SPRING2016
MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
47
"Wilma,66, saidher last holidaywas in1967. 'Iwent toExpoand I haven’tmissedamilking since.'”—WillyWaterton
Cecil andEdithBrown, the last cottagersonEmmett Lakenear Tobermory,
August1989. ThroughaTobermoryacquaintance, I learned theBrownswere to
tobeevicted from their cottageonEmmett Lakewhen theOntariogovernment
turnedover their land to the federal government for thenewlyestablishedBruce
PeninsulaNational Park. TheBrownshadbeenon the lake since theearly ‘60s.
During their timeat Emmett Lake theBrownshadbecomecaretakersof the lake,
keepinganeyeonboatersandcampersandmore thanonceput out campfires
leftburning. Cecil, knownas “Brownie”, knew thebest fishingholesafter
spending somanyyearson the lake. After thisphotographand storyappeared in
papersacross thecountry, ParksCanadanegotiateda leaseallowing theBrowns
touse thecottage indefinitely.Webecame friendswith theBrownsuntil their
deaths (Cecil at100 in2005; Edithat96 in2010).
DorotheaBumstead sweeps thedoorwayof theEast Linton general store
inMarch1980. Iwasattractedby theoldmetal signsadvertising soft drinks
adorning the store’sexterior. Dorothea’s relatives theLartersopened theEast
Lintongeneral store in1911and thebuilding stills standsat thecornerofGrey
CountyRoad1and theEast LintonSideroadwest, nowasa residence. Littlehad
changedover the yearswhen I photographedDorotheaatwork. Youcould still
buyapaperbagof rolledoatsby imperialweight.
WilmaWard feedingher chickens, September1986.
SistersSadieandWilmaWardcarriedona family
farming tradition that startedwhen their father
Walterbrought98acresat thenorthendofBass
lake in1904 for acreamoperation. Afterhisdeath
in1951, theWard sisters ran the farm innorthern
GreyCountyby themselveswithonly seasonal help.
Adaybeganat6:30amwhen the sistersmilked13
Holsteinsandended15hours later after a second
milking. Askedwhy theycontinued to farmafter35
yearsSadie, 64at the time, said, ”Webothenjoy it,
partlybecauseyouareyourownboss”.Wilma, 66,
saidher last holidaywas in1967. “Iwent toExpo
and I haven’tmissedamilking since.”
