Memories of Black River

Prince Edward County

I knew it as Black Creek but probably pronounced it “Crick”. Being farm kids in the 40’s with the war only recently behind us, there was always lots of work to do. Still, several times each summer, Dad would tell us on a Saturday morning to dig some worms, and in the afternoon we would spend several hours on the bridge over the black water beside the cheese factory.
Curd was always on the menu, and we would go right into the back shop where the cheese was made and fresh curds would be scooped into bags for us. Somehow, I doubt we washed our hands very thoroughly even though we had been puncturing worms with our hooks.
The curds were brand new – juicy, salty, and squeaked when you chewed them. Not like the stuff you buy in stores today that are advertised as “fresh” but were made several days ago at least.
Today there is a new, and quite famous cheese factory on the same site, and we visit it several times a year to get fresh curd, and a kings ransom in various cheeses. The bridge is wide and modern, not like the one lane bridge that was there all those years ago.
The picture shows my brothers Keith (left) George (right) and I am the little guy with no pole. The cheese factory is just to the left - out of the picture.
The fishing poles were cut that day from a tree in our yard, and the fishing line was “reeled” by turning the pole around and around. The only high tech equipment was the store bought line and hooks. The floats, or bobs as we knew them, were hand made.
Today when children go to summer camps, visit other countries, and have all manner of entertainments, those little fishing trips of ours would not warrant a mention. In my memory though, they shine with the warming glow of nostalgia!

email to deerthistle@sympatico.ca