D.B.Neal
- Thread starter themorg78
- Start date
There is a good article in Wooden Canoe Issue 158 (April 2010). Back issues are available through the WCHA online store at http://store.wcha.org
Kathryn Klos
squirrel whisperer
Here's the link to an older post in Forums:
http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?2796-D.-B.-Neal-Dover-Foxcroft-Maine&highlight=db+neal
I know there are at least a couple folks here with D.B. Neal canoes.
Kathy
http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?2796-D.-B.-Neal-Dover-Foxcroft-Maine&highlight=db+neal
I know there are at least a couple folks here with D.B. Neal canoes.
Kathy
Michigan?
Hello themorg:
I did the article mentioned above and believe it or not I am working on a Neal canoe right now. It was put on hold for some time while I finished a few others. I just cut a replacement deck out yesterday. It is great fun trying to reproduce your great grandfather's work. I will post some more photos here as I go along, but it is nearly ready for canvas.
Anyway, Scott Barkdoll put me in touch with a living relative. I spoke to Chuck Neal out in Michigan last year and sent him copies of everything I know. Are you Chuck? The following sums up our conversation:
"I chatted with Chuck on the phone. He was born the year that Dan Neal died. He could not provide a great deal of additional information, but was thrilled to know that folks were finding and taking an interest in Neal's canoes. He did see the article that Steve and I put together. Chuck has a brother and two sons (Great, Great Grandsons), so the Neal name is in good standing. I think Chuck is 72 years old now.
Chuck is a canoe nut and is considering attending the Assembly next year.
I sent Chuck a package containing most everything that I was able to dig up on Dan Neal, including copies of the Down East Article."
Chuck reportedly has a Neal Square Stern restored by Scott Barkdoll.
Your Great Grandfather was pretty much Maine's version of Davy Crockett. Let me know where to reach you, and I will send you what I know.
Cheers,
Fitz.
Hello themorg:
I did the article mentioned above and believe it or not I am working on a Neal canoe right now. It was put on hold for some time while I finished a few others. I just cut a replacement deck out yesterday. It is great fun trying to reproduce your great grandfather's work. I will post some more photos here as I go along, but it is nearly ready for canvas.
Anyway, Scott Barkdoll put me in touch with a living relative. I spoke to Chuck Neal out in Michigan last year and sent him copies of everything I know. Are you Chuck? The following sums up our conversation:
"I chatted with Chuck on the phone. He was born the year that Dan Neal died. He could not provide a great deal of additional information, but was thrilled to know that folks were finding and taking an interest in Neal's canoes. He did see the article that Steve and I put together. Chuck has a brother and two sons (Great, Great Grandsons), so the Neal name is in good standing. I think Chuck is 72 years old now.
Chuck is a canoe nut and is considering attending the Assembly next year.
I sent Chuck a package containing most everything that I was able to dig up on Dan Neal, including copies of the Down East Article."
Chuck reportedly has a Neal Square Stern restored by Scott Barkdoll.
Your Great Grandfather was pretty much Maine's version of Davy Crockett. Let me know where to reach you, and I will send you what I know.
Cheers,
Fitz.
Greg Nolan
enthusiast
Please check you private messages.
Greg Nolan
Greg Nolan
Dan Neal Photos
Here are a couple of photos of your Great Grandfather courtesy of Stephen Rainsford who is a local Dover-Foxcroft historian (attached):
The first photo shows him guiding a sport in his trademark wide brimmed hat. The canoe may be a Neal canoe, but it does have a few traits I have not seen on others attributed to Neal. The canoe appears to be an 18 footer (big for a Neal?), the decks may be a different shape, and the thwarts are mortised into the inwale. The stem profile is similar to Neal canoes.
The second shows him giving his wife a ride in a birchbark canoe in the river behind his shop. This canoe may be the one that is now at Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.
Here are a couple of photos of your Great Grandfather courtesy of Stephen Rainsford who is a local Dover-Foxcroft historian (attached):
The first photo shows him guiding a sport in his trademark wide brimmed hat. The canoe may be a Neal canoe, but it does have a few traits I have not seen on others attributed to Neal. The canoe appears to be an 18 footer (big for a Neal?), the decks may be a different shape, and the thwarts are mortised into the inwale. The stem profile is similar to Neal canoes.
The second shows him giving his wife a ride in a birchbark canoe in the river behind his shop. This canoe may be the one that is now at Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.
Attachments
Hi Fitz,
No I'm not Chuck. My name is Tim Morgan and I'm the Grandson of Gearld Neal. The story I got from my Mom is Dan was married to my Great Grandmother who was a Boston blue blood and hated Maine. She took my Grandfather Gerald back to Boston and he would spend his summers up in Maine with Dan. My Mom has talked to 1 relative by the name of Dalton Neal, I believe a son of Stanley Neal. I don't know if he's still alive this as this was years ago. She lost the information and hasn't been able to find it. If it wouldn't be too much trouble I would like to recieve the article and any other information you have. After our family moved to Alaska, my Grandfather visted once before he passed away and said it reminded him alot of his boyhood days in Maine. My e-mail is themorg78@gmail.com. Thanks for getting back with me and good luck with your canoe
My understanding is one of Daniel's canoes is at the L.L.Bean main office and another is at the Roosvelt estate home. I would love to go and see them someday. I guess he was also a knife maker. It sounds like he was a Davy Crocket like figure. Probably would have loved Alaska.
No I'm not Chuck. My name is Tim Morgan and I'm the Grandson of Gearld Neal. The story I got from my Mom is Dan was married to my Great Grandmother who was a Boston blue blood and hated Maine. She took my Grandfather Gerald back to Boston and he would spend his summers up in Maine with Dan. My Mom has talked to 1 relative by the name of Dalton Neal, I believe a son of Stanley Neal. I don't know if he's still alive this as this was years ago. She lost the information and hasn't been able to find it. If it wouldn't be too much trouble I would like to recieve the article and any other information you have. After our family moved to Alaska, my Grandfather visted once before he passed away and said it reminded him alot of his boyhood days in Maine. My e-mail is themorg78@gmail.com. Thanks for getting back with me and good luck with your canoe
My understanding is one of Daniel's canoes is at the L.L.Bean main office and another is at the Roosvelt estate home. I would love to go and see them someday. I guess he was also a knife maker. It sounds like he was a Davy Crocket like figure. Probably would have loved Alaska.
As a result of this thread, I got to talk with Dan Neal's granddaughter tonight. She confirmed much of the family lore. What an absolute pleasure.
I should elaborate some here. As a result of the WCHA, Dan Neal's granddaughter discovered a whole new branch of the family tree. Scott Barkdoll restored a Neal canoe for Chuck Neal. The Morgan family did not know about the Neal family in Michigan. They have since connected and are filling out the family tree.
Fitz.
I should elaborate some here. As a result of the WCHA, Dan Neal's granddaughter discovered a whole new branch of the family tree. Scott Barkdoll restored a Neal canoe for Chuck Neal. The Morgan family did not know about the Neal family in Michigan. They have since connected and are filling out the family tree.
Fitz.
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Hi Fitz,
My Mom said she had talked to you the other day. This is Tim Morgan her son. It's amazing what the internet can do. Thanks for all the information you've provided and I'd like to see a picture of your canoe when you're done. My e-mail is themorg78@gmail.com
My Mom said she had talked to you the other day. This is Tim Morgan her son. It's amazing what the internet can do. Thanks for all the information you've provided and I'd like to see a picture of your canoe when you're done. My e-mail is themorg78@gmail.com
