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Noble Riggers: 1905
... Shorpy's original view of the ferry, when her builder, the Detroit Dry Dock Company, repossessed it. She continued in the Detroit-Sarnia ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/02/2018 - 2:25pm -

Detroit circa 1905. "Belle Isle ferry dock." A good place to pick up a yacht sail. The steamer Garland, seen earlier here. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Stove burnedThe giant Garland stove you remember was made of carved oak. It was moved from near Belle Isle to the state fairgrounds off 8 Mile in 1965. In 1974 it was disassembled and stored, but then was refurbished and returned to the fairgrounds in 1998. In Aug. 2011, it was struck by lightning and burned. Belle Isle from CanadaI grew up in Riverside (now Windsor) Ontario in the 1950s, and we lived on Esdras Place, just one block from the Detroit River. At the foot of Esdras there is a private park owned by the residents, and it looks directly across the river to Belle Isle. There were many kids on the block then, and that is where we learned to swim. There were picnics and parties held there though the summer. The Kodachrome photo was taken by my father in 1955, and shows residents swimming in the river, with Belle Isle on the far side. The freighter steaming past is the Ralph Budd, which had an interesting history. A sign in the 1906 photo indicates service to Bois Blanc, on June 7. It was also known as Bob-lo Island, downstream from Detroit. You can read more here. "Naming rights"existed even in 1880, when the Garland was built, reportedly the first electrically-lit vessel on the lakes. She was named for the most popular model manufactured by Detroit's Michigan Stove Company; in return, the vessel's owner, Captain John Horn, had his new craft festooned in nickle-plated decoration, courtesy of the stove manufacturer. Indeed, the odd-looking mass ahead of the funnel is an example of that handiwork, a garland with the letter "G" inside. When I was a kid a gigantic Garland stove, at least two stories tall, dominated the approach to Belle Isle at Detroit, built for Chicago's Columbian Exposition. For all I know, it's still there. The Garland endured quite awhile. Horner lost the vessel after the tragic accident involving mostly altar boys, referred to in the comments to Shorpy's original view of the ferry, when her builder, the Detroit Dry Dock Company, repossessed it. She continued in the Detroit-Sarnia service, renamed City of Sarnia in 1923, until removed from service in the early 1940s. She sank at the dock in 1945, and was dismantled in situ 1946-47. Giggle, Giggle!One can almost hear the gleeful titters of the little girls in their summer frocks and straw hats, about to embark on an exciting voyage to exotic and storied foreign climes. Well, maybe those lands are still in the US and just across the river, but when you're five or ten, opportunities like this take on exciting aspects out of all proportion to the way adults reckon these things. This is a view of the ferry dock at the foot of Woodward AvenueSure, you could travel a few miles down Jefferson Avenue and cross to the Island over a bridge, but for a dime you could cruise there in style on the Garland or its sister vessel, which began ferry service when Belle Isle opened in 1882. In their 1957 book Made in Detroit, Norman Beasley and George W. Stark describe the allure of the steamers: “All day long until late at night, the Belle Isle ferries traveled up and down the river. … The fare was ten cents, and if the passenger so chose he could ride all day long for his original dime. … In the dusk of evening, the ride back to the city was exhilarating. The lights in the scattered high towers gave dimensions to Detroit; the growing skyline gave a sense of growing importance.” Sadly, the last boat sailed in 1957. Does your mother still dress you?Can anyone fill me in on why that one boy seems to be wearing a doily on his shoulders? This is not something that I have seen before, and I am wondering if it is a common article of clothing. It occurs to me that his mother might have thrown that over his shoulders as a sort of shawl anticipating cooler temperatures out on the water. Can anyone shed any light on this for me? [Appears to be a kind of Fauntleroy suit. - tterrace] June 7, 1906?Possibly circa on or shortly before June 7, according to the displayed timetable. Can't make out what the two words to the left of "June 7" are. "Best Blues"? Bois BlancThe sign actually says "Bois Blanc" referring to another island in the Detroit River also known as Boblo Island. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
The Fortune: 1905
... hull steamship Fortune was launched in 1875 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company (hull number 29). Operated by the Algoma Central ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/01/2013 - 12:35pm -

