I had a thread here about my Grandmothers' passing here recently. She and my Grandfather were big canoe campers in NY state way back starting about the 30's. When they did big rivers like the Hudson, they would camp their way down and shuttle back by hitching their canoe to a barge going upriver and climb aboard the barge with their gear until they got back where they came from. She used to tell me about all the good times they had.

My Grandfather made what he called a "grub box" out of surplus wooden crates. My father also used them, but made them himself. he gave me one last week and if anything, I thought you guys would find it pretty neat.I doubt any serious tripper would use one of these, but for a basecamp situation on my closer camping waters, I just might take this one out for the weekend just for the memories.





The legs were held on with a strap that also kept the lids closed. The cooking gear/etc. was stored inside. Both my grandfather and father have made them in various sizes to fit on the floor of the canoes. The lantern is there for a size reference.

thats awesome! thanks for sharing a bit of history. i love how the legs attach.

Lorax, back in the '70s we used them river tripping on the rivers of northern Michigan. I believe I still have one somewhere. They were really handy if you had minimal portaging.



It was a combination food pack and table.

I've seen things like it before, I only know them by what he used to call them, his "grub box". Such a simple design I would imagine they were quite common in all kinds of configurations.

As we moved to plastics and more light weight materials, I would think that these are either a thing of the very distant past or maybe there's a bunch of similar items taking up corners of old barns and garages wherever a dusty old beat up canoe still hangs.

Well it wasn't THAT long ago, and my canoes don't get a chance to get very dusty.

jason? those crackers....what a great "generic brand" flashback for me. LOL

quote oldgentleman: "Well it wasn't THAT long ago, and my canoes don't get a chance to get very dusty."

I didn't realize how I made that sound.LOL

Like I said. I believe I'm going to make room for two small camp chairs to sit by that little table "grub box" on a weekend outing or two. It would be kind of neat to bring along.

Nice grub box Lorax. Thanks for showing it to us. Good features and is functional.

Lorax, you are so very fortunate.
It looks like the grub box is closely related to the wannigan.

Lorax very cool part of your familys history a treasure to pass on. Wish I could have had something like that passed down to me.

Wow! The Lorax, great stuff!
I saw a box like that being lugged into Quetico a couple years ago.
The older generations really new how to camp!:)

quote kanoes: "jason? those crackers....what a great "generic brand" flashback for me. LOL"

Yes, that pretty much says 'the 70s' doesn't it.

quote The Lorax: "

quote oldgentleman: "Well it wasn't THAT long ago, and my canoes don't get a chance to get very dusty."

I didn't realize how I made that sound.LOL


Like I said. I believe I'm going to make room for two small camp chairs to sit by that little table "grub box" on a weekend outing or two. It would be kind of neat to bring along."

That's OK. I wasn't offended. I shoulda put a ";)" to show it's all in good fun.

Cool pics and history.

quote oldgentleman: "

quote kanoes: "jason? those crackers....what a great "generic brand" flashback for me. LOL"

Yes, that pretty much says 'the 70s' doesn't it.



"

Or maybe early 80s? I remember those and I was born in 1971. It can't be that old because those cans look like they have pop tabs that don't come off. I do remember removable pop tabs; I remember how they littered everything...that and ciggy butts. I'm glad there aren't pop tabs all over anymore, and while there are still ciggy butts, at least there seems to be fewer.

That is one fine piece of history you have there. Have fun trying it out.

Lorax, that box is neat. I would totally take it if I had one and I was going on a Wisconsin River canoe camping trip. We used to do that and nowadays we'd take a plastic tote, but as there's no portaging at all on a trip like that, I'd go for it.

I love the idea of canoeing down and going back on the barge.

Lorax,
I agree, what a wonderful, functional keepsake you now have. I recall guides using wooden boxes along the Allagash right into the 90's. They fit the boxes to their canoes perfectly. Many had rope handles as well as some with improvised shoulder straps. They were organized, very water resistant and dual purposed. Their toughness, ingenuity, simple functional aspects and practicality, all from readily available materials were of an age that has passed by. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

By the way, we did indeed make our first trip of this year into the northern Adirondacks, with 5-6" of snow still left from a recent storm. Your Grandmother's spirit was remembered that first evening. I think the legacy left by your Grandparents is well represented in you.
Boppa

I've said it before - you come from a long line of grand adventurers. How cool to have that piece of history to use yourself. I'd definitely show it the BW a time or two to continue the tradition.

Is that the same concept as a "chuck box"? That's what I've known as a wooden storage place for kitchen gear while camping. They still sell them and plans for them. I used to stare at them in the campmor catalog, but even my CAR wasn't big enough for them back then. Thanks for sharing.

Very cool. Thanks for posting. Reminds me of a 'chuck box' we made in boy scouts. I had forgotten about it.

Nice. Very nice. Great keepsake, with a story, and family history.

I used to make (and use) wannigans back when I made canoes. I used the same technique in making them as strip canoe building. Took them to the BWCA a few times.

I also used to make food packs out of 1/4" ply and fiberglass. Heavy, but worked well and didn't have to hang them. They were BWCA regulars on my trips prior to about 1995. Then I "discovered" plastic barrels and buckets.

That's pretty cool! I could use one of those while winter camping. Lorax, you got any canoe trips planned this year? You mentioned that you were thinking of touring the Rose Lake area a while back I think.

Lorax,

That looks like something I have seen before only I just can't remember where or when. Thanks for sharing! I'm wondering if the plans for that were ever in an old copy of Popular Mechanics where they would have a handyman project each issue? When my son and I camp on car camping trout fishing trips that looks like a useful item to have.

quote overthehill: "Very cool. Thanks for posting. Reminds me of a 'chuck box' we made in boy scouts. I had forgotten about it."

Me too. It was my "Star" project.