Henry the Canoe

[Karl Sagal]

I happened upon this site after a great stop at Shaker Hill Outdoors, where I learned a lot. Now for my questions... I have a canoe that I got from my father, and I believe he got it from his father. I know it is an old town canoe, and I recall a trip to Old Town Maine when I was about 10 where we had this canoe on the roof of the station Wagon... I recall some details from that trip, but as I am in my 60s, I presume that some of what I remember is likely influenced by the half century plus since I witnessed it... So, any details I can get on this canoe I would appreciate. I looked at the serial number on the small wooden support that I will call a skeg for lack of a better term. Near the rear of the canoe that I believe was started in 1918, wood and canvas at that time, (Unfortunately now wood and fiberglass) are the numbers 18 followed by a space, then 4 4 8 6 4. For some reason, I have an impression that this canoe was named at the factory in French, Honre (Henry in French) but now I cannot remember when or where I learned that. But now I call my canoe Henry. My father is long passed, and there are no people in the family that have any clue about this piece of history... I'd love to restore it to the best of my ability and any details to help with that will be very much appreciated.

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 44864 is an 18 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, Otca model with red Western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, and a keel. It was built between September, 1916 and March, 1917. The original exterior paint color was dark green with the name "Eneri" in white three inch letters on the right bow. It shipped on April 3rd, 1917 to Waterbury, Connecticut. A scan of this build record can be found below.

This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join, or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Canoes with a family connection are always extra special. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the project,

Benson

 

[Karl Sagal]

Benson,
Thank you so much for your response. I took your suggestion and made a donation. It was great to see that form, and hear you say similar to what I recalled from over 50 years ago. Have a great day...
Karl