Radio Block, and Alberta’s first cultural building, the Hull Opera House.

William Roper Hull died in 1925 and his wife Emmaline in 1953, the Hull’s estate was used, among other things, to begin a home for troubled children.