FERRY CABIN NEWS

JANUARY'S MILD WEATHER

2012-01-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

Old barge slowly reduced to pieces with work aided by warm weather. Detroit Harbor, Washington Island - This month must be going down on the books as one of the mildest Januarys on record. We've had a few light snow falls, hardly enough to shovel or plow. I've picked up a snow shovel once - no, twice, if I count dragging it from the tool shed in mid-December. Ice finally covered Detroit

WIRED FOR THE FUTURE

2012-01-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

Yours truly, just off study cycle: glazed, but not fazed. Washington Island, Wisconsin - Wired for the future. Wired for success. Wired to see if I could stay awake. Today the wind picked up velocity as snow began to fall. It's not quite a snowstorm, but it could be if the frontal line were just a few miles different. Today's snowfall reminded me of my activities last week, during the

OLD BARGE TO KNACKERS

2012-01-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

Scrapping an old barge with hope of making a profit. Washington Island, Wisconsin - Old barges and old ships can find homes only for so long, when they become more liability than asset. Then, demolition becomes the final answer. I've read articles about the Bangladeshi knackers, worker who cut up super tankers, one piece at a time while wearing sandals, no hard hats or other basic safety

WEST HARBOR PHOENIX

2012-01-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

Marianna and Herb Gibson in the West Harbor Resort living room. Washington Island, Wisconsin - If there had been doubts as to the course of action the Gibsons would take following the early November fire that nearly destroyed the entire main lodge, including their living quarters, that doubt didn't show itself to others. The Gibson family began work immediately. Some of the Gibson children

TOWER ON ROCK ISLAND

2012-01-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

Rock Island - an old survey tower Washington Island, Wisconsin - Last Friday I published information on this site about a Rock Island photo album given as a gift by C.H. Thordarson to a friend, H.R. Holand. One photo showed a tower on Rock Island that appeared to be located on a high bluff of the island's interior. When was it built, why was it built, and how was it used, and what happened

KODAK MOMENTS?

2012-01-06T15:43:00.000-08:00

Rock Island scenes given as gift by C.H. Thordarson, March 30, 1920 Washington Island, Wisconsin - A recent Wall Street Journal article Jan. 5, 2012 described the imminent demise of the world-famous Kodak company: "Eastman Kodak Co. is preparing to seek bankruptcy protection in the coming weeks, people familiar with the matter said, a move that would cap a stunning comedown for a company

METALWORK AT THE FERRY DOCK

2012-01-05T18:52:00.000-08:00

Nine ferry captains participated in a week long training course in welding and cutting. NWTC instructor Scott Massey (L) observes progress. Washington Island, Wisconsin - With acknowledged difficulty in getting students from Washington Island to the technical college campus in Sturgeon Bay, NWTC has partnered with Washington Island Ferry Line to offer several employee classes here. Rich

LOVE IN A BOX

2011-12-26T12:51:00.000-08:00

Richard and Emma Kalms with grandchildren Richard and Helen Purinton. Photo taken around October, 1948 Washington Island, Wisconsin Today, we'll dip into some family history... RICHARD PAUL KALMSRichard Paul Kalms, born Feb. 16, 1885 in Leutmansdorf, Silesia, Germany (now Poland) and came to this country in 1902, sponsored by a brother, Gustavus Adolph Kalms. He died

ISLAND BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROJECT HALTED

2011-12-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

Proposed Island Business Incubator in architect's rendering, looking north. Remodeled cheese factory / chalet is in foreground. Washington Island, Wisconsin - Consider this scenario for Washington Island: Your township’s population hasn’t changed by more than 25 residents, up or down, in over 40 years. The main township industry is tourism, with a very small amount of fishing and farming

NOBLE RETURNS

2011-12-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - Sixty days to the day it left Detroit Harbor for the shipyard, the ferry Robert Noble returned to homeport. The work was extensive, as indicated in previous postings at this blog site, and a few snags were encountered along the way. However, a successful underway trial was performed Wednesday, paving the way for a return trip Thursday, December 15. Rich

Hunt In Iowa - Part II

2011-12-13T15:50:00.000-08:00

South Central Iowa - The second morning, Sunday, began with a clear sky. Rain had stopped a few hours after the Badgers had beaten Michigan State for the Big Ten Championship, which we watched with a hunting group from Kewaskum, WI. Overnight temperatures were in the lower 20s, so that the ground began to firm up. More importantly, the return of cold temperatures helped to get the deer

WHY HUNT IN IOWA?

