CandOforprogress2
One of the main reasons along with declining patronage was that boats with a lot of wood construction were banned from carrying passengers (overnight, anyway) after the Yarmouth Castle fire in 1965.
Your second photo of the partially submerged ship brings a question to my mind. I remember taking a Cuyahoga river cruise on the Goodtime back in the 1970's or 80's, possibly 1976 which is when I would have started kindergarten but it also could have been later. Anyhow, besides the giant, dark, scary, rusting hulks of the Hulett loaders that abounded on the river in those days, I distinctly remember seeing a half sunken ship at what I believe is called "Collision Bend".
http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/herrick/id/341/rec/496
The description only says: "Sunken excursion boat". Behind the reddish freighter, which I believe to be the Mather, is the Cleveland Union Terminal complex which was mostly sealed off in those days.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Georgian Bay Lines ran the North and South American until the mid-60s.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Beautiful ships! Very little built nowadays to compare with them.
Firelock76 Beautiful ships! Very little built nowadays to compare with them.
Besides being of wood construction. Any fires that broke out while being underway were spread quickly by lake winds and the ship making way.
They burnt to their water lines in short order, usually with a high death toll.
ROBERT WILLISONthey were no doubt beautiful ships. But they were also Death traps. Many instances where they caught fire and sank in the great lakes, Hudson river and along the Mississippi. Besides being of wood construction. Any fires that broke out while being underway were spread quickly by lake winds and the ship making way.
The SS North American and South American were built of steel, but ultimately could not pass newer fire safety codes. Congress passed a law in 1966 forcing the ships to be docked. The South American made a final cruise in 1967.
http://cruiselinehistory.com/ss-south-american-the-final-voyage/
Penny TrainsYour second photo of the partially submerged ship brings a question to my mind. I remember taking a Cuyahoga river cruise on the Goodtime back in the 1970's or 80's, possibly 1976 which is when I would have started kindergarten but it also could have been later. Anyhow, besides the giant, dark, scary, rusting hulks of the Hulett loaders that abounded on the river in those days, I distinctly remember seeing a half sunken ship at what I believe is called "Collision Bend". http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/herrick/id/341/rec/496 The description only says: "Sunken excursion boat". Behind the reddish freighter, which I believe to be the Mather, is the Cleveland Union Terminal complex which was mostly sealed off in those days.
Worked out of B&O's Clark Avenue Yard in Cleveland for a while in the early 70's. Made many a trip between the Clark Ave. office and the Whiskey Island interchange with the NYC (later PC and later still CR). B&O had 3 drawbridges to negotiate between Clark Ave and Whiskey Island - Bridges 460, 463 & 464. Bridge 460 had it's own 24 hour operators.
Bridges 463 & 464 were operated by a single individual working 3 PM - 11 PM under normal circumstance. 2nd trick yard job would perform the interchange work at Whiskey Island. When the job would approach Bridge 463 the operator would lower the bridge for rail traffic and line the signal for the movement and the hightail it to go to Bridge 464 so that bridge could be lowered for rail traffic. After the movement cleared Bridge 464 it was raised for river traffic and the operator proceeded to Bridge 463 to raise it for river traffic. The bridge operator would then return to Bridge 464 to await the yard job's return movement to Clark Ave and then repeat the process in reverse for the job's movement. With the Hours of Service for T&E crews being 16 hours a the time, the bridge operators job could earn a lot of overtime.
Trips between Clark Ave and Whiskey Island had the road traversing several highway drawbridges and one was frequently delayed by freighters traversing the Cuyahoga River. Vessels that entered the river bow first with tugs assisting would go to their destination and when their mission was completed would be pulled stern first back out of the river by tugs - the river was not wide enough to permit the vessels to turn anywhere but at Collision Bend, which would shut down the river of a period of time if the vessels were to be turned.
