Carrying Place Canoe Works in Kleinburg, Ontario, were willing to part with a canoe they have had for more than 10 years. Joe and Elaine Ziemba share a passion for canoeing and making canoes in the Canadian tradition. 

The Chestnut Canoe Company built canoes in Fredericton N.B. in the early 1900's. It started as a small add on to their hardware store. Soon their reputation spread across Canada and the U.S.. It became a going concern in the 1920's, '30s, 40's , 50's. Unfortunately, when plastic became popular in the '60's, business went down and even with loans and government grants, business ended in the early 1970's. During their time in business, a "Chestnut" was the "in thing" to have with canoe enthusiasts and cottagers alike, especially in the Boston area and the northeast coast. Chestnut canoes were extremely well known and highly sought after. Still today if you mention Chestnut canoes, people get very enthusiastic. The Chestnut canoe line started with a couple of models and quickly grew to accommodate all types of canoeists needs. There are canoe builders everywhere today that want to replicate a Chestnut canoe model. The model we have was designed for customers who wanted a small, lightweight but practical canoe. It was very popular in "the old days". 

Our canoe was built in the late 1940's and shipped with loving care to it's new home in our cabin in November of 2001. By choice and with some advice, the canvas cover has not been repainted. Our canoe has the original decals and original cedar framework.