David Antikainen's been at it again, touring the Copper Country, snapping shots for us to enjoy! A few weeks ago a discussion was started on these pages about the "most photographed landmark" in the Keweenaw. I don't think this one was mentioned, the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. David brings it to us from a slightly different angle. The first photo makes you think (and hope) that the ice is melting pretty well around the harbor, but then you glance down at the second photo and BAM! You realize, there's still quite a bit of melting to go before you dock your boat at the marina. Still, the lighthouse is standing at attention, ready to wink at the passing sailors. Yes, both snapshots were taken on the same day!

More stunning photography !

Good Morning from Misouri.
Like they used to say up there: Its raining cats and dogs outside. Some very heavy thunderstorms are also rolling thru.
I really like that top picture. Very pretty.

1st post such peacefull beauty and a nice
view.

We were there in Feb. It is always gorgeous!

thank you for all the great photos.

Lowell, Be careful Not to step in a Poodle !

www.freep.com/sports/preps/pcol26_20040326.htm} A nice article today in the Detroit Freep on the Nimrods trip to the Jay Leno show.

Yesterday you were talking about the difference between ships and boats. I don't know the offical reason but I do know that when I transferred from a destroyer (ship) to the Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) "Submarine" I made the mistake of calling her a ship. Needless to say I never made that mistake again. It is tradition.
"Boats are Boats and Ships are targets."

JFWH

Both are WOW's!!!!

Speaking of photographing landmarks, I think someone should snap a few shots of the dams at Redridge before they disappear...
I attended the Stanton Township meeting last night and the situation didn't sound very good.

I heard on the radio this morning that the Edwin Gott locked through in the Soo this morning at 12:01 to be the first ship of the season. I guess it was selected to "jump ahead" of the Cason Calloway (which had arrived earlier) in hopes that the Gott's wider beam might make a wider channel through the ice.

Speaking of springtime passages, has anyone ever heard of a contest they have in Ontonagon to guess what day the ice will go out of one of their rivers?

We do love marking our springtime events, don't we?

These photos are beyond words for beauty. I am all misy-eyed this a.m. Maybe it is the fog here in north eastern Iowa.
To Ken and Mimi: yesterday you talked about the North American, I seem to recall a South American, but I may be wrong. Correct me please.
To Betty in WA: NOW I remember that bit:) he was funny wasn't he?
#4, I slipped on the numbers, "3" is just beneath the "#":)..and it is an hour earlier here.

I remember one year, probably '75 or '76, when the ice breaker came through Portage Lake. Houghton and Hancock turned out to watch it. Not much more boring spectating than watching an ice breaker, but we cheered. Spring was almost here.

There were both a North and a South American. Somewhere in my boxes of memories I have an old black and white photo of the North American at the Cohodas-Paoli dock in Houghton with a huge rainbow in the background; even though the pic is black and white the rainbow shows up very clearly.

Check the "Historic Hancock" (Hancock,MI) website, you will find a great shot of the SS South American there. Mr. Rudy Maki is the photographer.

South American -- Several photos are posted in the historic pics in downtown Houghton. The whole town used to turn out when the ship came in-cluding a community band and Chief Welsh from L'Anse and family who came up to sell copper and other minerals and stones. The townsfolk would gawk at the folks on the deck and the tourists on the deck would gawk at the townsfolk. Stores were open that evening--I think it was always Tuesday night. BTW, Houghton & Hancock used to have a Spring contest to guess when the first freighter went through the bridge.

FYI regarding yesterday's comments on the ice floe incident. Nan Kuivanen wrote her story for Michigan Out-of-Doors. "Ordeal on Lake Superior" was printed in the February, 1982 issue of the magazine.

Wanted to honor the memory of a great Yooper... long before the word was even used!
My Father: Nicholas Patrick
Born: Mar. 26, 1911
Died: Jan. 25, 1974
Lived most of his life in Trap Rock Valley & Copper City. Was a miner from age 16 to 32, then a logger for many years, operated Surplus Sales in Calumet thereafter. Was a dedicated fireman, trapper & sports enthusiast. Loved the Keweenaw & never wanted to live anywhere else! Still missed, even after thirty years!

Hi, it was Tues. nights that the South American came in. In the late 40's, early 50's I was a kid living in an apt. downtown and it was the highlight of my week. I used to find pieces of copper in old rock roads and sell them on the street corner for 25 cents. Bobby Gibson's band used to play music on the dock, and the passengers would throw down coins and the local kids would scramble for them. Good memories. I just sailed into Houghton last fall on the ACCL Line. I had hoped to dock in the same old spot at Cahodas-Paoli, but we stopped down by the new beach. I secretly wished there would be a band to greet us, but those days are part of the past.

