It is not unusual to have discussions here about canoes where we try to identify the builder. I've recently seen some literary references to unidentified canoe builders as well. For example, page 258 of the Maine Bureau of Industrial and Labor Statistics report from 1909 at the first link below indicates that someone spent $400 to build a new "Canoe Shop" in Seboeis Plantation. I've never been able to find out the name of this canoe builder so please let me know if you have any ideas.
Another mystery was forwarded to me yesterday from page 16 of The Islander in 1906 as shown at the second link and image below. This says that “the entire plant and business of one of the best known Canoe manufacturers in Maine” was moved to Detroit in September of 1905 to get the Detroit Boat Company started making canoes. The canoe industry in Maine was still growing quickly at that point as shown in the chart at the third link below. My guess is that this business may have been run by William R. Luke. W. R. Luke was listed in the 1905 issue of the Maine Register on page 764 as a manufacturer of “Canvas Canoes, Paddles and Poles” in Old Town. He was not listed in the 1906 or later editions. The Bangor Directories from 1893 to 1899 identified him as a "canoemaker" and he probably learned the trade from Evan Gerrish. Page 496 of the 1903 Bangor Brewer Old Town Orono City Directory at the fourth link lists him as a “canoemaker” who lived in Old Town on Brunswick Street near Willow Street. The 1910 census listed him as an “Assembler” at an “Automobile shop” in Detroit. Various other references from the last link below indicate that he was born on 4/25/1863 at Prince Edward Island and died on 2/25/1953 in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he was buried. He moved around a bit with other indications that he was also in Millinocket, Maine and Lapeer, Michigan at various times. Does anyone have a better idea?
Benson
forums.wcha.org
digicom.bpl.lib.me.us
www.familysearch.org
Another mystery was forwarded to me yesterday from page 16 of The Islander in 1906 as shown at the second link and image below. This says that “the entire plant and business of one of the best known Canoe manufacturers in Maine” was moved to Detroit in September of 1905 to get the Detroit Boat Company started making canoes. The canoe industry in Maine was still growing quickly at that point as shown in the chart at the third link below. My guess is that this business may have been run by William R. Luke. W. R. Luke was listed in the 1905 issue of the Maine Register on page 764 as a manufacturer of “Canvas Canoes, Paddles and Poles” in Old Town. He was not listed in the 1906 or later editions. The Bangor Directories from 1893 to 1899 identified him as a "canoemaker" and he probably learned the trade from Evan Gerrish. Page 496 of the 1903 Bangor Brewer Old Town Orono City Directory at the fourth link lists him as a “canoemaker” who lived in Old Town on Brunswick Street near Willow Street. The 1910 census listed him as an “Assembler” at an “Automobile shop” in Detroit. Various other references from the last link below indicate that he was born on 4/25/1863 at Prince Edward Island and died on 2/25/1953 in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he was buried. He moved around a bit with other indications that he was also in Millinocket, Maine and Lapeer, Michigan at various times. Does anyone have a better idea?
Benson
Annual Report
books.google.com
The Inlander
books.google.com
The 1912 peak of canoe manufacturers in Maine
Sam's recent question about Rushton's open gunwale Indian Girls and the 1915 catalog from "J. W. Rushton" got me wondering about the changes in J. H. Rushton's canoe business after his death in 1906. Dan's page at https://woodencanoemuseum.org/builder-history/j-h-rushton-0 provided a broad...
1903 Bangor Brewer Old Town Orono City Directory
By Cannon & Co., Published on 01/01/03
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