Put-In-Bay
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Thanks to The Rock for identifying the ship as the Put-In-Bay. The ship was launched in 1911. At that time, the ship was the largest excursion steamer built for Detroit River service. The ship was sold for scrap in 1953 but before going to the scrap yard, it was towed out to Lake St. Clair and set ablaze! Many remember the fiery end of the Put-In-Bay but The Rock actually witnessed this historic maritime event!! Click here to read The Rock’s comments. Click here if you wish to read more about the glorious beginning and unusual end of the Put-In-Bay.
posted by Ookpik at 8:03 PM
3 Comments:
I rode the PUT-IN-BAY several times as a kid on her excursions from Detroit to the Lake Erie Islands ( Put In Bay). In her later life, she also took excursions up to Port Huron.
I remember driving from Birmingham to Lake St. Clair in October of 1953 when she was taken from her berth and towed to the middle of Lake St. Clair and her upper(wooden) works were intentionally burned off and she then was scrapped.
A friend of mine in Grosse Pointe has the BAY'S ship's clock in his den.
The Rock
Hi Rock,
Thanks for the identification and information. My father remembers when the Put-In-Bay was burned and had an unusual story to tell. He said that funds were being collected to "Restore the Put-In-Bay" at about the same time the ship set on fire. He seemed to think it was some kind of scam. Do you recall any such fund drive concerning the Put-In-Bay?
I talked with my buddy tonight ( who has the ship's clock) and he tells me that his dad ( and the late Troy Browning) had bought the rights to the salvage ( scrapping) of the BAY and he knows nothing about a "scam" to keep the vessel going.
On the other hand, it seems that just about the time a ship is scheduled for scrapping, there is a movement afloat ( pardon the pun) to raise funds to "save the ship" Those attempts are often legitimate efforts by dedicated people as most recently seen in efforts to save the Aquarama, the South American, and the Boblo boats for example.
Scams do exist, but a scam in connection with the BAY is not one that my friend was aware of. Nor I. The Rock.
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