The St. Lawrence Boat Works was incorporated on October 11, 1921, in Ogdensburg, NY with capital of $25,000. The principle stockholder was Grant C. Madill, and other directors included Thomas Huff, Elliot Daland, Charles T. Porter, Alfred Lust, and Edward J. Madill. Both Huff and Daland were principles of the Huff-Daland aircraft manufacturing company of Ogdensburg, that later became Delta Airlines.
The SLBW occupied the former buildings of the Spalding St. Lawrence Boat Company, which were owned by Joseph Leyare. Leyare had a long career building boats, first working for the St. Lawrence River Skiff, Canoe and Steam Launch Company in Clayton, NY, then the Spalding St. Lawrence Boat Company and Leyare Boat Works, the latter two also located in Odgensburg. During the World War I, Leyare was in Buffalo, NY, working for Glen Curtis building airplanes for the war effort.
Leyare was the superintendent of the SLBW, which built St. Lawrence River skiffs, square-stern rowboats, yacht dinghies and canoes, all under the “Whistle Wing” trademark. The SLBW was able to acquire the rights and molds to build Rushton Indian Girl canoes sometime after J.H. Rushton, Inc. closed in 1917. In addition to these canvas canoes, St. Lawrence Boat Works also built all-wood cedar canoes.
The company closed sometime in the mid 1920s. By 1927, Leyare was proprietor of the Leyare Boat Works, which was reported as building a 25-foot motorboat, a sail boat, and a Baby Buzz speedboat - no mention was made of canoes or skiffs. Leyare took a position in Schenectady in 1929.
All-Wood Models
Two models were offered with all-wood cedar construction. The Whistler model (16’ x 30”) was a racing and cruising model built to American Canoe Association regulations. The Cygnet model was a general purpose canoe built in three lengths (16’, 17’ and 18’).
Canvas-Covered Models
The St. Lawrence Boat Works “Whistle Wing” canvas canoes were built on the Rushton molds in three lengths (16’, 17’ and 18’). Surviving examples show that they are nearly identical to late Rushton factory output, and in fact may have been built by some of the same builders.
Dr. G. C. Madill in Boat Company. Ogdensburg Republican Journal, October 13, 1921
Boat Works Display Was Notable One. Ogdensburg Republican Journal, March 2, 1922