B.N. Morris Canoe Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Canoe manufacturing |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Founder | Bert Morris, Charles Morris |
| Defunct | 1919 |
| Fate | Factory destroyed by fire; not rebuilt |
| Headquarters | Veazie , United States |
| Products | Wood and canvas canoes |
The B.N. Morris Canoe Company, located in Veazie, Maine, specialized in crafting wood and canvas canoes from 1891 until a devastating fire consumed its factory in late 1919. Celebrated for their elegant contours, refined design, and superior workmanship, Morris canoes stood out as some of the most visually striking vessels in the wood-and-canvas canoe market.
The Morris Company
Established by siblings Bert Morris (1866–1940) and Charles Morris (1860–1928), the enterprise originated in a four-story workshop situated behind the Morris family residence in Veazie, Maine. Each floor of this building was dedicated to a distinct phase of the canoe-building process.
As production demands increased, the initial workshop gave way to an extensive nine-building factory complex, with each structure assigned to a particular stage of manufacturing. Morris pioneered the use of dealership networks for distribution and launched a more budget-friendly factory-direct product line under the "Veazie Canoe Company" label, which utilized ash or maple trim as alternatives to mahogany.
On December 15, 1919, a significant fire ravaged the entire factory complex. Although local news outlets initially reported intentions to reconstruct the facility, rebuilding efforts never materialized. The sole surviving office building has since been repurposed as a motel office in Veazie.
The Morris Canoe
Originally offered in three different grades, by the early twentieth century Morris streamlined its offerings into a single grade featuring cedar planking and ribs, spruce rails and decks, and mahogany thwarts and seat frames. The canoe was available in four distinct models varying in width and depth, with options for customers to add extended decks and decorative paintwork.
Morris expanded its reach globally through dealerships, promoting all vessels as one consistent grade trimmed entirely in mahogany. The Veazie Canoe Company brand was introduced to provide a more economical factory-direct alternative with hardwood trims other than mahogany.
Models and types
- Special Indian: One of two original Morris models produced before 1905.
- Special Indian, Extra Beam: A wider version produced prior to 1905; its catalog illustration serves as the logo for the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association.
- Model A: Designed for versatile use featuring a flat bottom and rounded sides; recognized for both comfort and paddling efficiency. Available with either "Special" (torpedo) or conventional ends.
- Model B: Larger capacity suited for family outings; gained popularity due to its attractive lines and smooth paddling; also adaptable for rowing.
- Model C: Comparable in size to Model A but with sharper hull lines; relatively fast.
- Model D: Characterized by higher freeboard and a flat bottom; seaworthy with excellent performance in swift waters; ideal for hunting and cruising activities.
- Tuscarora: A racing model manufactured in 17- and 18-foot lengths; constructed with lightweight spruce components; customizable without keel or floor rack.
- Molitor: A distinctive 18-foot model originally crafted for C.J. Molitor’s Belle Isle Livery; following the fire, production shifted to Old Town where the name now denotes Old Town’s premium canoe model.
Morris consistently offered canoes in a single grade featuring mahogany decks, thwarts, and seat frames. Rails were available in spruce or mahogany, commonly with D-shaped mahogany outwales. Three distinct "Types" were provided:
- Type 1: Spruce gunwales paired with mahogany seat frames and braces, short decks, spruce floorboards, and keel.
- Type 2: Spruce-stained inwales combined with mahogany top/outwales, 24-inch mahogany decks, flag socket, painter ring, mahogany seats and braces, spruce floorboards, and keel.
- Type 3: Same as Type 2 but enhanced with oak outside stems.
Identifying features
Stem The Morris canoe is notable for its unique “splayed stem,” approximately three inches wide at the interior end, crafted from cedar with a squared-off profile. This stem design influenced other makers like the Kennebec Boat and Canoe Company.
Deck Short decks are either heart-shaped or feature a gentle concave curve; Veazie models frequently exhibit the concave "keyhole deck." Long decks consist of three sections with coaming.
Keel Usually secured by screws inserted through every rib.
Stembands Brass bands are predominantly attached using rivets; on outside stems they are typically fastened with screws.
Ribs These are thicker than average at three-eighths inch thickness tapering to about one and one-eighth inches at their tips; they are mortised into the inwales on canoes with closed gunwales.
Serial numbers are found on small brass tags affixed either to the stem or left inwale near the deck area. The numbering sequence begins at least from #69 onward. After the fire destroyed the factory, some incomplete Morris canoes were finished by Old Town craftsmen bearing serial numbers in the 17000 range.
The Morris Legacy
Following the establishment of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association in 1979, interest in Morris canoes experienced a resurgence, emphasizing their exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design. The influence of Morris canoes extended to other manufacturers, including Ely's Joe Seliga, whose prized models drew inspiration from two Morris canoes he encountered during his youth. Rhinelander Canoe capitalized on the Morris name by promoting its offerings as faithful reproductions. Currently, Rollin Thurlow of Northwoods Canoe Company produces replicas of Morris designs, which are widely regarded as some of the finest wooden canoes ever crafted.