I just checked the Historic Hancock site, the pictures that are there are not the ones that Rudy was given credit for. The pictures have obviously been changed.

In Grand Rapids, Minn they had an old car out on the lake (Cass Lake?)and folks would buy tickets and guess the date/time it would sink. Maybe it is still done and have a web page to seek out.

Awsome picture !!! Thank you Dave enjoyed the picture with my coffee this morning. it's over cast & misting & 70. Have a great day in the U P.

USCG buoy tender and ice breaker Sundew WLB/WAGL 305 was
commissioned August 24, 1944 in Duluth, built by the Marine
Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation. It was the 3rd to the last of
the 39 that were built. All were painted gray, WWII war-time
colors. It served its entire career on Lakes Michigan, Huron and
Superior with the exception of the winter 1987-88 in the
Carribean Sea. Sundew had major renovations in 1978 at Curtis
Bay, Maryland Coast Guard yards.

After WWII, all were painted black and the CG slash on the bow
added in the 1960s. I have toured the Sundew several times
and served a short time on the ill fated Mesquite WLB 305 in
1954 while serving in the Coast Guard. The Sundew is still a
good ship, but ageing and times do change.

Attached is a picture of the Sundew entering Charlavoix in the
late 1950s. These 180-footers were great ships and work
horses with a history that will be hard to surpass. My
understanding is that it will be preserved for display after
decommissioning.

Spring is in the air, but the Laurium Glacier will be around for awhile yet:)

ace, Tx... Hi Ace, Good morning to you too. Not quite 70 here yet, but it is foggy and misting. Glad I could help you enjoy your morning coffee.

Oh this picture makes me think of my favorite childhood book, "Paddle to the Sea". It all started with the emergence of spring and a young Indian boy. If you've never read this one, make a point to; it's still in print. I sure do miss Michigan!

Reply to yesterday's message from SLD,MI: Grand Canyon
and several other National Parks can be reached at this
website: www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams I guess that
the National Park Service keeps tabs on the air quality in
several Natl Parks, and that's a bonus for us web travelers.

to mickey, mi
I can not find Michigan Out of Doors on the internet. Are they still in business? I would really like to get the article by Nan, Lake Superior Ordeal. Any suggestions?

Jeff, Paddle to the Sea was one of my favorite books as
a child. To this day, I see a wolf's head in side profile
when I look at an aerial view of Lake Superior, with Isle
Royale as the eye.
Sandstone Princess, where are you in NE Iowa?

These pictures are spectacular!

Marc, I just checked out the dams yesterday... I posted them to my Pasty Cam guest gallery

Attention serious Pasty Cammies: You are always welcome to insert pictures from the archives which would add to the discussion. Let me show you how, for example, with today's chat about the "South American". This should ring a bell with long-time Camwatchers, as we featured the ship in one of our first "Shoebox Memories" several years ago. First, go to the Archive Search Page and put "South American" in the Google Power Search box. This gives 108 pages in the results. The first page gave the following picture:

See July 10 2001

Mail from Mohawkfinn erased. Not this way.

Forgot: way cool (the pic, that is). Looks like a great place to be right now. MRL, as a guest to this country I suggest you go easy on seriously commenting like "usually damp and cloudy" (Deutschland). Taking that as a joke, well, have to admit right now it is more or less cloudy outside, but not (yet) damp.

PK - West Bend, WI Thanks so much!!

Two beautifuls photos to enjoy during lunch. Thanks Pasty.Net

Charlie Hopper, Eagle River. Thanks for that information.

Looks Great, Love the pictures.
R.B. Burleson, TX (South of Fort Worth)

I went back to the Historic Hancock website and the pictures I spoke of earlier are there. Scroll down to "SS South American and SS North American", you will find three really nice color pictures of these vessels traversing the Keweenaw Waterway.

Ah, the South American seeing the picture brings back memories of our high school senior trip 1967. Took buses to Detriot, got on a train to Chicago then boarded the boat. 3 or 4 days on board with a day stop at Macinaw Island and back to Detroit. Can you imagine a full boat of just teenagers? One side of the boat was for girls the other for the boys. We were not to cross the line after midnight. Yeah right! What a great time we had.

I WANT TO Live in the Keweenaw! I lived in the Eastern U.P. for six years and moved for my husband's career and I have been homesick for the U.P. since! This web site is fantastic!

