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This Book of Memories memorial website is designed to be a permanent tribute paying tribute to the life and memory of James Holman . It allows family and friends a place to re-visit, interact with each other, share and enhance this tribute for future generations. We are both pleased and proud to provide the Book of Memories to the families of our community.

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My 13 foot Red House Canoe - Built by Jim Holman

I was a neighbour of Jim and Marion in Fenwick for many years and got to know Jim through our neighbour Jerry Benner. Jim was into everything wood and when he obtained a slab cutting attachment for his chain saw I would often help him cut boards of oak for gunnells etc. 

While helping him I noticed an unfinished 13 foot canoe in the rafter of his workshop and often admired it. Jim had started this small cedar strip canoe 'for Marion" he said, but never completed it is as the frame warped slighly, when he took it off the mold. ( not good enough )

My wife somehow convinced Jim to sell it and over the weeks he guided and helped me finish it into a lovely 13 foot red canoe. ( this was over 35 years ago ) I am now passing it on to my son and the next generation of  canoe lovers.

My regret is that Marion never did get her own canoe but then again the old saying is " The cobblers children are often shoeless". My other regret is that Jim made many wonderful canoes and one may be in the Canadian Canoe Museum, but there is no record of Jim on any website. 

Thank you Jim and Marion for being such good neighbours.

Ben Collings 

Fergus Ontario 

 

 

 

Posted by Ben Collings
Sunday May 22, 2022 at 1:41 pm
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