Map of Maine’s Moosehead Lake
From Introduction
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From Introduction
Map of Maine’s Moosehead Lake and the headwaters of the Aroostook and Penobscot Rivers, drawn in 1880 by W. R. Curtis.
From Chapter 2: Birch-Bark Canoes
Joseph John Kirkbride, Picnic along Shore of Lake, near Mouth of Socateau, ca. 1884, photograph.
From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes
Kennebec Canoes, “Popular Everywhere”
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Wood-and-canvas canoes built by the B. N. Morris Company of Veazie, Maine, among other builders, were made to order for paddlers overseas. This highly prized Morris canoe is owned by Tim Rowe in Great Britain, where several clubs collect the Canadian style canoes built in North America.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
A Gerrish canoe at McTrickey Cottage on Madawaska Lake, Aroostook County, Maine, ca. 1915.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Ella and Bert Morris (far right) and his brother Charlie (far left) pose with their staff in front of the B. N. Morris storefront, ca. 1900.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
The B. N. Morris canoe factory in Veazie, Maine.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
This 17-foot B. N. Morris canoe was originally built ca. 1912 and has been carefully restored by Rollin Thurlow of the Northwoods Canoe Company in Atkinson, Maine.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby fishes from an E. M. White canoe on Moosehead Lake in Maine, ca. 1895.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
E. M. White Company catalog cover from 1915 showing a courting canoe.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Several of the beautiful color designs available in 1926 for Old Town canoes.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Shipments of Old Town canoes arrived wrapped in straw and burlap at Shenk & Tittle, a sporting goods store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Dozens of newly finished canoes were stored on the roof of The Old Town Canoe Company factory.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
The George A. Gray hardware store of Old Town, Maine, in 1906. George Gray stands at the far left.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
The labels of Abiel Bickmore’s salve and powder that cured sores on work horses. The Bickmore powder, backed in 1884 by Herbert and George Gray, gave the Gray family national distribution experience that they used in marketing canoes.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
The Old Town Canoe factory. Note the wrapped canoes awaiting shipment near the railroad.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
An illustrated view of the Old Town factory appeared in the company catalogs.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Kennebec Canoe Catalog cover.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Finishing work was done by hand on canoes built at the Old Town factory during the 1920s and 30s.
From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes
Prior to varnishing, Old Town employees used a vacuum system to remove dirt and debris that was left over from sanding, ca. 1922.