Published: August 29, 2008 10:03 pm            

PEOPLE PROFILE: June Kunzweiler, Wilson artist

WILSON — WILSON — Friendly competition has picked up in the Village of Wilson for folks painting cutouts of the Fleetwing schooner built in 1863.

The village has celebrated its 150th birthday, but interest in the plywood replicas continues to grow. June Kunzweiler of Wood Street has painted the 48-by-48-inch model in a patriotic theme and placed it at the corner of Wood and Lake streets.

“I painted it in a week,” said June Kunzweiler, who was born in the village. “My husband said I couldn’t do it. I grew up in this house. I remember the centennial in 1958 and wanted to take part in it.”

There are two large red-and-white sails on the schooner and blue pennants with 50 stars.

The number of stars wasn’t planned in advance, but June’s grandson asked her how many stars there were. They added up to 50.

The sesquicentennial boats were the brainchild of Jill Rohring of the Wilson Garden, Farm and Pet Shop. Lee Rohring of Ransomville painted the first one, copying the colors of the from the actual painting of Fleetwing, which was built in the Wilson Harbor. That painting is in the Wilson Historical Society.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Work Program, which is coordinated by Town Supervisor Joe Jastrzemski, cut out about 80 plywood ships in the winter. “They helped out a lot,” said Jill Rohring of Watch Wilson Grow. “They really seemed to enjoy it.”

The cost of the cutouts is $10, $15, $25 and $100. About 50 have been sold. “People are still buying them,” Jill Rohring said. “We’re getting the creativity we were hoping to have. People are starting to get more creative.”

Locals have been putting the boats on their lawns at their business. Rohring has been riding around the village on a bicycle taking pictures of the miniature sailboats.

The Candyland Cruiser was painted by the people in the Summer Recreation Department. The colorful $100 cutout was placed outside the town hall after being displayed in the board meeting room.

Watch Wilson Grow’s staff will meet in about a week to decide how the winner — or winners — will be selected. The prizes will likely be gift certificates from the shops who have supported the program, organizers said. The winner will be announced on Sept. 21.

Wilson, like Lockport, thrived when the Erie Canal was completed. The Fleetwing was built in Wilson Harbor near the boat launch. It was 89 feet long, but not one of biggest ones built in the village. The Fleetwing was later enlarged.

The ship-building industry on Lake Ontario paralleled the canal industry in Lockport. The railroads made waterway shipping somewhat obsolete.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott 439-9222, ext. 6246.

        

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