Coppermine River Trip-August 1st, 1975

Coppermine River Trip-August 1st, 1975

Aug 1
Sailing Day

• 23 miles
• More rapid-big but not difficult-5 major ones
• Very fast between lakes-on 5-6 mph
• sailed across 2nd big lake
• Big carry at esker - dragged canoes -1 mile wide!
• Camped on barren island to avoid bugs. - Tern island
• Grayling in evening on Hairy Mary
• Brad Hager got 7 lb Togue
• 1.5-2.0# 

There is a drawing int the middle of this page that I believe depicts the setup of the canoes and kayak for sailing.  Check out the image for details.  Also, I believe Togue is another name for Lake Trout.

Coppermine River Trip-July 31st, 1975

Coppermine River Trip-July 31st, 1975

July 31

• 10 Miles
• Big rapids!!!
• Lined first part of 1st rapid Then all Ok.
• 2nd rapid 400 yds ~30 m c/s. Big-Big holes-ran entire rapid on tug __ left. - Then big hole in last drop.
• Carried 3rd rapid - big Culgey huge waves (5-7') ~ 1 mile
• 4th rapid broad, long + easy
• camp on point
• Grayling on hairy mary (one 2 3/4 lbs) and dry muddler 
• Moose tracks, wolf tracks
• forest fire smoke

Grayling Day

Rapids Day

There is a word in the description of the second rapids that I could not make out at all.  The word "Culgey" in the description of the third rapids is very likely wrong.  

Also, I have a question for those of you who are real fly fisherman, is "hairy mary" a real fly name?

Coppermine River Trip-July 30th, 1975

Coppermine River Trip-July 30th, 1975

July 30th

• 10 miles-Dead tired
• Terrific L.T. fishing in AM. Many on surface on 9-3
• Stopped for lunch on esker
• Caribou horns. Cleaver found quartz sample
• Stopped at "rock vent"- Whats in bedsbine sturn - Brad H. says olivine -gabbo Found tuff and basalt scorin (big boulders). Also quartz- vein in glacial erratic.  
• Camped on river well above first big rapids.

Lake Trout Day

Rock Nest Day

I did the best I could on this one but there are a number of words I couldn't identify.  Given the context, they are likely minerals or other geologic terms (which I should be able to get, but am not able to).  Maybe some of the other geologists in the family can do better.

Lake Trout

Coppermine River trip-July 29th, 1975

My father took a bunch of amazing trips through his life and I came across his journal for some of them.  I thought I would take some time to transcribe one of the trip.  He also took a large amount of photos on these trips, and when we get the converted to digital, I'll revisit this log and add the photos to them.  I am having a bit of trouble reading Dad's writing, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.  So here goes.

January 29th, 1975

Edmonton to Yellow Knife

• Visit to Y.K. "Giant" Mine
• Ore samples from dump
• Flew into Red Rock Lake
• Paddled in 107 mile
• 2 1 # togue - Cleaver caught 3-4 lb on daredevil.
• One mild rapid - very heavy current
• Cleaver Bags last
• I did not sleep well. Sun woke me at 3:00 am in N.E. (set in N.W.)
• Lake Trout Day (Cleaver)
• Forest Fire in NW on way in

I am not sure about the statement "Cleaver Bags last".  Bags is my best guess.  Cleaver was one of the other people on the trip.  Maybe someone can come up with a better transcription, so I'll add images of each of the pages to the blog.

Coppermine Trip July 29th, 1975

Some vignettes about Merrick and Catherine

I ended up talking to my mother after posting the biographies about Merrick and Catherine and found out a few more tidbits of information that I want to get out.

• Merrick was a fiddle player who love to play and performed at weddings and other event.  Catherine was not fond of this and limited his playing at the house.  Even though, he would take the grandchildren into back rooms and preform for them.  
• Catherine worked as a cook's assistant in a lumber camp before she started working at the paper mill. 

Merrick's Letter to Catherine

I've come across a letter that my Great Grandfather, Merrick Luther Smith wrote to his wife.  He appears to be living in Mitteneague, West Springfield, MA.  This letter gives us a glimpse into his personality as he wrote it as a poem. There are a few places toward the end that I had a difficult time transcribing the words.  I put down what I think it says, but don't know the meaning.

