Well I messaged the Adirondack museum again and this time they got back to me. Dead end though
The collection of Nessmuk's canoes, some originally acquired by the Smithsonian, does document the little paddle but no photo or drawing, whereabouts unknown. Here is their message....
Dear Mr. Ferguson,
We do have the Rushton Nessmuk model canoe Wee Lassie in our
collection as well as the paddle used with it (60.53.1-2), We also have
Sairy Gamp on long term loan (L65.17). Unfortunately, however, Sairy Gamp
did not come with its paddles. The Smithsonian Institution's bulletin 127,
Catalogue of the Watercraft Collection in the United States National Museum
compiled and edited by Carl W. Mitman in 1923, describes the boat (which was
then in Washington) and states that there was "one small paddle; one
double-bladed paddle" with the boat. The dimensions were: "small paddle,
17 inches long, blade 3 inches wide; double (jointed) paddle, 6 feet 1
inch." No dimension was given for the width of the double-bladed paddle's
blades.
Several years ago I corresponded with Paula Johnson, curator of
watercraft at the Smithsonian, about the paddles. She examined their
records and collections and could not locate the paddles.
I'm afraid that's all I can tell you about the "pudding stick." I
hope this has been helpful.
Sincerely yours,
Hallie E. Bond, Curator
Adirondack Museum
P.O. Box 99
Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812
(518) 352-7311, ext. 105
Oh well, life needs some mysteries,eh?
So it looks like I will need to reinvent the wheel after all, which I had in mind to do anyway. Nessmuk, wherever you are, I bet you're having a good chuckle over this
Hey, has anyone ever tried contacting the Smithsonian with a question
...some folks just never give up.
The collection of Nessmuk's canoes, some originally acquired by the Smithsonian, does document the little paddle but no photo or drawing, whereabouts unknown. Here is their message....Dear Mr. Ferguson,
We do have the Rushton Nessmuk model canoe Wee Lassie in our
collection as well as the paddle used with it (60.53.1-2), We also have
Sairy Gamp on long term loan (L65.17). Unfortunately, however, Sairy Gamp
did not come with its paddles. The Smithsonian Institution's bulletin 127,
Catalogue of the Watercraft Collection in the United States National Museum
compiled and edited by Carl W. Mitman in 1923, describes the boat (which was
then in Washington) and states that there was "one small paddle; one
double-bladed paddle" with the boat. The dimensions were: "small paddle,
17 inches long, blade 3 inches wide; double (jointed) paddle, 6 feet 1
inch." No dimension was given for the width of the double-bladed paddle's
blades.
Several years ago I corresponded with Paula Johnson, curator of
watercraft at the Smithsonian, about the paddles. She examined their
records and collections and could not locate the paddles.
I'm afraid that's all I can tell you about the "pudding stick." I
hope this has been helpful.
Sincerely yours,
Hallie E. Bond, Curator
Adirondack Museum
P.O. Box 99
Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812
(518) 352-7311, ext. 105
Oh well, life needs some mysteries,eh?
So it looks like I will need to reinvent the wheel after all, which I had in mind to do anyway. Nessmuk, wherever you are, I bet you're having a good chuckle over thisHey, has anyone ever tried contacting the Smithsonian with a question
...some folks just never give up.
