The Columbian Canning Company was founded in Lubec in 1891 by James McCurdy, John P. McCurdy, John McGonigal and Sandy McQuade. Initially it was primarily a smoked herring operation although some sardines were canned under the "Columbian Fried Fish" label. The Columbian plant was one of the largest smoked herring plants in the world.

Written on back of photo in pen and ink, smeared and illegible in places: "Henry Gutheries, Harate Schofield, Knute Gutherie, Mel Garnett, Pete Brown, Doffy McCarty, Mina Allen, Lon Misner, Jeff Davidson, Sam Lake, Jakie Simmons, Hanna Heffron (or Hebbron), Al Schofield, John P. McCurdy, Eva Guptill, Bob Welply, Mel Garnet's Mother, Hatty Tyler, Florence Wilcox Chase, __, __, Mel Garnet's Wife, Jenni__ Gutherie. Second column on rear: Agnes? Collins, L__, J__, r__'s wife, Kenneth Collins, Ike Tyler, Shart? Guptill, Henry Guptill"