Bedroom

Vintage photo album cover with embossed "Photographs" label, brown textured surface, and decorative cord binding on the left.
Black and white photo of a two-story building under construction, with scaffolding in front and a gambrel roof. Surrounding area appears undeveloped with piles of earth and bricks.

Lily & Helen lived at RiverBrink in Queenston for 28 years arriving there in 1924.

Their road there was not an easy one.

A vintage photograph of a 1920s women's basketball team standing in front of a wooden wall. The team consists of seven women in matching uniforms, holding a basketball, with names handwritten on two players. The women are wearing knee-high socks and athletic shoes typical of the era.
Historic photograph of Loretto Academy, Niagara Falls, Canada, featuring a large, ornate brick building with multiple arched windows and a prominent central tower.
Historic photo of people standing and sitting near a stone building with a balustrade, overlooking a garden with a circular lawn area and trees.

Margaret, Lily and Helen played on the Loretto basketball team

Lily and Helen met and fell in love at Loretto Academy in Niagara Falls in 1916, when they were both 15 years old. Lily was from Lewiston N.Y. and a boarder at the high school overlooking the Falls. Helen lived on a farm outside Chippawa and was a scholarship student at Loretto.

Vintage nightlight with a flame-shaped bulb and a golden, seashell-like decorative backplate

Helen and Lily held the OddFellow salon at RiverBrink for 25 years.

White wave symbol on black background

Come into the Salon and meet the

After graduating, Lily worked in her parents’ souvenir shop in Lewiston, NY. She travelled across the border weekly to visit Helen in Chippawa.

Two people swimming in the ocean near a wooded shoreline, with the year 1921 written above the photograph.
Bouquet of colorful flowers, including pink peonies and hydrangeas, with green leaves.

Swimming in Chippawa Creek - the ‘Crick’

“ Floating down the Crick with you and swimming at Dufferin Islands were the happiest times of my life . ” —Helen

Vintage pop-up card featuring angels, doves, flowers, and a handwritten romantic message with an old photograph of a couple.
Vintage photograph of two people sitting on a large rock by the shore, with handwritten text "Don't we love" below, dated 1923.
Two people dancing on a beach, wearing swimwear, with trees in the background, dated August 26, 1921.

Helen used the pseudonym, ‘The Botanist’ in her valentine to Lily.

Lily panicked.

Lily married Arthur in Lewiston NY, shortly after receiving Helen’s card. Her son Gordon was born in 1923.

A vintage photo of three people standing in front of a rocky cliff, surrounded by grass and vegetation, possibly from the 1920s.

Arthur, Helen and Lily in the Niagara Gorge

“ How I regret donning that ill-fitting wedding dress of Arthur’s mother, which vexed me all day. I wanted to laugh with you later over it, but you were gone. ”
–Lily

A vintage baby announcement card with a stork illustration, flowers, and a basket with baby items. It announces the arrival of a baby named Gordon, born on November 2nd, weighing 8.5 lbs, to Mr. and Mrs. Coleman. The card has a textured cream envelope.
Vintage photo of a baby sitting outdoors on a blanket surrounded by plants and trees.
Vintage black and white portrait of an older couple in formal attire, framed with an ornate textured border.

After Lily married, Helen divided her free time between Chippawa Creek and the Star Hotel.

Helen and (her new ‘friend’ ) Anne were able to avoid getting arrested during the frequent raids at the back room of the Star Hotel by pairing off with Charles and David.

Vintage photo of a person swimming in a lake with a beach and trees in the background, dated July 4, 1921.
Two black and white vintage photos of a person wearing a hat and tie, with a colorful old-fashioned logo for "Star Hotel" in Port Colborne overlaid.

One of Helen’s ‘friends’, Anne Lister.

Vintage photo: two people outside, one standing and smiling, the other crawling on the ground in a playful pose. The scene seems casual and candid.
Two men in vintage attire standing on a sandy beach, each holding a straw boater hat, with one man having his arm around the other.
Vintage sepia photograph from 1924 showing four women seated closely together on a beach with handwritten note "A penny for your thoughts" on the bottom. Trees are visible in the background.

Friends: Margaret, Gwen, Esther and Helen

Two women wearing hats and smiling, standing outdoors with trees in the background.
Two women in vintage clothing, one standing on a swing and the other seated on the ground, with trees in the background.

Charles and David

Penelope and Sue

In 1924, after numerous unanswered letters, Lily wrote again to inquire about returning to Helen and Canada.

Assorted vintage envelopes and letters tied with a blue ribbon, including an air mail letter and an envelope labeled "Personal Papers."

During their separation Lily’s letters to the Botanist went unanswered.

A handwritten note on beige paper with floral illustrations in the top right corner. The note reads, "My parents insisted that it was time to stop all this foolishness. 'Arthur is a good man from a good family!' Yet he is. But it is not enough... He is not you."
Golden fan-shaped table lamp with pleated design on a circular base

“ Were Arthur to glean the truth of who I am, he may well seek to keep my boy from me. For men like him know they can take refuge in laws written solely for their benefit.”
—Lily

Colorful illustration of American Falls at night with vibrant lighting effects.
Vintage photo from 1923 showing a woman wearing a hat and dress, seated on a bench outdoors with trees and a house in the background.
Green bead necklace with varying shades and sizes.

“ If you will have me back, meet me on the viewing platform of the Falls, Friday at Noon, and I will return with you to Canada. Do not respond, I cannot risk it.”
—Lily

Vintage postcard depicting Needles Eye, Thousand Islands, St. Lawrence River, with trees and water.

After their reunion, Helen and Lily travelled to 1,000 Islands where Lily mourned her parting from her son. She did not see her son Gordon again, until 5 years later.

After returning to Canada and Riverbrink, the Botanist and Lily collaborated regularly together. They established the OddFellow salon in 1927.

White wavy line on black background

We worked together beautifully

The bedroom windows at RiverBrink look directly at Lewiston NY. Every morning Lily opened her bedroom window and looked across to Lewiston where her son continued to live with Arthur and Arthur’s parents.

Table with crystal decanter and glasses on a silver tray, pipe, ashtray with cigarette, scrapbook with "And so we begin..." title, and drawer with vintage cigarette packaging and booklets.
Vintage photo of a river landscape with a town and steamboat.