Women of the River :: Photo Gallery :: The Cascapedia River Museum

Photo Gallery

Women of the River

This photo album was inspired by a temporary exhibit, “A Woman’s River” which was on display at the Cascapedia River Museum during the 2011 season. This exhibit served as a tribute to all of the Women who both lived and worked on the Grand Cascapedia River and all of the women who visited and fished on it.

The private fishing camps on the river are staffed with guides (predominantly male) who take visiting guests out fishing and household staff (almost exclusively female) who keep the camps clean, cook, serve the meals, do the laundry and tend the gardens so that visiting anglers can have a carefree and restful stay in beautiful surroundings. Both guides and household staff work long hours during the season and many of them remain at the camps sleeping in staff quarters for a week or more at a time.

There are many other women connected to the Grand Cascapedia River who come to visit during the season and fish the waters. Princess Louise, the daughter of Queen Victoria, is a fascinating woman who enjoyed spending time on the Cascapedia – there is a photo album detailing some of her story on the site. Amy Guest is another strong female personality tied to the Cascapedia River. She was responsible for saving the Cascapedia Club during the depression and as such single handedly preserved the character of the Grand Cascapedia River as we know it today. She was a very independent woman with a strong personality. She bought New Dereen and for years leased and reserved almost 8 miles of water on the river for herself. Scroll through the photographs below to learn about some of the other women of the river.

Gallery

Amy Phipps Guest (1872-1959) was the daughter of Henry Phipps, Jr. She was also Esmond Martin’s aunt (who landed one of the record catches on the river). She went on to own New Derreen and during the Great Depression was responsible for saving the Cascapedia Club. She was also a skilled angler. The largest salmon she ever caught was a 44 pounder.

Maria Davis was the wife of Edmund Davis and mother of Steuart (both of whom are represented 'Early Days on the River' photo gallery). She was a skilled angler. In her first season of salmon fishing she caught a total of 74 salmon, one of which was a whopping 33 pounds. The largest salmon she ever caught was 46 pounds in 1905, as seen here.

Princess Louise posing with a large salmon, alongside her guide, Jim Coull, on Lorne Cottage's front verandah.

Mary Paige Barnes (1865-1956) was Charles B. Barnes’ daughter. He was a part owner of Lorne Cottage. Mary poses here with a 33 pound salmon which she caught in 1927.

Sybil Bonbright was James Bonbright’s wife. He used to fish on the river as a child and returned throughout his life. He became a part owner of Horse Island Camp in the 50s.

Fred and Ruth Robertson pose with Esmond Bradley Martin's record breaking 53 or 55.5 pound salmon, June 1939.

Hilda Robertson at Horse Island Camp.

Annie Young and Lila Merchant, Horse Island Camp employees. This photograph was likely taken in the 1950s.

Lila Best Merchant, Horse Island Camp employee.

Margaret and John Heney were acquaintances of James Bonbright, who owned Horse Island Camp in the 1950s. They returned to the Cascapedia River on numerous occasions and John Heney reportedly caught five salmon in one day on June 9, 1952. Seen here holding a plaque commemorating their largest catch, Margaret and John caught a 40.5 pound salmon on June 25, 1956 at Lower Railroad Bridge Pool.

Peggy Small

Emory and Laura Ford. This photograph was on the lawn at Middle Camp in the summer of 1933 shortly after Emory married Laura (Lolly) Ford. The couple became partial owners of Middle Camp and Cascapedia Cottage (Horse Island Camp) for a time.