This list of old Maine canoe builders was started by the Penobscot Marine Museum for their 2001 exhibit titled "Bark to Canvas: The Evolution of a Maine Canoe." Special thanks to Kathryn Campbell and Jeff McKeen for their outstanding help in starting and generously sharing this research.
Please contact benson@maine.rr.com for any additions or corrections to this information.
Maine Builder's Name | Era | Town | County |
---|---|---|---|
Acadia Canoe Shop, Lee K. LaBelle | 1995-2015 | Ellsworth | Hancock |
Androscoggin Boat & Canoe Co. | 1970s - 1980s | Wayne | Kennebec |
Arnold Trail Boat & Canoe Co. | 1959 - 1966 | Solon | Somerset |
Ayer, George | 1920s - 1930s | Moose River | Somerset |
Ayer, Leon | 1940s | Rockwood | Somerset |
Ayer, Leon | 1940s | Farmington | Franklin |
Bacon, Herb "Beaver" | 1900 - 1930s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Bacon, Timothy, canoes | 1959 - 1966 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Barber, Plummer, canoes | 1902 - 1931 | Springfield | Penobscot |
Barker, D.B., birch and canvas canoes | 1889 - 1890 | Lowell | Penobscot |
Barker, William, canoes | 1950s | Newry | Oxford |
Baron, Wally | 1960s - 1980s | Bingham | Somerset |
Barrett, C. W., light cedar boats and canvas canoes | 1899 | Rangeley Lakes | Franklin |
Bassett, Bob, Kimball Pond Boat Barn | 2003-present | Vienna | Kennebec |
Batchelder, F. O., canoes | 1896 | Burlington | Penobscot |
Bean, G. W., canoes and mouldings | 1898 - 1919 | Brownville | Piscataquis |
Bernard, Oliver, bark canoes | 1890s - 1920 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Bernier, James | 1890s - 1907 | Upton | Oxford |
Berry, Maurice "Mok" | 1970s - 1980s | Jacksonville | Washington |
Blanchard, Harold "Doc" | 1960s - 1990s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Boles, H. | 1896 - 1898 | Kennebunkport | York |
Boothman, George T., boats and canoes | 1920s - 1930s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Boucher, Robert | 1918 - 1922 | Sinclair | Aroostook |
Bowley, Harvey | 1940s | Old Town | Penobscot |
Bray, F. W., boats and canoes | 1902 - 1909 | Monson | Piscataquis |
Burtchell, Ludrich, small boats & canoes | 1952 - 1955 | Fort Fairfield | Aroostook |
Bussel, Isaiah. W. | 1899-1900 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Buxton & Young, Camp Onawa | 1890s | Brownville | Piscataquis |
Caldwell, George | 1940s | Rockwood | Somerset |
Carleton, Guy E., batteaux and canoes | 1888 - 1896 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Carleton Canoe Co. | 1899 - 1941 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Carleton, O.H., batteau | 1869 - 1879 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Chick, George | 1906 - 1915 | Kennebunkport | York |
Clark, Clement L. | 1910 - 1913 | Kennebunkport | York |
Clossian, Swaisson, birch canoes | 1890s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Comstock, Mert | 1940s - 1950s | Rockwood | Somerset |
Corson, Anson G. | 1952 - 1958 | Madison | Somerset |
Craft Bilt Boat and Canoe Co. | 1940 - 1947 | Solon | Somerset |
Cyr, Mike, paddle maker | 1920s | Chesuncook | Piscataquis |
Dana, Francis, birch canoes | 1890s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
Darling, Amassa P., boatbuilder | 1905 | Enfield | Penobscot |
Darling, Jonathan, birch and canvas canoes | 1890 - 1897 | Lowell | Penobscot |
Davis, C. A., canoes and snowshoes | 1915 - 1923 | Monson / Elliottsville Plantation | Piscataquis |
Davis, Roy L., canoes | 1950 - 1963 | Elliotsville Plantation | Piscataquis |
Davis & Preble, canoes and snowshoes | 1907 - 1914 | Elliotsville Plantation | Piscataquis |
Denis, Nicola, birch canoes | 1890s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
Dinsmore, Ed | 1908 - 1925 | Portage Lake | Aroostook |
Dolphin Craft Boat & Canoe Co. | 1958 - 1960 | Oakland | Kennebec |
Dorman Brothers | 1905 - 1920 | Ashland | Aroostook |
Dunphy, E. | 1908 | Island Falls | Aroostook |
Dutelley, Alec, canoes | 1903 - 1909 | Jackman Plantation | Somerset |
