woodcanoenut
1914 Old Town Charles River
November 24, 2011
Leah Batisse
This summer the Whistler Museum had the opportunity to acquire something truly special: a canoe. But not just any old canoe.
No, this is a 1916 beautifully restored Peterborough cedar-strip canoe. But wait, there’s more! Not only is the canoe absolutely gorgeous, it also originally belonged to none other than Alex and Myrtle Philip.
The Philips originally purchased the amazing artifact in 1916 for the use of Rainbow Lodge guests. When the lodge was sold in 1948, Myrtle kept the canoe for her personal use for the next 25 years.
Over the years the canoe changed hands and eventually landed in the workshop of expert vintage canoe restorer and member of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, David Lanthier. The artifact was showing signs of its age and David did an amazing job bringing the canoe back to its former glory.
Recognizing the canoe’s significance and importance to Whistler, David brought the existence of the artifact to the museum’s attention. He was also able to provide legal proof that the Philips were the original owners.
Thanks entirely to the generous support of the B.C. Government, the Whistler Museum was able to purchase and repatriate the 95-year-old canoe to its former home. However, as the museum does not have adequate display or storage space, the Whistler Public Library generously allowed us to install and display the canoe.
We felt that such a beautiful and important artifact needed to be shared with the community. You may have already seen the canoe hanging from the library’s ceiling in all its glory.
Knowing that this specific canoe once held avid fishermen on Alta Lake nearly a century ago and has been on countless River of Golden Dreams torus since, it is only right that it be returned to its original home. This is perhaps the most significant artifact acquisition the museum has made in many years.
The Whistler Museum and Archives invites the Whistler community to come and toast to this exciting display next Thursday (Dec. 1) from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Whistler Public Library. There will be an official ribbon cutting, a speech by museum president John Hetherington and of course some great appetizers and beverages to be had by all. The ribbon cutting and speech will begin promptly at 6:15 p.m..
Come share an incredible heritage moment with the staff and trustees of the Whistler Museum!
Leah Batisse is curator and executive director of the Whistler Museum.
Leah Batisse
This summer the Whistler Museum had the opportunity to acquire something truly special: a canoe. But not just any old canoe.
No, this is a 1916 beautifully restored Peterborough cedar-strip canoe. But wait, there’s more! Not only is the canoe absolutely gorgeous, it also originally belonged to none other than Alex and Myrtle Philip.
The Philips originally purchased the amazing artifact in 1916 for the use of Rainbow Lodge guests. When the lodge was sold in 1948, Myrtle kept the canoe for her personal use for the next 25 years.
Over the years the canoe changed hands and eventually landed in the workshop of expert vintage canoe restorer and member of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, David Lanthier. The artifact was showing signs of its age and David did an amazing job bringing the canoe back to its former glory.
Recognizing the canoe’s significance and importance to Whistler, David brought the existence of the artifact to the museum’s attention. He was also able to provide legal proof that the Philips were the original owners.
Thanks entirely to the generous support of the B.C. Government, the Whistler Museum was able to purchase and repatriate the 95-year-old canoe to its former home. However, as the museum does not have adequate display or storage space, the Whistler Public Library generously allowed us to install and display the canoe.
We felt that such a beautiful and important artifact needed to be shared with the community. You may have already seen the canoe hanging from the library’s ceiling in all its glory.
Knowing that this specific canoe once held avid fishermen on Alta Lake nearly a century ago and has been on countless River of Golden Dreams torus since, it is only right that it be returned to its original home. This is perhaps the most significant artifact acquisition the museum has made in many years.
The Whistler Museum and Archives invites the Whistler community to come and toast to this exciting display next Thursday (Dec. 1) from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Whistler Public Library. There will be an official ribbon cutting, a speech by museum president John Hetherington and of course some great appetizers and beverages to be had by all. The ribbon cutting and speech will begin promptly at 6:15 p.m..
Come share an incredible heritage moment with the staff and trustees of the Whistler Museum!
Leah Batisse is curator and executive director of the Whistler Museum.
