Detroit River Transport

Detroit, MI - Cosmo - Monday, August 28th, 2006 : goo

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Boats!

These are seen just off Jefferson Ave, the freighter Lee A. Tregurtha is waiting for the drawbridge to open so it can proceed on to the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn.

The two ratty looking boats are former Bob-Lo Boats, passenger craft that back in the day carried thousands of families to Bob-Lo Island just off Amherstburg, Ontario. That's the Sainte Claire on the right, and the Columbia on the left. This photo was taken at a dock in Ecorse, MI, where these boats sat for years awaiting their fate.

The Ste. Claire has been sold and moved to another location for restoration. I think it is currently docked in the city of River Rouge, just south of Detroit, mostly restored, and possibly open for tours.

The Columbia is rumored to have been purchased by a New York State nonprofit group to be restored and used for tours on the Hudson River.

Like many people in this area, I have lots of happy memories riding these steam-powered boats to the amusement park at Bob-Lo Island. I would rather have one or both of these boats remain in service on the Detroit River, but alas that seems to be out of consideration now. At least they will get a second life elsewhere.

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