Dutelle, Ed, canoes | 1930s - 1950s | Jackman | Somerset |
Dunn, Mr., birch canoes | 1870s-1880s | Lunksoos, Hunt's Farm, T3 R7 | Penobscot |
Eaton, Dan & Whiting, Linda, Smallboat Shop | 1990s - 2021 | Denmark | Oxford |
Edgar, Dave | 1980s - 2001 | Jackman | Somerset |
Edgerly, Harry | 1940s - 1950s | Atkinson | Piscataquis |
Fahey, Mick, canoe and paddle maker | 1960s - 1970s | Chesuncook | Piscataquis |
Field & Beach | 1911 - 1912 | Princeton | Washington |
Flewelling, A.E., & "Cedarcraft 20" | 1950s | Crouseville | Aroostook |
Fogg, Augustus, moccasins and canoes | 1889 - 1892 | Lowell | Penobscot |
Francis, J. M., canoes | 1887 | Olamon, Greenbush | Penobscot |
Francis, Louis, birch canoes | 1890s - 1910 | Kennebunkport | York |
Francis, Tom, birch canoes | 1870s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
Gabriel, Sylvester, birch canoes | 1920s | Pleasant Point | Washington |
Gagner, Bob, Sprague Canoes | 1970s - 2020 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Gallupe, Asa, "Aroostook Chief" | 1938 - 1952 | Fort Fairfield | Aroostook |
Gerrish, E.H., canoes | 1881 - 1908 | Bangor | Penobscot |
Gerrish Canoe Company | 1910 - 1930s | Cardville (Costigan) | Penobscot |
Godfrey, A. B., canoes, paddles and poles | 1894 - 1896 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Godfrey & Roundy, canoes, paddles and poles | 1893 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Gollin, William | circa 1920s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Gould Brothers, canvas boats and canoes | 1898 - 1902 | Brewer | Penobscot |
Gould, C. A. | 1900 - 1904 | Brewer | Penobscot |
Grenier, Don, Cambex and Casco Bay Wood Products | 1988 - 1993 | Stroudwater, Portland | Cumberland |
Guibord, Russell P., Cane & Canvas | 2020 - 2021 | Bristol | Lincoln |
Harrington, D. S., sleds and canoes | 1887 - 1895 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Hawkins & McKay | 1899 | Ashland | Aroostook |
Heckman, D. H., boatbuilder | 1896 - 1915 | Kennebunkport | York |
Horton, G. W., canoes | 1890s | Patten | Penobscot |
Hosmer, H. H., snow shoes & canoes | 1907 - 1918 | Norway | Oxford |
Howe Fur Company, Ed Howe's Maine Made Best Canoes | 1936 - 1950s | Cooper's Mills | Lincoln |
Hunt & Morrison, canoes | 1887 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Hunt G. H., & Stowe, canvas and birch canoes | 1893 - 1907 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Indian Old Town Canoe Co. | 1900 - 1902 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Ingalls, S. L., batteaux and canoes | 1897 - 1907 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Iris Boatworks | 1980s - 1990s | Marshfield | Washington |
Jackson Boat & Canoe Co. | 1952 - 1966 | Veazie | Penobscot |
Jameson, Martin S. | 1905 - 1940 | Brewer | Penobscot |
Jackson, Percy | 1960s - 1970s | New Sweden | Aroostook |
Kealiher, Cliff | 1960s - 1990s | Kokadjo | Piscataquis |
Kennebec Boat & Canoe Co. | 1910 - 1944 | Waterville | Kennebec |
Kirkpatrick, George | 1888 - 1894 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Larson, Bruce, Georges River Canoe | 2020s | Warren | Knox |
Leavitt, Lewis A., canvas canoes, paddles and poles | 1898 - 1904 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Leavitt Quality Corporation, James A. Leavitt | 1978 - 1990 | Newburgh | Penobscot |
Leighton, Jasper, Jap's Boat Shop | 1966 | Pittsfield | Somerset |
Levenseller, Arthur "Boots" | 1950s - 1960s | Dover | Piscataquis |
Lewey, John | 1930 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Libby, A. W. | 1920 - 1923 | Harrison | Cumberland |
Libby, Bert | 1980s - 2015 | Litchfield | Kennebec |
Lincoln, Robert K. | 1982 - 2003 | Mt Desert | Hancock |
Lolar, Philip J. | 1930 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Loomis, H. W. | 1899 | Rangeley | Franklin |
Ludden, F. A. | 1888 | East Lincoln | Penobscot |
