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Mathewsons’ Golden Wedding Anniversary – Fifty Years of Summering in Metis

Black and white photograph of twenty-six members of the Mathewson family gathered at their home in Little Metis for a special event. In the center of the group are Mr. and Mrs. Mathewson.

Photograph

Mr. J. A. Mathewson’s group, 1897

Wm. Notman & Son

McCord Stewart  Museum

The 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Mathewson on August 10, 1897 was a big enough event to make the pages of the Montreal Gazette and to be photographed by photographers from the Notman studio. The Gazette reported that the Mathewsons’ home and grounds “were illuminated with Chinese lanterns and bonfires and the village streets were decorated with flags and bunting in honor of the event”. The couple were feted in the company of their five sons, two daughters and four grandchildren. Testimonials from employees and telegrams were received from far and wide. The Willing Workers, a collective of young women from Metis, presented their best wishes, as did the Methodist Church in thanks for the “aged couple’s” dedication to their church.

The Mathewsons are Metis royalty. Montreal merchant James Adams Mathewson first came to Metis in 1847 on the way back from Halifax after his wedding to Amelia Seabury Black. What motivated his long detour is unknown but business records show that he worked with members of the Macnider family.

The Mathewsons returned to Metis and built a cottage. For this they are recognized as the community’s first summer residents. Samuel Mathewson Baylis described how the patriarch inspired others to make Metis their summer home:

The discovery of the possibilities of this charming spot as a refuge and retreat for city-dwellers seeking new and unspoiled fields, is due to the vision and foresight of the late James A. Mathewson, of Montreal, who…urged friends and relatives to “Go to Metis, no place like it!

It  may have helped that the Mathewsons were so prolific. James and Amelia Mathewson had fourteen children and one of their sons, Samuel James Mathewson, had ten. They are ancestors to many members of the Metis community.