The Cascapedia River Museum

Robert Graham Dun (1826-1900) was an Ohio-born, financial broker and business entrepreneur. Dun started his career as a clerk in a local business and through family connections began to work for the Mercantile Agency in New York City. Within a short number of years he became a senior partner in the company and eventually bought out the interests and the company became known as R. G. Dun. Robert Dun came to the Cascapedia River in 1873. One of the original members of the Cascapedia Club, he stayed at the Woodman’s Inn for many years until in 1887 he had Red Camp built. Dun fished the Cascapedia River over a period of twenty five years and during this time caught several record salmon weighing over fifty pounds. Dun had this photograph professionally taken in 1886 to celebrate his capture of a 54 pound salmon.

Raised in Philadelphia, Dr Weir Mitchell completed his medical degree at the age of twenty-one. His interests in neurology lead him to become known as one of leading authorities on nervous diseases and their treatment. He wrote several novels, one entitled When all the Woods are Green which was set in the Cascapedia Valley. An original member of the Cascapedia Club, he fished the river from 1893 to 1912. Mitchell’s biggest landed salmon was caught in 1911 and weighed 45 pounds. He is pictured here with Mr. Cadwalader.

Independently wealthy, Edmund Davis spent much of his time hunting and fishing. He began fishing the Grand Cascapedia in the late 1880s as a guest of Robert Dun. After Dun’s death Davis received the rights to Red Camp and its waters. Davis wrote a book which was published in 1904, entitled Salmon Fishing on the Grand Cascapedia River in which he recounts his experiences on the river. He fished the river for over twenty years and during that time caught three salmon over fifty pounds. He was found dead from a gun shot wound at his camp in 1908, the circumstances of his death still remains a mystery.

The museum is fortunate to house Edmund W. Davis's original chair. The chair dates to the nineteenth century and for many years was located at Red Camp.

William Butts Mershon (1856-1943) first came to the Grand Cascapedia in 1884 and spent 50 years on the river. He built Cascapedia Cottage (now known as Horse Island Camp). The largest fish he caught was a forty-six pound salmon on June 23, 1919. Mershon was so proud of this achievement that he wrote an article detailing his success for the August 1919 issue of The American Angler called “Record Salmon of the Cascapedia”.

Esmond Bradley Martin (center) poses here with his record breaking 53 pound salmon. Lorne Willet (left) and Collins Gedeon (right) were the two guides who helped Mr. Martin secure his catch. Mr. Martin caught this salmon on June 27, 1939 at New Derreen’s Upper Jam Pool using a Lady Amherst fly.

Collins “Collie” Gedeon was rumoured to have actually hooked the giant in 1939. In return for his help, Martin gave Collie the rod that he used that day. Collie would eventually go on to serve as the chief of the MicMac band for a number of years after retiring from guiding. He continued to correspond with Martin for many years after their historic day on the river.

The Square Forks Bridge was one of only two bridges used to cross the Cascapedia upriver in the early days. Although the bridge is now long gone, part of the old pier is still there. This picture, taken in 1947, shows Bert McWhirter standing on the bridge.

This picture, taken in 1910 at Lorne Cottage, is of James Bonbright and his sister, standing next to Fred Nash’s 46 lb salmon.

Seen here as a lad, Steuart Davis was the son of Edmund W. Davis who is the only angler to have captured three 50+ pound salmon on the Cascapedia River. Steuart Davis went on to become one of the original members of the Cascapedia Club and wrote a book about salmon fishing on the Cascapedia River. He was with his father when Edmund died under mysterious circumstances in 1908, after a morning of hunting in the forests surrounding the Cascapedia. There are many rumours surrounding Edmund’s death. Some contend that his son, Steuart, killed his father. Others suggest that Edmund committed suicide because he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Still others maintain that Edmund died as a result of a hunting accident, when he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun. The truth may never be known.

Edmund Davis (left) and his son Steuart (right) are pictured here with their hunting dogs. Edmund died in Cascapedia 1908, after a morning of hunting, under mysterious circumstances. There are many rumours surrounding Edmund’s death. Some contend that his son, Steuart, killed his father. Others suggest that Edmund committed suicide because he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Still others maintain that Edmund died as a result of a hunting accident, when he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun. The truth may never be known.

The above photo was taken on June 23, 1915 when James Bonbright (center) was still just a boy. He is pictured here with the three salmon that were caught that day. On the left is Robert Best, a river guide. On the right is George Coull, holding a 47 pound fish.

Over the years the Cascapedia River has inspired artists. For a period during the early 1920s, John T. Spaulding (owner of Lorne Cottage) invited several artists to his camp. Arthur Goodwin, George Hallowell, Dodge McKnight, and Charles Pepper were impressionist artists, members of a group known as the “Boston School”. This picture, taken on 20 October 1920, depicts George Hallowell and Charles Pepper posing by the river.

George Hallowell was born in Boston. His family were Quakers. From an early age his artistic inclinations were encouraged by his family, primarily his aunt. Seen here, Hallowell poses next to one of his painting, which was hung in the dining room of Lorne Cottage.

Charles Pepper was the first “Boston School” artist to come to the Gaspe Coast. He studied art in both New York and Paris. Seen here, Pepper poses next to one of his painting, which was hung in the dining room of Lorne Cottage.