Canoes: A Natural History in North America

Several of the beautiful color designs available in 1926 for Old Town canoes.

Shipments of Old Town canoes arrived wrapped in straw and burlap at Shenk & Tittle, a sporting goods store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Dozens of newly finished canoes were stored on the roof of The Old Town Canoe Company factory.

The George A. Gray hardware store of Old Town, Maine, in 1906. George Gray stands at the far left.

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.

The Old Town Canoe factory. Note the wrapped canoes awaiting shipment near the railroad.

An illustrated view of the Old Town factory appeared in the company catalogs.

Finishing work was done by hand on canoes built at the Old Town factory during the 1920s and 30s.

Prior to varnishing, Old Town employees used a vacuum system to remove dirt and debris that was left over from sanding, ca. 1922.

Benson Gray, a historian with the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, is a member of the Gray family, founders of the Old Town Canoe Company.

When this Carleton Canoe catalog cover was published in 1924, Carleton canoes were built in the Old Town factory.

The Old Town Canoe Company celebrated the end of the First World War in 1919 with a military-themed catalog cover.

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.

A worker at Old Town Canoes puts the finishing touches on a fiberglass model.

Paddles were all handmade in classic shapes at the Old Town Canoe Company factory.