Serial Number 144505 (16ft)

[Kai LaFortune]

Any build information about this Old Town canoe would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

This canoe has been in the family for over fifty years. But, we are not the original owner. We’re very interested in finding out more about its early years.

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome, the Old Town canoe with serial number 144505 is a 16 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, Yankee model with open spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash thwarts, ash seats, and a keel. It was built between March and April, 1946. The original exterior paint color was dark red. It was shipped on May 7th, 1946 to the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. A scan of this build record can be found below.

This scan and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match. Canoes with a family connection are always extra special. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson