Trochu, some seventy miles north of Calgary, was founded by Armand Trochu, member of a military family in France. Trochu came to Alberta in 1902 and bought a ranch which he renamed Ste. Anne Ranch. In the next few years, he was joined by B.C. Eckerfelder, a retired Hussar, and J. Devildier, the son of a Lille banker. In 1904, the Ste. Anne Ranching and Trading Company was incorporated. That same year Paul de Beaudrap and a nephew, Roger de Beaudrap arrived.
These well-educated Frenchmen who had joined together without previously knowing one another undertook to promote their tiny community. They planned to organize a school district, obtained a post office in 1906, and began to sell lots for a townsite in 1907. The community grew rapidly. For amusement, they hunted coyotes rather than foxes and made plans to construct a genteel society in the West. They bought tapestries, fine furniture, and silver. Their horses were superb. In 1907, a creamery, a school and a church were built.
The outbreak of World War I brought their world to an end. Trochu, himself, returned to France in 1916, partly because of the war, partly because of his health. The remaining French were displaced in their community by Irish, Polish, and German immigrants. The dream of the Company came to an end.
In this December 1904 photograph, are, from left to right, standing, Armand Trochu, Dr. Louis Soulier, Joseph Devildier. Sitting, L.C. Eckerfelder, and Messrs de Seilhac, and de Preault. Note the fine wine, rough jackets, numerous pipes and metal wash basins.
