by import2 | September 19, 2025 | Boatnerd Archives
1856 1856: At Rush Street in Chicago, IL, a hand-operated ferry carried pedestrians across the Chicago River. The ferry operator would pull hand-over-hand on a rope to move the ferry across the river. At a signal from schooners, the rope was dropped, and the...
by import2 | September 18, 2025 | Boatnerd Archives
1679 1679: GRIFFON, the first sailing ship on the upper lakes, left Green Bay, WI, with a cargo of furs. She left the explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle behind. GRIFFON never reached her planned destination. 1855 1855: SEBASTOPOL (wooden sidewheel...
by import2 | September 17, 2025 | Boatnerd Archives
1830 1830: WILLIAM PEACOCK (wooden sidewheel steamer; 102 feet; 120 tons; built in 1829 at Barcelona, NY) suffered the first major boiler explosion on Lake Erie while she was docked in Buffalo, NY. 15–30 lives were lost. She was rebuilt two years later and...
by import2 | September 16, 2025 | Boatnerd Archives
1877 1877: The 46-foot tug RED RIBBON, owned by W.H. Morris of Port Huron, MI, burned about 2 miles below St. Clair, MI. Captain Morris ran the tug ashore and hurried to St. Clair to get assistance, but officials there refused to allow the steam fire engine to go...
by import2 | September 15, 2025 | Boatnerd Archives
1872 1872: A.J. BEMIS (wood propeller tug; 49 tons; built in 1859 at Buffalo, NY) caught fire while underway. The fire originated under her boiler. She ran for shore but sank about six miles from Alpena, MI. No lives were lost. 1873 1873: IRONSIDES (wooden...
by import2 | September 14, 2025 | Boatnerd Archives
1871 1871: R.J. CARNEY (wooden barge; 150 feet; 397 gross tons) was launched at Saginaw, MI. 1872 1872: The 203-foot wooden schooner KATE WINSLOW was launched at J. Davidson’s yard in East Saginaw, MI. 1882 1882: The steamer ASIA sank in a storm off Byng...