Luke, W. R., canvas canoes, paddles and poles | 1905 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Masterman, Edward | 1880s - 1900 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Masterman, George | 1900 - 1930 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Masterman, Richard | 1900 - 1930 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Maybury's Canoe Shop | 1973 - 1983 | Brewer | Penobscot |
McAllister, Erwin | 1950s - 1960s | Abbott | Piscataquis |
McClain, A. & Son, | 1895 - 1897 | Brownville | Piscataquis |
McClain, Albert & Son, canoes and snowshoes | 1884 - 1893 | Passadumkeag | Penobscot |
McClain, Alex, birch canoes | 1880s | Chesuncook | Piscataquis |
McKay, C.E. | 1930 - 1938 | Ashland | Aroostook |
McKay, Walter S. | 1910 - 1931 | Ashland | Aroostook |
McLain, A. & Son, canoes | 1895 - 1897 | Brownville | Piscataquis |
McNally, Fred A. | 1910 - 1914 | Portage Lake | Aroostook |
McPhetres, William & Albert, canoes, boats and paddles | 1906 - 1909 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Mell, Joe | 1890s - 1920 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Miller, Lauris "Gump" | 1972 - 2016 | North Lubec | Washington |
Mitchell, Thomas B. | 1930 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Moore, Lawrence "Pop" | 1959 - 1966 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Moore, Nathan B., bark canoes | 1890s | Bingham | Somerset |
Morris, B.N., canvas canoes | 1892 - 1920 | Veazie | Penobscot |
Neal, D. B., canoes and snowshoes | 1899 - 1923 | Dover | Piscataquis |
Nelson, Horace | 1930 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Nichols, Thomas, birch canoes | 1870s-1880s | Old Town | Penobscot |
Oakland Boat & Canoe Co. | 1959 - 1960 | Oakland | Kennebec |
Oat Canoe Company | 1980s | Mt. Vernon | Kennebec |
Old Town Canoe Co. | 1903 - present | Old Town | Penobscot |
Orcutt & Walter S. McKay, smiths, woodworking and canoes | 1900 - 1909 | Ashland | Aroostook |
Packard, Henry A., canoes and snowshoes | 1902 - 1923 | Dover | Piscataquis |
Parlin, W. E., boats & canoes | 1904 - 1923 | Weld | Franklin |
Patten, Roland T., boats & canoes | 1924 | Skowhegan | Somerset |
Paul, Gabriel N. | 1930 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Peabody, John | 1910 | Kennebunkport | York |
Pelletier, Len | 1960s - 1980s | Allagash | Aroostook |
Pennyweight, Old John, birch canoes | 1850s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Penobscot Canoe Co. | 1916 - 1923 | Milford | Penobscot |
Perpole, Joe, birch canoes | 1890s | Sysladobsis Lake | Washington |
Pielsak, Louis, birch canoes | 1900 - 1920s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Polis, Joe, birch canoes | 1850s - 1870s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Prescott Boat Company, boats and canoes | 1940 - 1950 | Brewer | Penobscot |
Prince, Norm, canoes | 1950s - 1960s | Monmouth | Kennebec |
Ranco, Francis | 1930 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Ranco, George | 1930 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Ranco, Joseph, birch and canvas canoes | 1889 - 1993 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Ranco, Nick, birch canoes | 1930s - 1940s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Ranco, T., canoes | 1887 | Olamon, Greenbush | Penobscot |
Reckards, Fred | 1960s - 1980s | Rockwood | Somerset |
Redman, Will, canvas canoes | 1889 | Moose River | Somerset |
Ripley, P. C., river driving tools and canoes | 1896 - 1911 | Magalloway | Oxford |
Ripley, P. C., river driving tools and canoes | 1912 - 1915 | Lincoln Plantations | Oxford |
Rivers & Gilman, Moulded Products, Inc., "Indian Brand Canoes" | 1965-1968 | Hampden | Penobscot |
Robertson & Old Town Canoe Co. | 1902 - 1903 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Robertson Canoe or Boat Company | ? - 1977? | Bradley | Penobscot |
Rogers, Frank | circa 1938 | Princeton | Washington |
Rollins & I. W. Buzzell, batteaux and canoes | 1897 - 1899 | Old Town | Penobscot |
St. Germain, William, "Moosehead" canoes & boats | 1912 - 1914 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Sawyer, J. Fred | 1920s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Seavey, M. B. | 1896 - 1915 | Kennebunkport | York |
