Elizabeth Harrison

BERTHA ELIZABETH MCWHIRTER (AUNT BESSIE) Bertha Elizabeth (Bessie) McWhirter was born in New Richmond in 1889. Her early life was like that of most other large families of the time in rural Quebec, where hard work was necessary to keep everyone fed and clothed. Bessie married Alfred Harrison in 1909 and would spend the rest of her life living in Grand Cascapedia, where she became a well-loved member of the community. As a young woman she went to work as a cook at a private fishing camp on the Cascapedia River called New Derreen. Her days would have been filled with hard work and long hours, yet she had the opportunity to meet many prominent and famous guests who must have filled her imagination with stories of adventure. Aunt Bessie worked for close to 50 years at the fishing camps on the Cascapedia River. According to her family's stories, Bing Crosby, singer and avid salmon fisherman, used to send her a Christmas card every year. Bessie never had any children so that may be why she dedicated so much of her life to her many creative pursuits. She made beautiful quilts from materials that were most likely often recycled from other clothes. She was also well known for the many hand made rugs that she made from recycled materials. She braided the heavier fabric and hooked an image in the center that reflected life in the community. Aunt Bessie also painted; her nostalgic paintings portrayed the rural Gaspesian countryside. Her love of the area was brought to life with her unique paint strokes that were filled with color and childlike enthusiasm. Some people called Aunt Bessie the Grandma Moses of the Cascapedia for like the world famous painter, she chose to portray her world through the simple brushstrokes’ of a folk artist. Her everyday life can be found throughout her work. She was also a writer and her book was titled "Beyond Recall". Although it was never published, it remained a part of the folklore of the Cascapedia and photocopied copies of it can still be found. In it she tells the story of a family living along the banks of the Grand Cascapedia who face the struggles and challenges of rural life. Aunt Bessie was known as a “well turned out lady" with her matching hats and gloves. She was always very stylish in appearance. After the death of her husband, Bessie was able to stay in her house for many more years, until it was decided that at 95 she should not be living alone anymore. She moved into Mary Harrison's Boarding House in St Jules, but being a very determined lady, she would often attempt to walk home. She was then moved to the CHBC in Maria. Even there she would wander away from the hospital in repeated attempts to get home to Cascapedia which was 15 kms away. According to Peggy Willett, at her 100th birthday party in the hospital she was quiet chipper and declared," I don’t feel any different today, so I guess I'll go for 200 now." She lived to be 103 years old! Fondly remembered by a community as everyone's Aunt Bessie, she has secured a place in our local history and she is a true Woman of the Gaspe.