In the days long before Coast Guard ice breakers opened the Great Lakes shipping lanes in the spring some profit hungry vessel managers tried to get a jump on everyone else and all because of the ice, they lost in a big way. This story is inspired by an amazing photo of a Wolvin Class canaller that I found in the Library of Congress. Gazing at it I wondered when was it taken? And so I began to research it.
FYI- if you tune out early on this one, you'll miss the up-close study of the little canaller, plus you won't get to meet her cook.
Of course, like always, that initial research led to two videos and me going down rabbit holes until I uncovered the one of the worst spring ice-jams in Great Lakes history- and that little canaller was right in the middle of it. Along the way I also came across the name of the boat's captain and we see him close-up near the end of the video. I also found the story of Mr. William Mills who owned no less than 3 shipping companies and who gambled on sending two of his big lakeboats out way too early in the season. Instead of cold cash, he got a lesson in freshwater ice.
4 авг 2024