Circa 1905. "St. Mary's Canal celebration -- excursion steamer Fortune in Weitzel Lock, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan." 8x10 glass negative. View full size. 1905!That's the year I want to visit! My maternal grandfather, born in 1900, might have been the age of this young boy in the foreground. Clothing was beautiful, men all dapper and women dressed in their finest frilly apparel. Imagine how relaxing it was traveling by steamer compared to our stressful travel alternatives of today. All we need is a Time Machine. Weitzel LockBuilt in 1881, 515 feet long, 80 wide, 17 deep. Replaced by the MacArthur Lock in 1943 (800' x 80' x 30'). Whatzit?The lady, just to the right of center and standing next to the tree in the foreground, appears to be holding a stick-like something. A golf club? An apparatus for herding small children? A compact fishing pole? Two or three other "sticks" are wielded by other folks in this picture, one of note is the sitting young man in the foreground. Steamship FortuneThe wooden hull steamship Fortune was launched in 1875 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company (hull number 29). Operated by the Algoma Central Railroad, at the time of the St. Mary's Canal celebration, she was captained by H.A. Pocock with F.W. Cornish serving as chief engineer. Sold in 1910, and later converted to a coastal tug rechristened as the Bawating. She sank February 1, 1920, off Jekyll Island, Georgia with 13 lives lost. WhatzitThere appears to be a bit of cloth folded umbrella-style on the end, so my guess is a small parasol with a long handle. Could it be?A souvenir. A bent bamboo cane with a ribbon to commemorate the occasion. WhatzitMy guess on the "whatzit" is a fly whisk. Back then it may have been considered common to brush flies away with your hands. 50th Anniversary CelebrationThis celebration was for the 50th anniversary of the first lock in the Soo opened in 1855. Even the Vice President of the United States was there along with a small flotilla of Navy ships . Note that safety and security were completely absent then. No fences or barriers to keep the kids out of the drink! (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC)
Frank E. Kirby: 1910
... If you need to know The Frank E. Kirby was built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company in 1890. A 195.5 foot passenger and freight ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 1:20pm -

Toledo, Ohio, circa 1910. Sidewheeler Frank E. Kirby at steamer landing." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Flyer of the LakesNamed to honor her designer, Frank E. Kirby, a naval architect who designed over 100 ships which plied the lakes. Nicknamed "The Flyer of the Lakes" for her exceptional speed. If you need to knowThe Frank E. Kirby was built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company in 1890. A 195.5 foot passenger and freight sidewheeler, working out of Detroit. Burned and scrapped in 1932 at Ecorse, Michigan. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Toledo)
Owana at Toledo: 1912
... in afternoon. Launched as the Pennsylvania in 1889 by Detroit Dry Dock Company, Wyandotte, Michigan. Renamed Owana in 1905, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/29/2012 - 10:42pm -

Toledo, Ohio, circa 1912. "Steamer Owana ready to leave for Detroit." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Sidewheeler OwanaThe Owana operated a daily schedule departing Detroit in the morning, and Toledo in afternoon. Launched as the Pennsylvania in 1889 by Detroit Dry Dock Company, Wyandotte, Michigan. Renamed Owana in 1905, Erie in 1925, T. A. Ivey in 1934, a return to Erie in 1964, broken up 1981. Gross tonnage 747, net tonnage 420, length 201 ft., beam 32 ft. Passenger and cargo ferry: the forward part of her main deck could accomodate wagons and automobiles. Another photo of the Owana, most likely from the same day, at Smoke and Mirrors: 1912. Other vessels on Shorpy built at same Wyandotte shipyard: Sidewheeler Idlewild, 1879. Sidewheeler City of Cleveland,1880. Sidewheeler State of New York, 1883. Sidewheeler railroad ferry Michigan Central, 1884. Sidewheeler Frank E. Kirby, 1890. Fire boat James Battle, 1900. Steamship Tionesta, 1900. Freighter S.S. Utica, 1904. Sidewheeler City of Cleveland, 1907. Sidewheeler City of Detroit III, 1912. Sidewheeler Seeandbee, 1912. Cresceus ... A Plaster Horse?     I was curious about the word "cresceus" on the side of Toledo Supply and thought it might be some sort of plaster but much to my surprise a search led to an amazing horse of that era. CRESCEUS WITH HIS OWNER GEORGE H. KETCHUM      Cresceus owed his life to the disobedience of the superintendent. The colt had no more than turned a yearling when he was stricken with a severe attack of distemper. As it had settled in the throat, a heavy blister had been applied to that section. The youngster rubbed off the blister and looked so terrible that Ketcham ordered him destroyed as he thought the animal would be worthless. The Rest Of The Story. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Toledo)
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