As I recall there was a class restaurent (whose name I can't remember) that had a great view of Collision Bend and the river operations that traversed the area. The area immediately surrounding the Cuyahoga River was collectively known as 'The Flats' and was all heavy industry.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
schlimm ROBERT WILLISON they were no doubt beautiful ships. But they were also Death traps. Many instances where they caught fire and sank in the great lakes, Hudson river and along the Mississippi. Besides being of wood construction. Any fires that broke out while being underway were spread quickly by lake winds and the ship making way. The SS North American and South American were built of steel, but ultimately could not pass newer fire safety codes. Congress passed a law in 1966 forcing the ships to be docked. The South American made a final cruise in 1967. http://cruiselinehistory.com/ss-south-american-the-final-voyage/
ROBERT WILLISON they were no doubt beautiful ships. But they were also Death traps. Many instances where they caught fire and sank in the great lakes, Hudson river and along the Mississippi. Besides being of wood construction. Any fires that broke out while being underway were spread quickly by lake winds and the ship making way.
Many of the old steam ferries and overnight ships, like the city of Detroit, boffola and Cleveland ended their careers being towed out to a shallow spot, and being burnt.
ROBERT WILLISON Many of the old steam ferries and overnight ships, like the city of Detroit, boffola and Cleveland ended their careers being towed out to a shallow spot, and being burnt.
That's right any iron or steel from the super structure fell into the iron hull. The hull, boilers, machinery and misc iron was towed back and recycled.
BaltACDAs I recall there was a class restaurent (whose name I can't remember) that had a great view of Collision Bend and the river operations that traversed the area.
Could it be Jim's Steakhouse which was sort of "half under" the Detroit Superior bridge?
Penny Trains BaltACD As I recall there was a class restaurent (whose name I can't remember) that had a great view of Collision Bend and the river operations that traversed the area. Could it be Jim's Steakhouse which was sort of "half under" the Detroit Superior bridge?
BaltACD As I recall there was a class restaurent (whose name I can't remember) that had a great view of Collision Bend and the river operations that traversed the area.
From the Google Earth view (and a 50+ year memory), the restaurant would have been in the location now occupied by Trident Marine. The old B&O Freight Agency building was located on Canal Road across the river.
Google Earth - 41°29'31.91" N 81°41'15.53" W
Balt, you are thinking of Jim's Steak House on Collision Bend in the Flats. It had a huge red neon sign on the roof identifying itself and looked to be an oasis in a dusty, busy, industrial part of town. When one got inside it was a bit modern/spartan in appearance. I'm not sure if it even had tablecloths, but I suspect its main business was lunch, because in the 1960's people didn't have much reason to venture downtown anymore, as one by one the nightlife and finally even the corporate office culture diminished.
Jim's served delicious versions of Cleveland's three favorite dinners in those days: steak, lobster, and chops.
Jim's was really for adults. Families and kids, as well as adults, of course, loved Captain Frank's Seafood House on the East 9th Street pier. Great view of the lakefront, lots of good deep-fried seafood, lots of neon signage, and maybe best of all, the South American tied up right next to the restaurant (so did the North American).
People today who didn't get to see the ore boats on Lake Erie, or watch them edging their way up or down the Cuyahoga River with a few attendant tug boats, really missed something. Cleveland even used to have a fleet of fishing boats that tied up at State Fish in the Flats to off-load the day's catch. Northern Pike, anyone? Yellow Perch?
Balt, did you ever eat at Joe Kindler's Cafe, right under the Shoreway bridge on the east side of the Flats? Open 24 hours a day, its customers consisted almost entirely of steel workers, railroad crews, seamen, truck drivers and laborers. To walk in the door at Kindler's was to enter the world of blue collar, hardworking men.
http://www.ohio66.com/wedding/steakhouse/default.asp
http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/postcards/id/4232/rec/1
http://clevhist.blogspot.com/2009/06/from-back-of-house-memories-of-steak.html
http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/ref/collection/postcards/id/692
Five complete decks, the lower three being of steel. The interiors have wood paneling, but so did the Queen Mary, Elizabeth, etc.
SS South American article with diagrams, specs.
Then there is this-
https://www.curbed.com/2016/3/15/11240180/s-s-columbia-steamboat-restoration-historic-preservation still in serivice untill 1970s
I remember this boat docked in Buffalo the Aquarama. It looked big and scary like something that belonged in the past on the bottom of Lake Erie forvever haunted
Most of these I took in 1993(?) at the end of the MS walk.
The large structure across the river was the power house for the Cleveland streetcar systems.
