Port Hope photographer Lee Higginson is spreading her love for the town by selling postcards in partnership with the historic Furby House Books.
Located at 65 Walton Street beside The Thirsty Goose in downtown Port Hope, the aptly named Furby House Books first opened in 1989 at 128 Walton Street out of what was the former home of William Furby, who established the first newspaper in the town in 1831 and is known as the “father of journalism” in Port Hope.
Four locations and several owners later, the independent bookstore continues to be a beloved staple in the community.
“We’re so glad they’re here and it fits in with the quirkiness of Port Hope,” says Higginson. “It’s very special.”
Alex Byers, one of three current co-owners of the store, says there has been “quite a demand for postcards” from the bookstore’s customers.
“Tourists were coming through asking for them fairly regularly through the summer and all year long,” she recalls. “And people who don’t live here anymore, they want to take something home that says Port Hope.”
“As far as merchandising, we have T-shirts and sweatshirts, but we never seem to have the right size, the right colour, the right shape, and the right fit. So, the post cards are a one-size-fits-all item for customers.”
Already familiar with Higginson’s “remarkable” photographs given her reputation as an artist around the town, Byers was certain they would make great postcards.
“They feel atmospheric and really draw you in,” she says. “They’re just stunning and they’re so Port Hope.”
Having lived in Port Hope for 15 years, Higginson describes herself as working “generally in the arts,” as she helps with community programming and supporting other creative endeavours, though she notes that photography has always been one of her favourite creative outlets.
“The photography piece has been in my life since the minute I knew what the camera was,” she says. “I’m the person that had the opportunity to see photos that my parents and grandparents took, and it’s always been a high priority in my family’s life to document through photography over generations.”
Higginson says that while she’ll photograph everything, she is “obsessed with Lake Ontario” and might be best known around town as a lake photographer.
“I think Port Hope’s waterfront is really weird and fitting for a quirky town, but people have a really hard time looking past the industrial reality of our waterfront and often complain about it,” Higginson says.
“But the fact of the matter is that Port Hope exists because of the industry that was built up because of it being lakeside. You have to acknowledge the fact that Port Hope lives here because of its industry and its access to water, so people need to push through that, drive past the industry, and keep it to your back — because when it’s at your back, all you see is beauty.”
“It’s my perpetual quest to make sure that Port Hope remembers that it lives lakeside and that a baby ocean is at our doorstep 24 hours per day,” Higginson adds. “It’s all history and it’s all a piece of why we are living here right now.”
When she was approached by Byers to create the postcards, Higginson didn’t hesitate for a second, recognizing that she has “probably a quarter of a million photos in my catalogue that I’ve taken over many, many eras, and a lot of the last 15 years has been photos that are Port Hope centric.”
While fans often ask if they can buy her photographs, she has never sold them as they can be costly to print. However, at $2 each, the postcards are much more accessible and affordable both for her and her audience.
“In addition to being a great honour and a great joy to know that those photos are out there floating around in the world, it’s also a way for me to say ‘They may be tiny and semi-disposable, but here you go if you wanted to buy my photos.'”
The first run of postcards began with “iconic” landmarks including reflections of Town Hall, the Ganaraska River, scenes that are recognizable from the “IT” movies that were filmed in town and, of course, photos of the annual Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny boat races.
Higginson and Furby House Books will continue to print more runs of similar, and all new, photos.
“I certainly can provide a few dozen for every season for probably the next 20 years,” Higginson jokes, noting she has many photos of the annual salmon run as well. “I think it could be really fun seasonal turnover.”
While she loves sharing her work and her love for Port Hope, Higginson also expresses how the “decidedly non-digital experiment” was one of the reasons she was so excited by the project.
“It’s that idea that nobody gets mail any more, and nobody gets something in their mailbox,” she explains. “The idea of a tactile greeting that’s connecting communities in authentic ways really makes my heart happy.”
“They’re cute enough to put in a little frame, and you can keep it because you want to remember what it looked like or you can mail it off. There’s such a fun little thing to do that doesn’t have a barrier in terms of appreciating an artistic moment.”
According to Byers, since the project launched, customers have been “very excited” to see the postcards in store, with many people purchasing several to gift to family and friends. Though it was her idea to approach Higginson, Byers takes none of the credit.
“The majority of how this has been a success is based on Lee’s enthusiasm,” says Byers. “We’re just the shell and she’s the running force behind it all. We’re just the ‘Go Lee!’ partners in the background.”
For more information about Furby House Books, visit www.furbyhousebooks.com. While you can’t order the postcards online, you can drop by the store from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
