The Ford Pool in 1952
Mr. Rufus Matthews, known to all as Ruff, was an ardent salmon fisherman. He came to the St. Mary’s River in the late forties from South Carolina. Each year he stayed in the area as long as the fishing was good. Then he would move to other rivers where there was better fishing.
In the early years Ruff and his wife Mabel boarded in Sherbrook in the summer months. Then they bought the cottage on the bridge pool just above the Stillwater bridge. Ruff sold the cottage to Bill Williams who bought it for Olands, the present owner. By the way, this cottage was built in the 1930’s by an American by the name of Cricthley.
One day in late May or early June 1952, Ruff, shown in the picture was fishing the Ford Pool. He was alone in his river boat (the Tom Ross punt) when he hooked into a big fish. The fish had one thing in mind and that was to head back to the open sea at Sonora. With his reel emptying fast, Ruff called to Sonny MacIntosh, who was guiding another fisherman just up river, to come and take the rod and follow the fish. Sonny was quick to come to the rescue. The struggle lasted over half an hour and took Sonny down river past Archibalds Brook, through the Bridge Pool, ending just below the bridge at the Bulls Eye Rock. The salmon shown in the picture according to Sonny, was a deep female in the 20 pound range.
J. Donald Gunn
Babe Ruth stayed at the Ford Pool camp while he fished on the river.
Mr. Rufus Matthews, known to all as Ruff, was an ardent salmon fisherman. He came to the St. Mary’s River in the late forties from South Carolina. Each year he stayed in the area as long as the fishing was good. Then he would move to other rivers where there was better fishing.
In the early years Ruff and his wife Mabel boarded in Sherbrook in the summer months. Then they bought the cottage on the bridge pool just above the Stillwater bridge. Ruff sold the cottage to Bill Williams who bought it for Olands, the present owner. By the way, this cottage was built in the 1930’s by an American by the name of Cricthley.
One day in late May or early June 1952, Ruff, shown in the picture was fishing the Ford Pool. He was alone in his river boat (the Tom Ross punt) when he hooked into a big fish. The fish had one thing in mind and that was to head back to the open sea at Sonora. With his reel emptying fast, Ruff called to Sonny MacIntosh, who was guiding another fisherman just up river, to come and take the rod and follow the fish. Sonny was quick to come to the rescue. The struggle lasted over half an hour and took Sonny down river past Archibalds Brook, through the Bridge Pool, ending just below the bridge at the Bulls Eye Rock. The salmon shown in the picture according to Sonny, was a deep female in the 20 pound range.
J. Donald Gunn
Babe Ruth stayed at the Ford Pool camp while he fished on the river.