Sebago Boat | 1956 - 1958 | Sebago | Cumberland |
Sebago Boat & Canoe Co. | 1950 - 1956 | Portland | Cumberland |
Sabattis, Shay, birch canoes | 1893 | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Sebattis, Dana, birch canoes | 1860s - 1870s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Sibley, Ira, canoes | 1869 - 1898 | Burlington | Penobscot |
Shorty Bilt Boat & Canoe Co. | 1956 - 1966 | Solon | Somerset |
Skowhegan Boat & Canoe Co. | 1931 - 1952 | Skowhegan / Norridgewock | Somerset |
Smart, Myron | 1940s - 1970s | Milo | Piscataquis |
Smith, N. H., canoes. | 1888 - 1892 | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Smith, Percy L. | 1922 - 1923 | Harrison | Cumberland |
Smith, W. P. | 1920 - 1921 | Harrison | Cumberland |
Sock, Lewie (Louie) P., birch bark canoes | 1870s - 1890s | Indian Island | Penobscot |
Sprague, Joe | 1912 - 1938 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Sprague, Sonny | 1960s - 2003 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Sprague, William | 1927 - 1966 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Stanislaw, Francis, birch canoes | 1920s | Lincoln | Penobscot |
Stelmok, Jerry, Island Falls Canoe Co. | 1970s - present | Atkinson | Piscataquis |
Stephenson, George R., canvas covered cedar canoes and boats | 1896 - 1927 | Norway | Oxford |
Stetson, Joseph B., canoes | 1893 | Lincoln | Penobscot |
Stevens, Owen | 1901 - 1902 | Kennebunkport | York |
Stevens, W. F., builder of all-wood decked sailing canoes | 1890s | Bath | Sagadahoc |
Stevens, W. F., builder of all-wood decked sailing canoes | 1900 - 1922 | Boothbay Harbor | Lincoln |
Stevens, W. F., builder of all-wood decked sailing canoes | 1870s | Union | Knox |
Stone, W. Lawrence, blacksmith and canoe builder | 1920s - 1930s | Lovell | Oxford |
Stroudwater Canoe Co. | 1920s | Portland | Cumberland |
Templeton, Fred | 1920s - 1930s | Greenville | Piscataquis |
Templeton, Arthur | 1920s - 1930s | Rockwood | Somerset |
Thatcher, C.B. | 1896 - 1913 | Bangor | Penobscot |
Thomas, F. M., Cedar canoes | 1880s | Andover | Oxford |
Thomas, Willis | 1970s - 1980s | Dover | Piscataquis |
Thurlow, Rollin, Northwoods Canoe Co. | 1980s - present | Atkinson | Piscataquis |
Tobey, Dale, Grand Lake Canoe + Paddle | 2005 - present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Tomah, Neal, birch canoes | 1890s | Big Lake | Washington |
Tomah, Joseph, birch canoes | 1870s - 1900 | Pleasant Point | Washington |
Tracy, H. E. | 1902-1904 | Winter Harbor | Hancock |
Trott, Cleveland | 1896 - 1913 | Kennebunkport | York |
Twaddle, E. S. | 1899 - 1905 | Weld | Franklin |
Veazie Canoe Company | 1905 - 1920 | Veazie | Penobscot |
Wallace, William D., canoes | 1883 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Walton, Herbert D., canoes | 1911 - 1919 | Greenbush | Penobscot |
Warner, B. | 1906 - 1915 | Kennebunkport | York |
Warren, W. C., canoes | 1898 - 1912 | Lincoln | Penobscot |
Weatherbee, A. W., canoes | 1888 - 1891 | Lincoln | Penobscot |
Wetmore, Ken | 1970s | New Limerick | Aroostook |
Wheaton, Kenneth | 1940s - present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Wheaton, Arthur | 1900 - 1930s | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Wheaton, Chris | 1970s - present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Wheaton, Lance | 1960s - present | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
Wheaton, Kenneth "Woody" | 1959 - 1966 | Grand Lake Stream | Washington |
White, E. M., canvas canoes, paddles and poles | 1894 - 1985 | Old Town | Penobscot |
Whitney, W. A. | 1898 | Milo | Piscataquis |
Williams, John R., canoes and boats | 1896 - 1915 | Kennebunkport | York |
York, R. A. | 1909 - 1916 | Hampden | Penobscot |
Young, C. C. | 1877 - 1898 | The Forks | Somerset |
Young, W. W., canoes & snowshoes | 1906 - 1911 | The Forks Plantation | Somerset |
? Unknown, $400 canoe shop built | 1909 | Seboeis Plantation | Penobscot |