Joel Dinda's photos with the keyword: steamer

The (former) Steel Fleet's John G. Munson leaves the St. Clair River on July 3, 2005. I've posted a couple other photos of the Munson from our Port Huron trip; thought I'd add another. This one's less dramatic than the others. In general, the surviving boats from US Steel's glory days are quite attractive. Functional, to be sure, but designed by and for folks who cared what a ship looked like. Definitely not the current fashion.

"August 4, 1939 St[eamer] Greater Buffalo heading toward Lake Erie on Detroit River" Second of two; I discussed this passenger ship's career in great detail a few weeks ago . This wonderful photograph is almost like a painting. Notice the Ambassador Bridge in the background. I've trimmed some sky and water to move the focus to the ship. Borucki's Lakers

"Sunday Nov. 6, 1938 Discarded Steam barge 'Sacremento' [sic] of Davidson fleet rotting in slip at Davidson shipyard" I've seen this ship's name misspelled often enough to wonder if perhaps she wore that spelling on her hull. Like her consort Chieftain, she'd been sitting untended in this slip since 1929 when Mr. Borucki made this photo, which was taken shortly before she was formally abandoned. John Devendorf's Great Lakes Bulk Carriers 1869-1985 tells me that remnants of the ship remained visible on the waterfront into the 1980s, when Bay City recovered the area as Veterans Park. Her rudder is preserved in the park; the remainder of the ruined ship was reportedly buried when the park developers filled the slip. Sacramento was built in 1895 at this yard as a 302 foot steamship (some sources say 307). Davidson Steamship's all-wooden fleet , including this ship, was discarded as obsolete in the late '20s. More information about that, and the shipyard, at the Chieftain writeup . Borucki's Lakers

"Nov. 20, 1938 Sunday Going downloaded. Going through M.C. RR. Bridge." Second of two photographs of this ship. Presumably this is a Bay City photograph, in which case it's this bridge . I told what I know about this oddly-configured ship with last week's photograph ; I've nothing to add today. Borucki's Lakers

"Ben Lasch on stairs of pilot house on S.S. Calcite docked at 17th St & Water. Bay, City, Mich. Thursday Sept 1938" September 1, I'm sure, since that's the date on the others in the set. Final of four pictures; I sketched Calcite's history here . This pilot house survives, as part of the museum complex at 40 Mile Point Lighthouse . Presumably Ben Lasch was a Borucki family friend, but I don't know the story. Nor do I know anything much about him. The only reference I can find for Lasch on the Web is this mention in an article about Mackinac ferry service in 1927. Borucki's Lakers

"Steamer Aetna around in river channel ready to go out the river into the bay Sept. 25/38 Sunday" Second of two Aetna photos; last week's photo was similar and has some background information. Certainly seems to be putting out the smoke, here. Borucki's Lakers

"Sept 4, 1937. Steamer approaching Cass Bridge, Bay City, Mich." A different date and a different location, but the same ship , even though the caption fails to identify it. The Cass Avenue bridge has since been removed, but I see the DNR still uses it for a landmark . This is the fourth of seven Schoellkopf photos in the collection, and the first of two at this location. Neat photo. I really want to know about that lady with her hands on her hips. Borucki's Lakers