Bow Island
Town
72 E
Approximately 54 km south-west of Medicine Hat.
It was established as a flag stop on the Taber Subdivision of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1893. Named after the Bow River, according to old-timers a mistake was made in the naming of the town. The Bow and Belly Rivers joined north of the village of Grassy Lake and the town Bow Island was originally planned where the village of Grassy Lake now stands. When asked about the origin of the name in 1906, the post master was at a loss to provide an explanation since the Bow River was 32 km distant, and the South Saskatchewan only 6 km away. A local story arose over the naming of Bow Island and nearby Winnifred. Two women friends were looking for husbands. Driving into town one day, one said that she was "out to win a Fred." The other said equally determined retorted, "before you do, a beau I'll land." See also Bow River.