Finding The Heritage Of The Canoe-Maker

From the 1960s to the '90s, CBS News correspondent Charles Kuralt was "On the Road," looking for stories and people where no one else was looking. Kuralt died in 1997, and many of the people he discovered are gone as well. But the stories haven't ended. That's why we sent CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman to follow Kuralt's trail, "On the Road … Again."

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Ray Bozel is one of America's last remaining birch-bark canoe builders. He's a master now, but he was just an apprentice 26 years ago when Charles Kuralt stopped by Big Fork, Minn., to interview Bozel's grandfather-in-law - a peculiar man with a hawk feather in his hat and a big nose and funny moustache that didn't come off with his glasses. What a character.

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Watch Kuralt's 1982 Report

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Back during his original interview, Kuralt asked that man, Bill Hafeman: "Why did you pick such a lonely place to live in the first place?"

Hafeman responded: "I wanted to live in a wild country like the Indians did. I thought, 'Now that would be a free life.'"

As Kuralt reported, Hafeman moved up there with his wife, Violet, in 1921 and built his first canoe with only a knife and an ax. Every canoe he built was a little better than the one before. He does it without nails or any hardware - with a result so beautiful it almost brings tears to your eyes.

After Kuralt's piece aired in 1982, Hafeman got so many orders it would have taken five years to fill them all. Unfortunately, he only had two years left.

It was a traffic accident. It didn't take his life, but it took an awful lot out of him.

"I remember twice after the accident when he came in the shop and he just kinda walked through and that was it," said Bill's son, Ray Bozel. "It's kind of like he just decided he was done."

And with that, the torch passed. Hafeman died a few years later at the age of 92. Today, the future lies in Bozel's two boys. They lived and breathed and slept in cedar and birch bark. Although, for that very reason, Ray says they may not want to grow old in it.

"You know - my kids got their dreams. They got to do what they gotta do," Bozel said. "I can't tell them this is going to be their life."

Hartman said he personally hopes they'll reconsider. If so, maybe someday some other reporter can go back again and check in on their story.

Until then, Hartman closed this chapter just as Kuralt did 26 years ago - with a passage from Henry Longfellow's poem, "The Song of Hiawatha."

Thus the Birch Canoe was builded
In the valley, by the river,
In the bosom of the forest;
And the forest's life was in it,
All its mystery and its magic,
All the lightness of the birch-tree,
All the toughness of the cedar,
All the larch's supple sinews;
And it floated on the river
Like a yellow leaf in Autumn,
Like a yellow water-lily.

[cmboessel]

It's actually Boessel. Ray is my cousin. He just stayed at my house a couple days ago on his way to deliver a canoe to South Carolina. He's an awesome man. :)

[chelseaanne-2009]

Big Fork is an amazing town filled with great people and stories. My aunts taught me to canoe and camp in Big Fork, and treasure those memories as some of the greatest of my childhood. (that and pizza from pizza palace.......yum)

[libbyscott]

I have absolutely loved the series this week with Steve Hartman/Charles Kuralt In such a time of uncertainty and economic problems it is so nice to have just plain old simple stories that make you feel good.

[jsander999]

That list only totals $750,000. Where is the rest?

[mcleangm]

Thank you for the story on the Canoe Maker. My husband grew up as a neighbor and friend of Bill Hafeman. His Uncle helped Bill in getting the canoe like the Inidans as he had watched the Indians make a canoe. We are lucky to have a 4 ft miniture canoe hanging in our living room.

[hollisch]

I think Steve Hartman does a great job in his "Back on the Road" series, as he does in all his assignments. He is in no way besmirching Charles Kuralt''s memory. The so-called "smirks" are just Steve''s way and part of his personality. Hartman himself has stated that No one can compare to Charles Kuralt and that is not what he is trying to do. I admired Kuralt for many years, also. I miss him and always will. However, I feel that Hartman is a great reporter and his depth of feeling and honesty always comes through in his reports. I really miss his "Everybody Has a Story" series and I am happy that Steve is "Back on the Road"

[slowestone-2009]

I resent the smarminess of steve hartman in his disgusting "remake" of that fine newsman, Charles Kuralt. Charles showed care, concern and love for all his subjects while that punk hartman smirks his way through each remake. You should all be ashamed of yourself for besmirching Charles Kuralt''s memory.