Isn't this the Copper Harbor lighthouse!

Craig, NO, it is the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse..

Isn't the Eagle Harbor one beige

Craig, Yes, the Copper Harbor Light is beige, if you go to David's gallery, page 3, you will find a pic of the Copper Harbor light. Just click on his name below the pictures above and it will magically transport you to his gallery.

To Sam: Didn't have to worry about stepping in a Poodle as the front yard is more like a lake don't know what you wou would call that in dag terms.

Couple of things:

AimeeR: thanks for the redridge dam photos. The Timber dam's not looking good, of course, but it doesnt look much worse than the pics I took in May 2002. (Of course, the snow hides a lot) I'm stuck down in Lower Michigan and cant check it out myself again until I go up this August.

Just a reminder, or for new people, I have a website devoted to Redridge at:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2272/

Marc in Painsdale: details about the meeting please!!! inquiring minds want to know!!!:)

Last thing...To Peter in Dbn: Dad, you have good taste.;)

I grew up along the Portage river in the 50's and remember the South American very well. I have many pics of it. I also have some pics of the South American as it is entering and passing under the present Hought-Hancock bridge. I was standing at the very edge of the walk as the bridge went up. I think the South American made a round trip thru the great lakes in seven days. I also remember the North American. Only remember it passing thru the Portage river a couple of times in the early 50's.
About the CG.You ever watch the Travel Channel? Once in a while they will show the CG training out of the port of Ilwaco WA. Where the Columbia river meets the ocean, called the bar, is some of the roughest waters in the world. You should see what they go thru. If it wasn't for our wonderful CG, a lot of boats would have gone under and lost a whole crew.

that is a great picture. But... the snow... oh please will it go!!!

Did you all hear that thunder storm last night?? For those of you around this area, that is. WOW The lighting was great!!! Why didn't ya'll go out and take some pictures??? :(
Vanessa

To Dusty from Houghton...Ontonagon River Ice out is a "BIG DEAL" there! I lived in Ontonagon from 73-75 and when I first heard the locals talk about it I thought they were pullin my leg...they weren't...they have a betting pool every year on not only what day, but who get's closest to hour and minute! Not much else going on in Ontonagon that time of year...got to do something!

really really fantastic picture of the lighthouse belongs on a calander i would say

Danbury:Germany what are you talking about? I never sent you an e-mail..... Mohawkfinn

The pictures today are great. I remember, just awhile ago, staying at the Jacobsville Beach until the South American went by. That was my time to go home. My cousin and I would hear the sound of the dishes and the music, and we would wave. Could that have been 40 or45 years ago? NO!!! By the way, Dad called us 4 Queens. Nanc

Here's the Sundew unloading buoys at the "Lilly Pond" on the canal road between Hancock and Calumet on November 4, 2003.

Ernie, WA Yup, I have seen some of what you mentioned. On the History channel. Interesting viewing.

I watched the SUNDEW place the Eagle Harbor"can" last spring. The buoy's anchor looked to be about as large as the S-10 I was driving and made of concrete.Hard to imagine a storm moving the thing,but we had one srong enough to to the job a few years back.

Here's a good link for South American devotees.

There's also an actual audio of the boat's whistle.

http://www.mhsd.org/passenger/southamerican.htm

In loving memory of "Duke" the barber in Laurium who passed away in January of 2003. Happy Belated Birthday! We miss you!

I sailed on the SS NORTH AMERICAN during the summer of '59. We sailed weekly from Chicago to Buffalo, NY. We stopped at Mackinac Island on the way up and down. Also stopped at Detroit, Cleveland, Sarnia (refueling) Parry Sound on Georgian Bay, coupla trips up the St. Mary's River to the Canadian Soo. In the spring, we made two trips through the St. Lawrence Seaway (had just opened in '59) out to Montreal with stops at Erie, PA.,Niagra Falls, Oswego, NY, Toronto. The ship was also chartered by high school classes, the Shriners, etc. The North and South both stopped at Mackinaw Island at the same times. The crews of both ships used to put on 'crew shows' in the Grand Salons. We'd sing and dance the popular Broadway show tunes. :>) At the end of the season both crews put on a show in the Casino Room of the Grand Hotel. Because we were crew members, we'd get to swim in the pool at the Grand. When I was in the 5th grade at the Houghton High School, Mom would take us down to the Cahodas-Paoli dock to see the SOUTH AMERICAN. Even went on board during their 'open house' days. Used to catch quarters and nickles, etc. just before the ship left the dock as passengers would stand by the rail and throw them. Who knew that later on in life I'd get to sail on the NORTH and visit on the SOUTH again at Mackinaw Island? Don't know why there couldn't be small passenger liners like they were on the lakes nowadays. But...Nostalgia and memories, 'eh?

