Need help confirming the identity of my canoe

[cherylbarden]

I have inherited a lovely canoe from my father. It has a label saying "1934 Special Order Rowing Canoe made by the Stephenson Boat Co, Kezar Lake, Lovell, Maine. It is in near mint condition except for not having original oars or oar locks ( I think). Is this in fact a Stephenson Canoe? Any help would be appreciated. Cheryl Barden

 

[Benson Gray]

It looks like it could be a Stephenson and the information at http://wcha.org/legacypages/maine-list.htm indicates that he was still building into the 1930s. Others may have more information.

Benson

 

[Dan Miller]

George Stephenson was son of canoe-building pioneer John Stephenson of Peterborough, Ontario. In 1885, George moved to Auburndale, Massachusetts, where he worked first for J.R. Robertson and then for H.V. Partelow. In the 1890s he became severely ill, and went to Maine to recover. He ended up moving there permanently in the mid- 1890s. He first lived at Pennesseewasse Lake and often worked at Brown's Camp in Center Lovell. He moved to Lake Keewaydin in 1930, and a few years later to Kezar Lake, where he lived until he died in 1945.

 

[smallboatshop]

From the Lovell Historical Society:
http://lovellhistoricalsociety.org/pdf/Summer 2011.pdf

Dan Eaton
smallboat shop
Denmark, ME
www.smallboat-shop.com

 

[cherylbarden]

Thank you for the link. I believe it to be a Stephenson and now I need to decide whether I use it or not. It is such a lovely canoe.