Miss Cranford

Miss Cranford is not a beauty pageant queen; rather she’s a stunning blue canoe currently on display in the Cranford Canoe Club. Miss Cranford dates back to the 1920s, when she was lovingly crafted with the utmost attention to detail. Over the decades the canoe lost its luster, but it was restored through the efforts of the Hanson Park Conservancy and various donors and remains a testament to why Cranford was once known as“The Venice of New Jersey.” 

Cranford NJ Artist Linda Sowa

Linda Sowa was commissioned by The Conservancy to paint Miss Cranford, and prints of the painting were sold as part of a fundraiser to restore the canoe. Her portrait of Miss Cranford being paddled through the Rahway River evokes the peace and tranquility that can be found in the parks of Cranford. It’s a town where you can connect to nature on the water, beneath a canopy of tall trees, or just listening to a bird’s calling. Did you know Cranford has more than 400 acres of parkland to enjoy? That’s quite a rarity for a town that has all the modern amenities you could want as well.

A longtime resident of Cranford, Linda has painted many landscape scenes. She is also known for painting stunning portraits of clients’ houses, which become treasured heirlooms for generations to come. I hope you enjoy Linda’s painting as much as I do. It highlights, once again, how Cranford truly has it ALL. That’s why I’ll always LIVE … WORK … LOVE … LOCAL!