Not the best scan job but I've always liked this one with the juxtaposition of the enourmous towering bridge and that tiny racing shell right below it.
The crowd in front of the powerhouse is the walkers gathering at the Nautica stage for our "reward" for finishing the MS walk: a concert by Beatles tribute band 1964. Man were they good!
The only spot on the river large enough to turn a lake freighter.
I took this one in 2006 from an American Airlines regional jet on final for Hopkins. The windows were tinted adding to the difficulties of shooting handheld on a moving plane so this was the best I could do to clean up a lagely "blue" photo.
Obviously that large orange thing front and center is Browns stadium and just to the left of it are the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you look between them in the lagoon, you can see the permanently moored William G. Mather. To the left of the Rock Hall is the East 9th Street pier where Captain Frank's used to be. And if you look reeeaaaal hard at the left edge of the left edge of the lagoon east (left) of the pier you can just make out the gray U.S.S. Cod, our WWII submarine.
Oh, and just for fun, almost dead center in this photo is the old Ohio Bell Building with it's green antenna array on the roof. That is the building that modeled for the Daily Planet!
Daily Planet? In the comics or the old TV show with George Reeves? I recall in the show the D.P. was the Los Angeles city hall. Or am I thinking of something else?
54light15Daily Planet? In the comics or the old TV show with George Reeves?
In the original newspaper comic, with its strong Cleveland connection!
RME- I have some really bad news for you. Joe Shuster was born in Toronto. There's even a street named after him near where I live. His family moved to Ohio when he was nine. I loved the old TV show and my favourite part was the Southern Pacific GS-4 in the opening credits. "More powerful than a locomotive!"
54light15 RME- I have some really bad news for you. Joe Shuster was born in Toronto. There's even a street named after him near where I live. His family moved to Ohio when he was nine. I loved the old TV show and my favourite part was the Southern Pacific GS-4 in the opening credits. "More powerful than a locomotive!"
54light15Daily Planet? In the comics or the old TV show with George Reeves? I recall in the show the D.P. was the Los Angeles city hall. Or am I thinking of something else?
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2090
Here is my old workplace great food and the lower deck we caught many a walleye while in port-
CSSHEGEWISCH 54light15 RME- I have some really bad news for you. Joe Shuster was born in Toronto. There's even a street named after him near where I live. His family moved to Ohio when he was nine. I loved the old TV show and my favourite part was the Southern Pacific GS-4 in the opening credits. "More powerful than a locomotive!" Some of the later shows show a trio of E7's in Daylight colors.
Which is why Lady Firestorm and I call cab units "Superman Diesels."
And when we were in high school around 1970 kids called the big blocky cars from the early Fifties "Superman Cars." Girls called the women's fashions of that time "Lois Lane Outfits." Hey, everybody grew up watching that show, and you were never too old for it!
By the way, any of you remember the childhood rumors of how George Reeves, the REAL Superman, met his demise? I know what I heard, but I won't say. I want to know what YOU heard!
54light15Joe Shuster was born in Toronto.
True. But Superman was born in Cleveland!
Firelock76By the way, any of you remember the childhood rumors of how George Reeves, the REAL Superman, met his demise? I know what I heard, but I won't say. I want to know what YOU heard!
Officially suicide, but some think accidental shooting by his fiance, a Miss Lemmon, or murder by an unnamed hitman under orders from mobster Eddie Mannix as Reeves was having an affair with Mannix's wife.
CandOforprogress2Here is my old workplace great food and the lower deck we caught many a walleye while in port-
CandOforProgress2:
That's a fine-looking Columbia Steamship boat you sailed on. In response, may I attach two photos of my 1967 summer workplace: Str. Reiss Brothers.
http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/historic/perspectives/Spruceglen1/ReissBrothers-THar-MM.jpg
http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/historic/perspectives/Spruceglen1/REISS%20BROTHERS%202.jpg
As a lowly deckhand, I can attest that the food was unexpectedly delicious, but at night it could get boring in those pre-computer, lousy-TV reception days.
My job on that boat was literally the hardest physical work I have ever done in my life.
Fifty years ago who would have foreseen the Great Lakes nearly bereft of all its ore boats?
Sic transit gloria navalis.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.