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AUGUSTA — One year ago, Rangeley Lakes Historical Society executive director Bill Pierce was hurrying through the lobby at the University of Maine-Augusta library. He was there to interview a prospective new intern for the society’s two museums when he happened upon something he didn’t know existed: On the wall were row upon row of photos some of Maine’s greatest women throughout history.
The photos had detailed inscriptions of the women’s achievements, not just to the state, but the world.
Pierce had happened upon the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame.
As he read about Maine’s greatest women, he realized there was one glaring omission — Cornelia Thurza “Fly Rod” Crosby, Maine’s first registered Maine guide, was not included.
On March 17, Fly Rod Crosby took her rightful place among Maine’s greatest women for her work as an outdoor writer, promoter, natural resource advocate and Maine’s first Registered Guide. Crosby was inducted along with U.S. Olympian, Julia Clukey, an Augusta native.
Crosby enjoyed a stellar career and inspiring life despite having to overcome the death of her father when she was only two-years-old from “a life-long battle with consumption,” a crippling knee injury, as well as staunch opposition to her Guides bill and call for better fish and wildlife laws among her peers of the day.
“Fly Rod took great personal and professional risks to advocate for women’s participation in outdoor field sports, the certification of guides to better care for client, as well as bag limits for game species suffering from exploitation here in Maine,” said Pierce at the ceremony. “She did this in a dedicated and impactful way at a time when women had not yet won the right to even vote, because she knew she was right.”
The application for Crosby’s consideration was submitted by the Rangeley Lakes Historical Society and supported by letters of recommendation from the Phillip’s Historical Society, Maine Trout Unlimited, Maine Professional Guides Association and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Clukey was recognized for her accomplishments as a member of the U.S. national luge team, but also lauded for her work through her annual summer camp in Readfield, which helps young women from ages 8-11 develop self-confidence and healthy lifestyles. Since 2012 her work has directly impacted the lives of more than 24,000 young women in Maine. In his presentation,
“If Fly Rod were here today, she would be honored to be entering the Hall, alongside you, as such a fearless and inspiring young woman like she was,” Pierce told Clukey.
IFW’s Bonnie Holding, as well as Mt. Blue High School freshman Emily Willett, and Laura Harris (both related to Crosby) also spoke in support of Crosby during the presentation.
Crosby never married and died one day after her 93rd birthday in 1946. She is buried in Strong alongside her parents and brother.
“Perhaps her greatest inspiration in life was her love for the great outdoors of western Maine.” said Pierce. “It was her one true love.”
He also read something Crosby had in February 1908:
“Someone once said of love, ‘For people who have never known it, any description seems overdrawn, and for people who have, it is quite beyond description.’ This is surely true of a life out of doors — on the lake, by the laughing brook, in the wilderness, on the mountain top, or in the valley. Why should not a woman do her share of fishing, hunting, trapping and mountain climbing and ask no odds of men?
“The time is past, I thank kind Providence, when it was thought unladylike for a woman to be a skillful angler or a good shot. There is no more graceful, healthful and fascinating accomplishment for a lady than fly fishing, and there is no reason why a lady should not in every respect rival a gentleman in the Gentle Art.”
The historical society’s Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum will open for the 2018 season Wednesday, May 2, and will expand its Fly Rod Crosby Exhibit in addition to opening four new exhibits.
The donor-funding society supports the Rangeley History Museum and the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc. For more information, visit www.rangeleyoutdoormuseum.org
TOP PHOTO: From left, Bonnie Holding and Commissioner Chandler Woodcock, of Maine Department Inland Fisheries & Wildlife; Laura Harris, Emily Willett, (Fly Rod) and Rangeley Historical Society’s Bill Pierce. (Submitted photo)
