Village Squire, 1980-07, Page 15■
Mr. McRae, whose museum features a
collection of memorabilia from both lake
freighters and passenger boats, says in
1918 a traveller could live in luxury on
board the South American for $50 a week.
By the 1960's, when he was vacationing on
the ship, rates had climbed to $140
weekly, but that included meals and
entertainment. In the last years of her
sailing career, Mr. McRae said the South
American often stopped in Goderich on the
Labour Day weekend so passengers could
watch the parade or explore the harbour
town.
COMING HOME
In 1967, the South American was sold
and towed to an ocean port, to be used as a
training ship by the Seamen's Union. Mr.
McRae said these plans didn't materialize
and now, over a decade later, the South
American is coming home - she'll be towed
to Mackinac Island for conversion into a
museum -restaurant.
Two other Great Lakes passenger boats
also survived into the 1960's - the Canadian
Pacific Railroad steamers Assiniboia and
Keewatin.
The Keewatin, the first Great Lakes
passenger ship to boast a radar system,
was built in a Glasgow shipyard. , and
could reach speeds of 15 knots. The ship,
which sailed twice a week, could carry as
many as 220 passengers, and connected
Georgian Bay ports to the Lakehead.
The Assiniboia was also built in the
Clyde shipyards and had to be cut in two
and put back together again when brought
through the canals into the Upper Great
Lakes.
The two CPR boats were put into service
in 1908 and combined passenger and
package freight runs.
Home port for the Assiniboia was Port
McNicholl in Georgian Bay, and for 24
years the ship's master was Captain
James McCannel. In November, 1936, the
ship pulled out of port carrying a cargo of
package freight, the last run of the season
before Christmas.
November is the most feared month on
the lakes -a month that has claimed
countless ships. The captain and his crew
soon ran into both rolling seas a.id thick ice
that blocked their passage. They fought
through ice and blizzard to Port Arthur and
then turned back for home. The last
half -mile into the Port McNichol harbour
was a three hour battle through the ice and
finally the disgruntled wheelsman, eager
to get home, simply jumped off the ship
and walked the last quarter mile across the
ice, laundry bag slung under his arm.
011 BURNERS
By the 1950's the Assiniboia and
Keewatin had been converted to oil
burners. Passengers would get off the train
from Toronto or other centres and walk to
the ships through a carefully tended formal
garden. The blue peter would be flying at
the ship's foremast, to signal she was
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ready for sea.
At exactly 6 p.m. passengers would be
signalled to the first dinner sitting by a
bugle call and they dined in a saloon of
Edwardian elegance, with silver sugar and
cream dishes, polished brasswork and a
live orchestra playing through the meal.
In 1965, the Keewatin and Assiniboia
made their last trips. On Nov. 28, Captain
Ernest Reid sailed the Assiniboia out of
Port McNicholl with the ship's blue peter
hanging down, to mark the ship's last
voyage.
The boat sailed to Sarnia, and was sold
to Pittsburg restauranteur, but burned
while being restored. The Keewatin met a
kinder fate -she's now restored as a
museum not far from Holland, Michigan.
The days of the great passenger ships
are now little more than a memory -they
died when building costs inflated, govern-
ment regulations tightened up, and when
the leisurely style of travel fell out of public
favour.
Those who still want to smell that special
breeze off the waters can take short
excursions on the Island Queen, out of
Parry Sound, or on a number of cruise
ships from Kingston or Gananoque which
wind their way in and around the Thousand
Islands.
But the real "ladies of the lakes", those
luxury vessels which compared favourably
to grand hotels and palaces, are only a fond
memory.
BOARD
SA?TEN
GIFTS AND
HANDICRAFTS
Clinton Rattenbury St.482-3730
(just east of Albert St.)
Mon -Sat 10-5 30 Friday 1109 00
CLINTON'S NEWEST GIFT SHOP
IN
CLINTON'S OLDEST HOUSE
A NEW UNIQUE GIFT
HOUSE FEATURING:
Kitchen gift items
calico for quilts
handmade items
teak etc.
Over 50 spices and
seasonings at great
savings
Smith and Jamieson teas.
At the Board and Batten
Personal Service is Our
Pleasure
VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1980 PG. 13