Mitteneague July 21, /97

My Dear Wife

1

I now set down with pen in hand

To write you a letter as long as I can

Which wont be very long you can bet your old hat

But you probably already know about that

2

A I am writing this letter I've not much to tell

Only that I am getting along nicely + feeling quite well

I do my own house work + feed my self

and I am living up on the top shelf

3

For my supper tonight I has a squash frye

With a pan of Bonnams sitting close by

And the Biscuit was fine that I got at the start

and this isn't all but I wont tell any moor

4

For you might think I am living quite a fast life

Down here all alone with out any wife

But you know I am alone + can do as I please

And I don't I live on crackers and cheese

5

Now I will try to show you the house as it looks

With my cloths on the floor instead of the hooks

The coal hod is full + the lamps are all black

and I am going to leave it like that until you get back

6

The flys + cob webs are on windows + wall

The car dust is all over the floor in the hall

The stove is heaped up till it wont hold any moor

And now it falling all over the floor

7

And as I was looking at the floor tonight

I had to acknowledge it was quite a sight

With the greese spots all over + the dirt an inch thick

And I though if you could see it it would make you sick

8

But don't get scart beforr you hirt

For I am going to dig out all the dirt

And I will clean it all + make it all write

But it does look like the very deveal tonight

9

Now this letter I close for I can't write any morr

So I put out the Fuiter + lock up the door

And to bed I will go as soon as I can

And I think of you sleeping without any man

10

But never mind dear I make it all wright

For we sleep together the very first night

And bring that along you said you keep

For without that I know I could not sleep

11

So I bid you goodnight + go off to bed

And wad up my pillow + lay down my head

And sleep the sleep of the happy + free

And dream all the night that you are with me

Give my love to all + kiss the little Dincks for me

Your mhast

M. L. Smith

The Old Man

Catherine Ellen McCann (1861-1937) S3

Catherine Ellen McCann

Catherine Ellen McCann (1861-1937) S3
Birth: June 3rd, 1861 in Lee, MA.
Father: John McCann (1831-1910) S6
Mother: Mary Clasby (1834-1880?) S7

Married: Merrick Luther Smith (1856-1934) S2 on October 18th, 1883 in Lee, MA

Children:
Estella L. Smith (1886-1955)
Female Child Smith (1889-1889)
Florence Edna Smith (1892-1937) S1

Death: November 30th, 1937, Northampton, MA

1861-1880
Catherine Ellen McCann was born to John McCann and Mary Clasby in Lee, MA.  I have gotten a hold of her birth certificate, but need to scan it, so will post it another day.  We believe that she was the third of four children but have some conflicting information.  He little sister Lizzie Ann was born sometime in 1862 and her father, John, Enlisted in the northern army on July 17th, 1862.



Catherine and the other children drop out of the records after John enlists.  The only sign of any of the family is Mary Clasby living alone in the 1865 Massachusetts census.  The family legend says that some of the children where adopted out to some of John's sibling and Catherine was bound out to a cook.  Given that she was three or four when this occurred,  It is likely that she wouldn't even remember her parents.

Catherine does not show up again until the 1880 census under the nickname of Kate McCann.  She is living in Lee, MA as a boarder with a family consisting of Edward Dowd, Laura Down and their two children.  She is listed as working in a paper mill.  This is likely how she met her future husband. As a interesting note, her mother is listed as being from Ireland.  Some of the other census records say that she was from Massachusetts.

1881-1900

On October 18th, 1883 she married Merrick Luther Smith in Lee, MA.   The marriage was conducted by Reverend D. McCartney, pastor of the Methodist Church.  Merrick is listed as being a mill operator, likely at a paper mill.  Their first child, Estella L. Smith was born in Lee, MA on August 15th, 1886.  By 1889, the family had moved to West Springfield, MA and are living at 73 Front Street, in the Mitteneague neighborhood.



On June 23rd, 1889, they lost a baby daughter in childbirth.  Their last daughter, Florence Edna Smith, was born in West Springfield on March 19th, 1892.  The 1900 U.S. Census and the 1900 City Index shows that family still living at the 73rd Front Street address.  The census states that By 1901, they had moved to Housatonic village of Great Barrington, MA.


The 1910 U.S. Census shows the family renting a house on Park Street with a lodger, Margaret Scenlon.  The 1920 U.S. Census shows them still living on Park Street.

Merrick Luther Smith and Catherine Ellen McCann
and eight grand children

306 Maple Street house

By 1926, Catherine and Merrick had moved to a house on Maple Street.  The 1930 U.S. Census shows Merrick owning a house at 306 Maple Street, Housantonic, MA.  Merrick passed away on October 3rd, 1934 in Pittsfield, MA.

Catherine moved in with her daughter, Florence Edna Smith at the 67 West Street house in Northampton, MA. She lived there until her death on November 30th, 1937.  She is buried with her husband in Fairmont Cemetery, Lee, MA.

So, what happened to Catherine and her siblings during the lost years?  I'll try and figure some off it out as I work through her parent's lives, but may never be able to answer that question.

Sources:

• 1880 United States Federal Census, Year: 1880; Census Place: Lee, Berkshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 521; Family History Film: 1254521; Page: 215D; Enumeration District: 051; Image: 0432
• 1900 United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: West Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: 653; Page: 24B; Enumeration District: 0612; FHL microfilm: 1240653
• 1910 United States Federal Census, Year: 1910; Census Place: Great Barrington, Berkshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_572; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0036; FHL microfilm: 1374585
• 1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Great Barrington, Berkshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_679; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 18; Image: 1130
• 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Great Barrington, Berkshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 884; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 0016; Image: 133.0; FHL microfilm: 2340619
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Year 1861, Volume 141
• Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915, Merrick Smith and Kate McCann, October 18th, 1883
• Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980, Volume Number 71, Page number 121, Index Volume Number 99,  Reference Number F63.M363 v.99 1937 - Northampton - 71 121
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Find a Grave