Edited (28th June 2023), I deleted the opening 90 seconds of this video, when it was first published, it was suppose to be a Sea Doo Adventure, but it became much bigger than that. Thank you for your support and kind comments. Nigel.
Sailed on her in1954. One memory is of standing on the top deck near the funnel and hearing the sound from the engine room of shovels scrapping across the deck picking up coal to fire the boiler.
@@zephyer-gp1ju yes. At the time she was owned by the Canadian Pacific Railroad and sailed from (from memory) Port Arthur on Lake Huron to Fort William on Lake Superior. You took a boat train (steam driven) from Toronto and then another boat train at the other end to Winnipeg where you boarded the Canadien to Vancouver.
I've lived a hundred years, And avoided the grave below. Now old and tired, I only move by tow. A relic, a shell, I'm the last one left. For my fallen sisters I'd blow my whistle, But I've long since gone deaf. We use to be adored, we cities of the sea. Now I sit alone, won't you visit me? I will remain, I will be waiting. Remember me, I am; S.S. Keewatin
Passed by this beautiful ship many times over the years when its home was in Saugatuck Michigan. Toured it once when I was a kid too. It was always cool to look at.
Such a wonderful memory. I used to live across the bay from the Keewatin in Hoggs Bay. My youngest daughter would check her out every day with the binoculars. She thought the Keewatin felt lonely so a couple times that winter we had diner (out in the freezing cold dark) alongside the boat at a lonely picnic table. Its one of the happiest memories i had that year. Thank you for jogging that memory with your video. It made a dad and his daughter feel very warm and nostalgic tonight!! This summer we plan on driving the 4 hours from Midland to Kingston just to visit that lovely old boat.
The SS Earnslaw which operates a passenger service on the lake in Queenstown, New Zealand, was built in Scotland and launched in the same year as the Titanic.
I know she wasn't under steam, or any kind of power, but imagine being one of the people on board during this journey. Once in a lifetime experience to be on a ship this old while she's moving.
I grew up in Port Colborne during the 1960's. Your video show quite a lot has changed around town since I was last there about 10 years back. Thanks for posting this.
A big thank you to everyone that watched and liked this video. It really did beat my expectations when i posted it. Thank you for your support. I think i need to go and look for some more rate ships out on the Lake.
Amazing video. subscribed. I am grateful that there is someone passionate about this subject, and able to show us the ships themselves, and give the proper sense of history.
Fabulous video Nigel. My best buddies father worked as a waiter in the Keewatin to put himself through law school. Became a superior court judge. One of the smartest down to earth men I have ever met. Just spent my Sea Doo savings on a pontoon boat. Have to keep my 1999 GTX RFI alive for a couple more years. Love your videos.
Thank you soo much for posting this. As a resident of West Michigan I know her well from when R.J.Peterson owned her. Toured her 8 times in Saugatuck and once in Port McNichol. First time I saw her was 1974 riding with my dad in his Peterbilt. I asked dad how they got a ship in a pond( Kalamazoo lake).
She's a lovely old lady. I'm glad there are enough people with enough heart to make sure she sees many more days, and many more people will wander her decks, even if for a while. I can understand why they'll never put her out on the waters again, even if for a short while, but it's no disgrace to a tangible memorial to everyone. A fictitious ship engineer said it well, "Every lady has her charm. You just have to look." (Capt. Montgomery Scott, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Episode, "Relics.")
Me and my GF toured the ship when she was in Douglas, MI. We did the long tour. We adventured from bow to stern and keel to wheel house. We both greatly enjoyed the tour.
This was really cool. I was aboard when she was in Saugatuck in the '90s. Nice to see she's been so well cared for in the ensuing years and off to a new home where she'll be appreciated. I spoke to someone aboard back then about the machinery and was told it was in good condition and could probably be put back into service. That would be something to see.
I remember when the Keewatin arrived in Saugatuck, Michigan in the summer of 1967. It was an impressive sight moored temporarily in the relatively narrow channel.
Great video, you got some really nice shots of the vessel! Another steamship from the Edwardian / Titanic era, is the SS Nomadic which was one of the tender ships that ferried passengers to the Titanic, in Cherbourg, France. She was built to the same specifications that the Titanic and her sister ships were.
Great shots from the drone. And thanks for being out there on a jet ski. You got me interested, now I have to do some research and learn more than its name. Thanks so much.
Fascinating. Just bumped into this video, liked and subbed. I've been to all but 2 of the Great Lakes. May have to start following this ship and make a pilgrimage specifically see the Kewattin. Tyvm. Nice video and drone work!!!
My father and my uncles sailed on the “Kee” in the early 1950’s out of Port McNicholl, and when she was being restored, my uncle was part of the group involved. I can remember the Kee and the Asinaboia coming into the slip in Port McNicholl and blowing their horns when I was a young lad.
But then again freshwater ships tend to last longer than saltwater ships. I remember seeing and later boarding the MV Doulos which was built in 1913 from the outside it was a ship straight out of a history book. Other ships of the great lakes that still exist are SS Meteor the last remaining Whaleback cargo ship launched in 1896 and the SS Arthur M Anderson the sister ship of the late SS Edmund Fitzgerald launched in 1952
You did such a great honor showcasing this ship. I have to say: Well done! This was one of those videos that make you fall in love with the subject! Excellent job! 💕 And it was great to meet you yesterday! My son wants to be a RU-vidr one day and you should have seen his face when I told him you are!
Toured the Kee numerous times with different people while she was moored in Douglas/Saugatuck MI. Beautiful! So glad she is getting a new home at a museum! I've been keeping tabs on her since she moved to Port McNicoll and could tell she wasn't prospering there. Nice vid, I'll have to check out more of your vids,
Yes, the only other time KEEWATIN was in the canal she was in two pieces. Although those in the know use the term "cut" to describe the separation, the rest of us would say "separated". Ships destined for the upper great lakes... including KEEWATIN and her twin ASSINIBOIA... were built to be separated... the two sections were riveted together, separated in Levis and re-riveted in Buffalo.
Flagship Niagara League and USS Lake Erie (CG-70) . USS Scorpion Constructed in 1813 at Erie, Pennsylvania, the USS Scorpion was made for war. During the Battle of Lake Erie, it was commanded by Commodore Oliver Hazard
Went on a field trip in fifth grade on this boat. 40 years later we used to stop at the red dock bar right next to it and party about every Sunday. Shame it’s back in Canada again.
Wonderful video Nigel. My brother works for the Welland Canal and runs the bridges and locks. He was with the ship for the whole trip through the Canal.
That is apart from the SS Nomadic which , along with her sister ship Traffic , left the Harland and Wolff yard on the same day as Titanic , to take their place as White Star Line Tender ships bringing passengers out from the Port of Cherbourg to liners such as Olympic and Titanic . Nomadic survives to this day and can be viewed , now fully restored , at the Titanic visitor centre in Belfast .
Great video! There were at least 3 of hs droning the arrival in PoCo. Id imagine it was yours that was floating in one of my drone shots after she'd passed the scrapyard.
