From the Deck of the Colonel James M. Schoonmaker

On Memorial Day, I decided to head down to Toledo because I saw that the Alpena was heading down there.  Since I got a membership, I decided that I was going to watch her from the deck of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker.

 I was last on her deck when she was known as the Willis Boyer and was a little further down the river.  If you look in this picture, you can see the towers of the Anthony Wayne Bridge and that is where she was.  A few years ago, they decided to move her to her current spot and built a museum nearby.  This is looking back towards her engine room.  I didn't tour that this time because I was hoping to catch the Alpena on her deck.

 Looking up at her pilothouse.

 Looking from inside the pilothouse.

The decks below the pilothouse were used to entertain guests of the ship.  Typically, they were shareholders or other influential people.

 A view of the pilothouse.  She was the only ship on the lakes to have two wheels.  I think one of the wheels was added when they improved her steering and other things.  They kept the second wheel as a backup.

 Her radio direction finder.  In the days prior to GPS, they had radio stations around the lakes.  Ships could get directions to them and triangulate their position.  If I remember correctly, it was fairly accurate.

 Her radar.

 Her compass.

Looking out from the pilothouse.  I think if you look just below the suspension bridge, you can see the Alpena peeking around the corner.

The Tug Ohio and Col. James M. Schoonmaker

As I was waiting for the Toledo, I decided to get a couple pictures of the two museum vessels.

 The museum just acquired the tug Ohio from Great Lakes Towing.  They are currently giving before tours and will open her up sometime next year.  The Ohio was built in 1903 as a fireboat for the city of Milwaukee.  She was converted to a tug in 1953.  Since she is larger than many of the other Great Lakes tugs, she was used to tow ships for longer distances.  Sadly, she is getting too long in the tooth but will make a good museum piece.

And an attempt at a shot of the Schoonmaker.

Stopping at the Schoonmaker

On Sunday I decided to go down to Toledo with a friend.  As we were crossing the I-280 bridge, I saw that the Craig Bridge was open.  I figured that it was open for a ship and as I looked I saw the USS Niagara making her way down the Maumee River.  I was hoping we could catch her.  We stopped at the park near the Col. James Schoonmaker but we missed the Niagara.

 I figured that since I was there, I might as well get some pictures of the Schoonmaker.  She's a pretty nice looking boat.

 As I was wandering by her, I noticed a plaque and I started to read the plaque.  It said that it took a 25 year effort to save her from the scrapyard.  After she was retired, the city of Toledo owned her but they couldn't afford to keep her.  In order to save her, funds were raised.

 Funds were also raised to paint her and I'll have to admit that she looks pretty good.

And the sun was just about perfect for her.

A Stop at the Col. James M. Schoonmaker

Yesterday I ended up taking a ride on the Nickel Plate 765 as it rode on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Rails as part of the Steam of the Valley program.  Since I was passing by, I decided to make a stop by the Great Lakes Museum in Toledo.

 I will have to say that she's a pretty nice looking ship, especially in the right light.

 I'll have to make a special trip so that I can take a tour of her again.  Especially since I went and got the membership.

 I loved the way that the colors of her hull was reflected in the water.

Looking up at the pilothouse.

A Couple Shots of Toledo and the Schoonmaker

This is just a couple of shots from my vantage points for the Mandarin.

 A shot of the Toledo skyline.

 The stern of the Schoonmaker.  I'll have to figure out when she is open again and take a tour.

 Her bow.  I'm glad they painted her in the Shenango colors because I think she looks much better than the paint job of the Boyer.

And a shot of the I-280 Bridge.

A Brief Stop in Toledo

I decided to head down to Fostoria today but on the way down, I decided to make a brief stop in Toledo.

 The first thing I decided to take a picture of was the Col James Schoonmaker.  She was known as the Boyer when I took a tour on her.   She was moved to her current location a few years ago.  One of these days I need to pay a visit to her and the museum near her.

 The Veterans' Glass City Bridge is a cable stayed bridge.  It was completed in 2007 and is the portion of I-280 that goes over the Maumee River.

 Another view of the Schoonmaker.

 A shot of the Toledo Skyline.

 The Wayne Anthony Bridge.  Currently it is going through pretty major renovations.

Another angle of the Toledo Skyline.