Forgot to mention, the SOUTH AMERICAN used to make her weekly trips from Chicago to Duluth, MN.

Some more info: The Georgian Bay Transit Co. had three ships, the ALABAMA, NORTH AMERICAN, and SOUTH AMERICAN. The NORTH sank off New Jersey while in tow, after being sold to the SIU as a floating classroom, the SOUTH was scrapped at a yard in New Jersey, (I think) and the ALABAMA was cut down to make a barge. I think she is still in one of the ports on Lake Erie. The home office was in Holland, MI. There is quite a bit of info on one of the links, but I forget which. Whoops, I see I misspelled 'nickel' up there.

nlm, brighton,mi: have been trying to get information on when the Surplus store in Calumet operated. Am trying to date a bedroom set. Thanks

They sometimes have to dynamite the ice in Ontonagon as it used to jam up and flood the downtown. I don't think they have allowed that to happen in about 30 years, though.

More SOUTH AMERICAN recollections....the Twin City Band was always at the Houghton dock playing for the SA passengers, or at least during the last few years of the SA's coming to Houghton anyhow; once each summer the boat company treated the band with a SA ride from Munising to Houghton...2 and 5 day cruises ran out of Detroit
(Buffalo, or Duluth...or 7 days for the whole circle), while the NORTH AMERICAN generally had a different route or service on the Lakes; the official name of the company was the Chicago, Duluth, and Georgian Bay Transit Co or something to that effect...a name almost as long as the boat! The SOUTH's last regular sailing season was 1966; in 1967 the company ran trips over to Expo '67 in Montreal with it....and after '67 that was that.....

To Ken from da UP,

My Dad worked on all three of those boats, I'm not sure of the years, he also worked on so freighters too. I just love to here the stories he has to tell. We are from Holland, and he has a beautiful big picture of all three of the boats in winter dock here in Holland that was painted. Where in the UP do you live? My Mom and Dad have property up in the Keweenaw on 26 between Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor, and they will be up all summer if you would like to come visit sometime, I know he would love to meet you and talk, and trade some stories.

wow..memories...I remember chasing down silver dollars thrown by passengers...

also hearing the whistle...and that site linked above with the whistle brings back many memories

A view from a higher vantage point.

http://www.skypixs.com/EAGLE_HARBOR/imagepages/image12.htm

TLM -- Thanks for the pic!!! We go and pick raspberries at the lily pond!!! Or is that the second one??? Isn't there two places, one a boat launch, and then were the ships go??? I'm confused... :(

Joe Finn, itsnt it all one word Michigan Outdoors
I found this site.

Thank you Don and TLM for the photos of the SUNDEW.....my husband and I lived in Charlevoix when that was her home-port. Never got tired of watching her back & forth movements in Round Lake....snapped lots of pics and also movies. (no video cams way back then)

Another great view of Eagle Harbor.

Vanessa Calumet:

Yes, there are two roads off the canal drive that take you to the Lilly Pond. This picture is from the boat launch site looking back towards Calumet. The Sundew is shown unloading buoys which are stored there for the winter. Looking past the Sundew you can see a fishing boat that ties up at the spot where the other road comes off the canal drive. The fishing boat is out of Ashland, Wisconsin. I was told that it is owned/operated by the people who have the fish market on top of Quincy Hill. There may be other private roads to the Lilly Pond area too(?)

TLM--

Oh Ok... now I know LOL... There is another boat launch too, after the lily pond towards Hancock. People swim there.

I never knew why the boats are there, so its nice that someone knows!!!!

ahhhhhhhhh.............the beautiful sights of the sign of spring, finally is hitting the area!!! That fabalous thunderstorm topped off the other night!!!!

is there a way of getting a large print of the eagle harbor light house thanks

What wonderful pictures in this section, especially the ones of the North and South American. I also grew up in Holland, Michigan, not far from where they used to spend the winter. One summer, not long ago, while browsing through an art store in Grand Haven, I found a beautifully framed photgraph of the three boats in winter(yes, the other one was the Alabama). I purchased it, and now it's in my family room in Frederick, Maryland. It was always so wonderful when the boats left for the summer. When we'd hear the whistles, my dad would drive us down to the Holland Harbor channel to watch them. Quite a sight, the beautiful white boats and Big Red. Thanks for the memories!