2011-12-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

Southern Iowa - I've asked myself, and I've often been asked by others, "Why go to Iowa to hunt?" Why would anyone want to pay for a permit to hunt deer- and receive a doe only permit - then travel 700+ miles in a truck loaded with gear, then spend the first day in a tent-blind in pouring rain, with virtually no opportunity to see or shoot a deer? If you are from Wisconsin, it sounds like a

CO-WORKER, FRIEND KIM HANSEN

2011-12-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

Photo taken at last year's Christmas party: Kim, Frank, and her close friend, Janet Hanlin Washington Island, Wisconsin - We lost a great friend and ferry crew member this week, Kim Hansen. Kim had fought illness over the past several years. Her great spirit undoubtedly extended her stay with us, and she made others around her happy and comfortable, something we had hoped we might bring

NOBLE ENGINES NEARING STARTUP

2011-11-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin - A visit to the yard Tuesday morning found the Noble's repowering project closing in on the startup date. Piping and hoses for engine cooling and for hydraulics have been flushed (metal filings, dirt) and pressure tested using a piece of equipment set up for that purpose on the main deck. Fluids fills were to have begun today. Engine room

INFORMATION TOUR

2011-11-17T14:38:00.000-08:00

Island Northport Visitor Center staff at Ellison Bay Bluff County Park. L to R - Maggie Swanson, Patty Cornell, Doc Westring, Mary Andersen, Janet Hanlin, Ann Rose and Marge Frank. Door Peninsula, Wisconsin - Staff from the Northport Visitor Information Center, representing both the Ferry Line and the Island Chamber, spent several hours on the Door Peninsula Wednesday learning more about

FERRY ROBERT NOBLE - ANOTHER LOOK

2011-11-17T11:27:00.000-08:00

Robert Noble, port engine, exhaust line with insulation blanket being installed, foreground. Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin - Work progress continues on board the Robert Noble at Bay Shipbuilding. Piping is now nearing completion, and within a few more work days fluids will be added to cooling and hydraulic systems, prior to system testing. Rich Ellefson reported this noon that

VETERAN DAY PROGRAM AT TPAC 2011

2011-11-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

American Legion Post 402 Commander, Bill Nauta, led the program that featured speaker Tim Raymond, Island Schools Administrator, and island elementary children. Washington Island, Wisconsin - Veterans Day, previously known as Armistice Day, was observed by community members at the Trueblood Performing Arts Center this past Friday morning. This day of national observance has also had island

PUMP DESIGNED FOR THE AGES

2011-11-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - Back on September 17, I had posted information about a piece of old machinery, thought to be associated with a steam vessel that might have repowered at Richter's Point on Detroit Island. That location is where it was uncovered in sandy soil by Dr. Rod Johnson, property owner, who then offered it to the Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum. It would be, judging from

ROBERT NOBLE - WORK PROGRESS

2011-11-09T09:22:00.000-08:00

Second of two CAT C-18 engines with Twin Disc marine gear, ready to be lowered through a main deck opening. Bay Ship Building, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin - Catching up with some of the photos I took last week of the Robert Noble repowering project, I've posted several of them here. Since that date, much has been accomplished. Both engines have been set on engine bed framing and aligned, and

WEST HARBOR SAWMILL, HOTEL

2011-11-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

West Harbor Hotel - date unknown, but thought to be 1900 or shortly thereafter. Washington Island, Wisconsin - So many memories accumulate around a piece of property and the people who own, manage and offer hospitality, that it is hard to accept sudden interruption in that flow of history. We think ... and this is only conjecture, knowing the resilience and resolve of the Gibson family and

UPDATE: WEST HARBOR RESORT FIRE

2011-11-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Island Fire Chief Pete Nehlsen confers with resort owner Herb Gibson on plan of action following return of equipment to fire station. Nehlsen and several men stayed on scene with one truck as fire watch. Washington Island, Wisconsin - By 9 a.m. this Friday morning, nearly all equipment and volunteer fire fighters had been released from the scene. Fire Chief Peter Nehlsen, one truck, and a

FIRE AT GIBSON'S WEST HARBOR RESORT!

2011-11-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

Washington Island Fire Department volunteers responded to fire at West Harbor Resort, called in at approx. 4:30 this morning. Washington Island, Wisconsin - Gibson's West Harbor Resort, an island landmark wood frame building and one of the oldest commercial structures on the island, experienced a major fire early this morning. Volunteer firefighters responded quickly, using the newly

SLACK WATER

2011-10-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

Algae and scale shading on steel sheets, indicating annual lake level variations, with highest point resulting from the 1986-87 modern high. Washington Island, Wisconsin - tide |tīd|nounthe alternate rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in each lunar day at a particular place, due to the attraction of the moon and sun: the changing patterns of the tides | they were driven on by wind

ROBERT NOBLE IN SHIPYARD

2011-10-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin - The ferry Robert Noble sailed to Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay early Sunday morning, October 16, and shortly after arrival crew members began dismantling piping, wiring, and exhaust lines from the engines as they cooled. The following morning a tug assisted the ferry, "cold iron," into the oldest dry dock in the yard. This box is made from a ship's hull

GET THEE TO THE SCULLERY

2011-10-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Jacob Ellefson, taking a momentary breather from the sink, comments on the exceptional red maple out his sink window. Washington Island, Wisconsin - The turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, squash, pumpkin pie, etc. may have been outstanding as usual - and they were, according to many who stopped by the kitchen to express their appreciation - but the work in the trenches is equally

