Courting canoe exhibit at the New Hampshire Boat Museum

[Benson Gray]

The courting canoe exhibit at the New Hampshire Boat Museum will be open to the public in a few days and Reed has kindly shared some pictures as shown below. The link has more details. Fun stuff,

Benson

NH Boat Museum

The New Hampshire Boat Museum (NHBM) is an immersive experience dedicated to preserving & celebrating NH’s freshwater boating stories.

www.nhbm.org

 

[Boatman53]

Thanks for posting this Benson.
Jim

 

[ppine]

People often forget that before cars, canoes were one of the best ways to get some privacy. They were a natural for courting. The Golden Age of Canoeing could have a hundred canoes in a popular harbor. Benson when was the supposed Golden Age? Maybe 1890-1920.

 

[Benson Gray]

when was the supposed Golden Age? Maybe 1890-1920

That sounds about right. Things were ramping up in the late 1880s and it was in decline by the mid-1920s as automobiles became more popular. The links below have more details.

Benson

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...

forums.wcha.org

Tariffs and their impact on canoe distribution

The Old Town Canoe Company's original factory on Middle Street in Old Town, Maine is about 155 miles or 250 kilometers from the Chestnut Canoe Company's factory on York Street in Fredericton, New Brunswick. That sort of close proximity would usually create a lot of competition for customers but...

forums.wcha.org

 

[Robin]

Nice post, that’s an impressive display. I have a J R Robinson courting canoe on the rack, new canvas has been filled and it’s just waiting for paint.

 

[Benson Gray]

I have a J R Robinson courting canoe on the rack, new canvas has been filled and it’s just waiting for paint.

The page below from his catalog may give you some ideas.

Benson