ABOUT THE BOOKLET

John Henry Rushton was a renowned boat and canoe builder from Canton, New York. He started constructing intricate and elegant vessels in 1875, and continued to do so until his death in 1907. After his death, Rushton did not leave a will, and with his two children being minors, the estate and business went to his wife, who also passed soon after. His half-brother J.W. Rushton took over the business until 1917, but he did not have the same craftmanship skills and was unable to produce a comparable product.

The 64-page advertising booklet presents vessels offered for purchase as well as parts needed for repair. The images presented here are of the cover, title page, a description of one of the canoes offered, as well as an informational page describing the sport of canoeing. This booklet was used as a “mobile store” sent to customers via mail and used to sell boats, canoes, and parts for repair. According to the catalogue, Rushton’s quality was top tier as the first “all-wood canoes were then the acme of canoe building.” These canoes continued to be preferred by expert canoeists years later, due to their extreme light weight and quality.

The booklet shows all the different complex parts and pieces of the building process. It describes parts such as “Rushton Rowlocks” that were either nickel-plated or cast polished brass pieces that fit into the socket, “the part which forms the fulcrum of the oar,” as stated in the catalogue. The majority of the book showcases the canoes and boats Rushton had to offer, including the “Indian Girl” and the “American Beauty”. He also offered rowboats such as the “Florida Rowboat,” noted as “The most satisfactory boat for general use.” This model combined speed, comfort and safety. The booklet also describes the specifications of each vessel. Regarding the Florida Rowboat, it notes, “the utmost capacity which the boat could carry without taking in water over the gunwale was 2,150 lbs.” Rushton’s craftsmanship exceeded the standard for wooden canoes in his own time and became an inspiration for future builders who still emulate his designs. -Bob LeFavour ’28

J.W. Rushton
Rushton Canoes and Boats, 1915
Staple-bound paper booklet printed on “magazine stock”
North Country Boats and Boating Collection, mss. 167, Box 1, Folder 1.3
Special Collections
Owen D. Young Library
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY