Bedroom
Lily & Helen lived at RiverBrink in Queenston for 28 years arriving there in 1924.
Their road there was not an easy one.
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.
Helen and Lily held the OddFellow salon at RiverBrink for 25 years.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
One of Helen’s ‘friends’, Anne Lister.
Friends: Margaret, Gwen, Esther and Helen
Charles and David
Penelope and Sue
In 1924, after numerous unanswered letters, Lily wrote again to inquire about returning to Helen and Canada.
During their separation Lily’s letters to the Botanist went unanswered.
“ 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
“ 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
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.
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.
