Shepard has its history going back to the very beginnings of this province.  As the CPR railway linked  its way across Canada, Shepard was one of its stations.  As seen below with this excerpt taken from Saddle Sleighs Sadirons in 1971 we begin to trace the long years of service by individuals who have lived and loved Shepard.

 Hamlet of Shepard

by L. Doolittle

The railway came through in 1883, this station being named after one of the contractors, a Mr. Shepard.  Some of the early section foremen were: T. Reilly, J. Smith, J. Cunningham, Wm.  Warne and Ravey.  Later Dan Morrison, Joe Moston and G. DeHarney.  There was no operator for many years, just a flag station.

The early station agents I do not remember, but W. Courtney came in 1919.  Jack Irving was night operator and one named McCormack.  There was Spence, Jas. Homes and later Bob Stacey.

The first school, District No.  226 N.W.T., was built and opened in 1896 just north of the crossing.  Some of the first teachers were: Mr. Pepper, Miss Frame, Miss Christie.  A new school was built in 1911 across the road on CPR property.  The early teachers here were Miss Christianson 1912, Miss Prickett, Miss Jenny McBain who married Jack Ness, and Miss Windle who became Mrs. Ed Winters.  Some of the early students were: Frank Madge, Ray Roberts, Jake Busslinger, Clyde and Glenn Paul, Mary and Jinny Mooney, Jack, Gladys and Doris Watson, Gordon and Clara (Giles) Anderson, Lawrence, Dolly and Merle Doolittle, and Viv Foster.

In 1890 the first church was built two miles west of Shepard.  There was a graveyard which is all that remains of the original site.  In 1905 a new church was built and also an Anglican Church on land donated by Mr. Shaw.

A hotel was built before the turn-of-the-century by a Mr. Laird.  It was licensed.  Later sold to A Layzell, a well-known auctioneer, and then to Mr. Jackson, known to everyone as Pop Jackson, a real speculator.  Mr. Laird also built a livery barn behind the hotel.  During the 'flu epidemic the hotel became an emergency hospital. 

The first post office a store was built and run by W.H.D. Whitting.  He later moved to the Hand Hills and this building was torn down.

In 1909 J.O.C.  Mooney moved to Shepard from their ranch in opened a store and post office.  Mooney had the first government-sponsored telephone.

P. Rushton, a French Canadian was one of the first promoters in Shepard.  He was the original owner and had the town subdivided into lots.  They lived on the east side.  He also built a pool hall on the site of the present Community Hall.

There was also on other general store built and run by W. G. Roberts.  This store is still in business.  Other storekeepers were R. H. Waine, Alf.  Daley, J. Lloyd, and J. T. Anderson.

T. O. Watson was our village blacksmith, coming to Shepard in 1904 or 1905.  His shop was north our present hall.  He later brought his family out from England and built a home and shop south of the hotel.  He was a good singer and a great social leader.  Later he became our first Alberta wheat Pool agent.  He remodeled the original community hall which had been a restaurant in Bonnybrook at one time and had been moved to Shepard.  This is still the home for pool agents.

Dr. Lawson had an office beside Rochon"s pool hall.  He practised before the turn-of-the-century.

There were people by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson, she ran a bakery.

Charlie Payne and family came to Shepard in 1908 and moved to Gadsby by 1918.  He worked as a handyman on the track. 

Charlie Hawks and family came to Shepard in 1900 later moving two miles southeast to land he homestead.

W. D. Swann came in 1909 and later bought a farm southwest of the village. 

Jas.  Ewen came in 1910 and ran Rochon's pool hall.

S. Mitchell came in 1910 and lived on the south side of town.  His wife was a music teacher.

Jimmy Patterson, a bachelor, came in 1886 and homesteaded land adjacent to the village.  He was a well-known rancher and farmer.

Other people I remember since the early days are; Mrs. Hatcher, a widow, and her daughter, lived in Shepard and she laid her married W.G.  Roberts; Jack Young, Matt McDougal, Frank Woodward,Wm.  Warne- ran Alberta Pacific elevator, Fraser, F. Whitney, A.E.  Bell, Neergards -ran blacksmith after Watson, J. O.  Grisla, G. Cruickshank in the hotel, Sharman.