Built in 1910, and along with her sister ship, 1902’s Columbia, the Ste. Claire ferried passengers from Detroit to Boblo Island until Labor Day 1991. The ship has a capacity of 2500(!) passengers. The ship was purchased by new owners in 2006 who are trying to restore the ship and get it back running as a river cruise ship in time for her 100th birthday in 2010. This winter they plan to dry-dock the ship and rework the hull and engines.
More information about that is available here: http://bobloboat.com
Back in the summer of 2005, the Ste. Claire spent a few months docked along Windsor’s waterfront.
2005
She looks nude with her pilot house stripped off…
2007
Docked along the Windsor Waterfront in 2005
Docked in her current temporary home at Tri-Centennial State Park in Detroit. Ironically, she is now tied up only a few hundred feet from where she was built, at the Detroit Dry Dock Co. by famed naval architect Frank E. Kirby, who once had a young engineer apprentice under him named Henry Ford at the Detroit Dry Dock Co.
The Detroit Dry Dock building is visible from Tri-Centennial State Park, the old red brick building is peaking out from just in front of where the Ste. Claire is tied up.
A better view of the old building, along with what was known as “Dry Dock No. 1” in the foreground. Many of the Great Lakes finest passenger ships were either built or finished/outfitted in this dry dock. All of the former Windsor-Detroit ferries came out of here…
Whatever happened to the old Boblo ferry that ran from Amherstburg to Boblo Island? I remember the bottom deck was closed in but the top deck was open. It had an Indian-sounding name too.
There was the Papoose I and II I believe. Papoose means “little baby”.
OK, so where IS the pilot house?
You’ve got me Doug….
I little off topic but how would you like pictures of the Walker road underpass project. No wait!!! From the penthouse of the Chrysler paint shop. Eh? sound to good to be true. Hell no, just say the word.
Hi Andrew,
Would you be able to help ?
I am looking for a photo of the Coast Guard station on Belle Isle, before it was torn down and rebuilt in the 70’s ( I think that is when the rebuild took place).
Cannot find anywhere.
Your archives may have a photo.
Maybe I’ll see ya at the coming weekends go cart /bicycle races next weekend.
Thanks
cpike, I’ll have a look and see if I can find anything.