December 22, 2025
1889 Steamer “Tashmoo” launched:
“Notes: …the Tashmoo was launched December 31st, 1899; it was built by the Detroit Shipbuilding Company for Detroit’s White Star Line; its regular route was Detroit to Port Huron/Sarnia with several stops including Tashmoo Park; Tashmoo Park was located on Harsen’s Island in Lake St. Clair; “U.S. Mail” sign on side of ship; in June 1936, while delivering passengers from a dance on Sugar Island, the ship hit a submerged rock in the Detroit River and took on water; Captain Donald McAlpine managed to get the passengers safely to shore in Amherstberg, but Tashmoo sank. She was later refloated and scrapped in the same year.”
Source of image and note: Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive
“Notes: …the Columbia was built in 1902 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company; designed by Frank Kirby; commissioned by Walter Campbell, president of the Detroit, Belle Isle, And Windsor Ferry Company; from 1902-1991 covered the Detroit to Boblo Island route.”
Source of note and image: Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive
The Steamer “Britannia” built in 1906:
“Notes:…the Britannia was built in 1906 and commissioned to carry 3,000 passengers and 60 automobiles across the Detroit River…”
— Source of above image and note: Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive
1910 Steamer “Ste. Claire” launched:
The American owned “Ste. Claire” steamer was located in Detroit, Michigan and was one of the last propreller-driven excursion ship to operate on the Great Lakes. Launched in 1910 and destoyed by fire during restoration in 2018.
By 1920 “River Riding” was a
“Notes: c. 1915; “The new steel Steamer, Ste. Claire, government capacity 3,400 passengers. One of the three large steel steamers (Columbia, Ste. Claire and Britannia) built to give safety, comfort and pleasure to the increasing patronage to Bob-Lo Park (Bois Blanc Island). Owned and operated by the Detroit and Windsor Ferry Co.”; designed by Frank Kirby, the steamer did Detroit-Boblo Island runs from 1910 – 1991.”
–Source of image and this note: Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive
1922 Steamer Landing Boblo Island:
“Notes: Dated 1922; the amusement park opened in 1898 and closed in 1993; steamers provided regular runs to and from the island from 1902-1991; on the left is the cafeteria.”
— Source of image and note: Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive
1938 Steamer “S.S. Harmonic”:
“Notes: …The Hamonic was launched in Collingwood, Ontario in 1909; it was owned by the Northern Navigation Company, later Canada Steamship Lines; it mainly covered the route between Detroit, Michigan and Duluth, Minnesota; it was destroyed by fire on July 17th, 1945, in Point Edward, Ontario.”
–Source of image and note: Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive
1929 The Ambassador Bridge Opened:
On November 15, 1929 the Ambassador Bridge opened and people could drive their cars across so the need for the ferry declined.
1930 The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Opened:
RELEVANT LINKS
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-steamship-lines-inc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS_Tashmoo