On Thursday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m., Old Town Canoe founder’s great-grandson, Benson Gray, will speak at New Hampshire Boat Museum (NHBM) as part of its Hulls and Hops Speaker Series. At the talk, Gray will focus on the history of canoes and his project to electronically archive hundreds of thousands of pages of historic build records.
Noting he has spent his entire life around old canoes, Gray said he started to “seriously research” them in 1993 after the death of his father. “The death of a parent often spurs an interest in learning more about your roots,” he said. “I had also recently joined the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association and was surprised by how many unanswered questions there were about canoe companies from the late 1800s and early 1900s.”
In 2016, a fire destroyed the original Old Town Canoe Factory, an event that proved to Gray how easily paper records could also be erased from history. “I knew computer scanning could preserve the records,” he said. “This information is even more useful in a database where it is possible to search for specifics.”
Records on the database include details about each canoe, including how and when they were built. “It’s like a genealogy for canoes,” explained Gray. “Many old canoe owners like learning about the history of their boats.”
According to Martha Cummings, NHBM executive director, Gray’s knowledge of canoe history is “unmatched.” “His talk is very relevant to New England, where canoes have been used for thousands of years,” she added.
Taking place at NHBM’s Moultonborough Campus at 130 Whittier Hwy (Rte 25), the event will include beer and light snacks provided by Twin Barns Brewing from Meredith. Admission is free, although attendees are encouraged to make a $10 donation.
About NHBM
Founded in 1992 by antique and classic boating enthusiasts, NHBM offers dynamic exhibits and engaging events and programs tailored to the diverse boating lifestyles and values of people of all ages. NHBM exhibits, events and programming covers everything from boat charters, boat trips and race boats to canoes, wooden boats, outboard motors, sculling, sailing sunfish, and Lyman and Johnson motors. Some of our hands-on programs take place on Lake Winnipesaukee. NHBM is sponsored in part by Belletetes, Eastern Propane & Oil, Epoxy Floor New England, Goodhue Boat Company, Kingswood Press and Design Studio, KW Coastal, Lake and Mountains, North Water Marine, and Taylor Community.