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Vintage canoe research project.

Photos and documents.

The following series of photos are of three types:

historical photos from the late 1800s to the 1940's taken from family photo albums; or contributed by members of the Hicks family;
photos of the canoe when it was rigged in 2005; and
documentary photos taken in 2006 to show various construction details in hopes of being able to identify the manufacturer of the canoe and better estimate its age.

Three documents related to the canoe have been found. (All documents are in .pdf format.) The first document is the receipt for the sale of the canoe on July 5, 1937. The second and third documents are season passes from 1940 and 1941 for the Trent-Severn waterway.

Additional documents have been contributed by the Hicks family or others.

Canoe research photo gallery.

Dora was purchased by the family in 1937. The canoe was used by the family on Lake Simcoe, the Humber River, the Trent-Severn Waterway, Lake Ontario, the Ottawa River, and several other lakes in Ontario and Quebec.

The first set of photos below are from the 1940s. All photos are from the family archives. Click on the photo for a larger version.

	This photo was taken in July 1941 and shows the rigging of the two sails. Notice also the shape of the fore and aft decks. The canoe did not have seats nor a transom. (july1941.jpg)
	This July 28, 1941 photo shows the canoe without the sail rigging. It was taken at McRae Point Provincial Park, Ramara Township, Ontario on the shores of Lake Simcoe near Orillia. Notice the width of the inwales - they were later narrowed considerably. (aug41_1.jpg)
	This photo was taken at the campsite in McRae Point Provincial Park on July 28, 1941. The canoe formed an integral part of the campsite - storage and shelter. (july1941_3.jpg)
	This August 1, 1941 photo was taken at Lock 44 - Big Chute Marine Railway on the Trent-Severn Canal in Coldwater, Ontario. The shape of the foredeck is very evident. Just along the right edge of the photo the added navigational lights can be seen. (aug41_2.jpg)
	Taken on August 1, 1941 at Pine Island, Glouchester Pool (a lake in Georgian Bay Township, District of Muskoka, Ontario, approximately 5 kms northeast of the town of Port Severn). (aug41_3.jpg)
	Taken on August 11, 1941 at Beausoleil Island, part of the Georgian Bay Islands National Park, Ontario. This was the destination of the trip by canoe that year. (aug41_4.jpg)
	Dora in 1940 or 1941, possibly at the family cottage at Brechin Point, Lake Simcoe. (canoe1.jpg)
	Typical of the courting canoes of its day, Dora is shown with the forward person (lady) reclining and facing the stern. Dora did not have seats. (canoe2.jpg)
	Dora, possibly on Lake Ontario or Lake Simcoe, taken in 1940 or 1941 probably. (canoe3.jpg)
	A poor quality picture showing Dora paddled by a single person. Probably 1940 or 1941. (canoe4.jpg)

The next series of pictures document the current dimensions, conditions, markings, and stylings of the canoe. All the photos were taken by myself in the 2005-2006 period. Click on the photo for a larger version.

	This shows the name of the canoe. It appears on both sides of the bow. The lettering is original, possibly placed there by the first owner. (dora-07.jpg)
	This photo shows the bow with its mahogany decking and running lights. The original coaming has been removed along with the curled armrests. New, flat armrests for the forward passenger have been added to permit paddling as opposed to sitting rear-facing. (dora-21.jpg)
	A slightly different view of the bow of the canoe. The rigging ties and fittings are emphasized. (dora-08.jpg)
	This view shows the joint of the boards to the stem. It looks as if there had been an accident with the canoe as there is a repair on the cutwater near the bottom of the stem. (dora-15.jpg)
	This photo shows the bow mast step. (dora-09.jpg)
	The profile of the bow. (dora-14.jpg)
	Shows the stern decking, the closed stern mast hole, absence of the coaming, the modified arm rests and the planks in the bottom to cover the ribs as there were no seats. The occupants sat or kneeled on the bottom planks or cushions placed on them. (dora-18.jpg)
	The photo shows the ribs and battens along with the keelson. (dora-12.jpg)
	One of the wide boards did not cover all the distance from bow to stern. This photo shows the joint and the brass canoe tacks. (dora-10.jpg)
	This is a close-up of the ribs where they meet the gunwale. A brand mark is visible. (dora-11.jpg)
	On the keelson, 14 ribs from the middle fore, the number 115 is stamped into the wood. (dora-02.jpg)
	On the keelson, 14 ribs from the middle aft, the number 115 is stamped into the wood. (dora-17.jpg)
	The surface of the batten has been cleaned up with abrasive and shows the bright brass. (dora-03.jpg)
	A portion of the bow protector has been cleaned with abrasive to show the shiny brass, screw head and eye-bolt. (dora-04.jpg)
	An enhanced and close-cropped photo of the partial brand found in the middle of the canoe just below the gunwale. It is thought to read "HICKS & SON." (dora-05.jpg)
	An enhanced and close-cropped photo of the partial brand found in the middle of the canoe just below the gunwale on the side opposite the manufacturer's brand. Only the word "BUILDER" is evident. (dora-06.jpg)
	The photo shows the interior detail of the portion of the canoe below the stern decking. Note the small depression in the keelson for the stern (mizzen) mast. (dora-13.jpg)
	Shows the shape and fitting of the stem. (dora-16.jpg)
	This and the following photo attempt to show the canoe rigged with the equipment still on hand. The mast, sail and rigging for the stern (mizzen) sail are missing. Modification have been made to the bow area and the inwales have been narrowed considerably. (dora-19.jpg)
	This and the previous photo shows the canoe rigged with the equipment still on hand. I believe the rigging has been set up correctly as a spiritsail. The rigging, mast and sail for the stern (mizzen) are missing. (dora-20.jpg)

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