Society architect in New York, society architect
and fisherman on the Restigouche.
tanford White (1853-1906)
was a principal in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White
of New York City, arguably the best known partnership of its kind in
the United States at the turn of the century. White epitomized the
Gilded Age, designing urban palaces for the Tiffany's and Pulitzer's
in the city and an estate for the Goelet's in Newport, Rhode Island.
The latter connection opened another door when Robert Goelet,
millionaire real estate developer, proposed White for membership in
the Restigouche Salmon Club in 1887.
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Photographic portrait of Stanford White (detail),
about 1900
(© Collection of The New-York Historical Society, number 8100)
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The Gould Library (detail),
New York University, designed in 1894
(© Collection of The New-York Historical Society, number 69036)
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The Restigouche club was probably the most exclusive sporting
association in North America at the time. The main clubhouse was
located in Matapaedia, Quebec and its members included a virtual
who's who of New York society. White was a most enthusiastic
fisherman but his main skill as an architect was also sought in the
design of several luxury fishing camps on both sides of the river
during the 1890s, including work for William Vanderbilt in New
Brunswick and his friend Goelet in Quebec.
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Camp Harmony (Angling) Club (detail),
Restigouche and Upsalquitch Rivers, New Brunswick, circa 1898, shortly
after its completion in 1896. Designed by New York architect Stanford
White and owned by American interests, including Colonel O.H. Payne,
whose luxury houseboat can be seen below the camp
(Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History,
Montréal, Quebec, View-2844)
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Alligator fishing fly box (detail),
with plate at top inscribed "Stanford White" containing six trays
of salmon flies
(Collection of Mrs. Cynthia Jay, Huntington, New York)
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