an icy struggle
Toronto. Graham Garrett, perhaps best remembers for his research on early Canadian Daguerreotypists, researched and wrote a number of articles for Photographic Canadiana. In issue 23-3 He wrote an article on the daguerreotype photographers Hodgkinson & Butters titled, “Hodgkinson & Butters Early Takers in Atlantic Canada” in the column “Rediscovering Canada’s Photographic Heritage”.
Graham’s article begins with this précis: “Recently, [May 1997] Canada celebrated the opening of the new 13-kilometre long Confederation Bridge constructed across Northumberland Strait betweenNew Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
“The principal reason for this imaginative engineering project was to fulfill one of the promises made to the latter province in 1873 for year-round transportation to and from the mainland. When the span was completed it marked the passing of a familiar way of life in the region, notably the ferry service that had served residents and visitors alike for generations.
“Actually, the first commercial steam-propelled vessel to ply Northumberland Strait commenced service between Pictou and Charlotte Town 11 May 1832 on a twice-weekly schedule. There were also many hardy individuals during the nineteenth-century who thought little of navigating the windswept passage in small sailing craft or even open boats.
“Unfortunately, this method of transportation had a reputation for being risky at certain times of the year, something that was discovered by two itinerant daguerreian artists who almost lost their lives in 1843 as passengers on one of these early predecessors of the modern-day ferry.” …
You can read all of Graham’s article in full, plus other articles in the issue 23-3 pdf on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. Joining the PHSC is easy (see MEMBERSHIP above and at right). Any membership questions? Email our membership secretary Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
Dags (and lots of other photo collectibles) often show up at our events (see PHSC EVENTS at right). Email Mark or Clint at fair@phsc.ca if you have any questions. Our next event is our May 25th fair this Month.
