Northwoods Paddle Article: Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors

A while back I had posted on the news that famed Maine Guide and paddle maker, Alexandra Conover Bennett, retired from paddlemaking. Her "North Woods Paddle"  has been passed on to  Shaw & Tenney Paddle Company who have added the traditional design to their line of commercial paddles.

A newly published article describing the Alexandra's paddle legacy appears in the May/June 2020 issue of Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine. Author Donnie Mullen delves into the fascinating local history of the paddle design in his piece, "The Living Legacy of the North Woods Paddle". The article, complete with some photos by the author, is currently available for preview on the magazine's website.

Screenshot: Maine Boats, Homes & Harbor, May/June 2020, Issue 164

The issue also has another canoe-based article on two famed wood-canvas builders, Jerry Stelmok and Rollin Thurlow both of Atkinson, Maine.

Many thanks to blog reader, Joe D, for bringing these online readings to my attention.

Historic New England Canoe Paddle

From the Historic New England collection...

Canoe Paddle

Maker: Unknown

Description: Brown stained wood paddle without other decoration. Elongated circular shaft with a squared handle. Broad flat blade with a rounded top.

Associated Building: Original to Rundlet-May House (Portsmouth, N.H.),

Credit: Gift of Ralph May

Accession Number: 1971.1783

Source Link

Historic Paddle Photo: Getty Museum - Maine Camp

Found another historic image depicting a camp in Maine courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Camp Munna Mumma lungen. [Maine]

by William P. Dean (American, born Canada, 1835 - 1911)

Date: 1865–1875

Medium: Albumen silver print

Object Number: 84.XC.979.3228

Gift of Weston J. and Mary M. Naef

Source Link

A closeup reveals the presence of an early canvas canoe in the foreground with a bark canoe in the rear. A few typical Maine style paddles are featured.

Mid 19th C. Northeastern Woodland Tiger Maple Paddle

Not sure how I missed this when it first came up for auction in 2017, now archived on Worthpoint.com...

 Northeastern Woodlands Painted Wood Paddle

first half 19th century, possibly Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)

tiger maple, 75 inch long by 5-1/2" wide

Painted in red and green, the color scheme may be suggestive of the upper and lower worlds, length 

Estimate: $3,000 - $3,500

Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium

$3,000

04/08/2017

Grip and shaft closeup