LOAD 'N GO

2011-10-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday's ferries - one arriving, one leaving Washington Island, Wisconsin - Ideal October weather (upper 60s), light breeze from the SE, and lots of visitors in Door County brought traffic to the Island this morning. With as many planned Peninsula and Island activities as any time of year, there are many choices to be made, including riding the ferry to Washington Island. Temperatures

ISLAND POWER

2011-10-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN - When the weather looks as fine as it appears in the photo above, we're right with the world. However, these pleasant looking, low cumulus clouds sailed southward on the tail end of winds that had blown down trees and knocked out electrical power, both on Washington Island and the Door Peninsula. School House Beach, Friday morning Forecast with precision, a

PART III - CLAY BLAIR WITH ISLAND WRITERS - 1994

2011-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - Note: This is the final installment of a transcribed recording from Feb. 1994, when Clay Blair was a guest of the Island Writers Society. In Part I, Clay spoke about his latest book about German U-boat warfare, and previous books he and Joan collaborated on. In Part II he described his early years as a journalist and writer. In Part III, below, he

Part II - CLAY BLAIR WITH ISLAND WRITERS - 1994

2011-09-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - Note: This is Part II of a February 1994 presentation Clay Blair gave as guest of the Island Writers group. He began with a description of the latest book project he and Joan had recently completed. (He thought they had completed the book, but this project eventually became two, large volumes, the second one published shortly before his death in 1998. For more

CLAY BLAIR WITH ISLAND WRITERS -1994

2011-09-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Clay Blair - 1994 - Washington Island, Wisconsin Notes: Several months ago I ran a seven-part series of an interview with Clay Blair that was recorded in February of 1994. Unfortunately, I had not properly operated the recorder during the second afternoon, overriding the first part of our interview in which Clay talked about his early days in becoming a writer. I had one other tape that

BIRTHDAY GIFTS

2011-09-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Kim Hansen, Dick Purinton at Ferry Office, Sept. 22 Washington Island, Wisconsin - Yesterday was my birthday, and I turned 64. Announcing my birthday is not something I've been comfortable in doing. If no one knew, I thought, it would be just fine. As we get older, we can think of plenty of excuses for keeping our birthdays a secret, and I often found myself repeating well-worn phrases

RAIN DEER TOAD

2011-09-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hoyt with 8-pt. buck taken late Sunday Washington Island, Wisconsin - Rain began falling softly, shortly after dark, as Hoyt pursued a buck he shot with a bow in the east side woods of Washington Island. This was the first rain of any significance in awhile, maybe as much as half an inch accumulation overnight. Normally, darkness and rain would make tracking a challenge as raindrops wash

CATCH-UP TIME

2011-09-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Still, cool morning on Detroit Harbor Washington Island, Wisconsin - The air is decidedly fall air. Cool days with high pressure, and ever cooler nights. Time to get caught up with items at work and at home, including some loose ends with this blog. A few days prior to the Labor Day weekend I swept cobwebs off the Moby Dick and ferried Jim and Kathleen Morris to Detroit Island where they

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

2011-09-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Late Sunday afternoon, ferrying traffic from island as quickly as possible given strong winds Washington Island, Wisconsin - If there is one weekend that takes on more importance than any other in the tourism calendar, it is Labor Day Weekend. First, it represents the last of summer for many: fishing, camping, swimming, motorcycling, horse riding, family picnics, music, late night parties

9-11 TRIBUTE

2011-09-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - Bob Purman, Milwaukee, is a Washington Island home owner. He is, by profession, a director and cinematographer represented by Moxie Studios, New York City. Those varied connections recently came into play for a 9-11 tribute. Bob had been asked if he would like to volunteer his production services by participating in a 9-11 tribute, a rush project that would be

SUPRISE REVEALED ON PLUM ISLAND

2011-08-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

Champion tree: Roy Lukes, Tim Sweet and Steve Waldron Plum Island, Wisconsin - A group of five hiked the interior of Plum Island Monday, August 22. Our main goal was to locate two large hemlock trees that were measured in 1981 (see blog dated 6/29/11), large specimens we thought might be worthy of champion status in the county. Accompanying me were: Door County naturalists Roy and

BEING A KID

2011-08-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - Summer is winding down and vacationing families have headed home, or are considering doing so, in time for the start of school and related activities. In the patch of woods between driveway and Detroit Harbor our grandsons built a clubhouse, or fort, depending on who asks, beyond adult eyes but not too far away from Gramma's kitchen and refrigerator. Atlas, at

JOAN BLAIR FOLLOW UP INTERVIEW

2011-08-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Joan Blair holding the U-Boat books she referred to as "her babies." WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN - [Note: To the recent series of pieces on the Joan and Clay Blair interview, I add this post of a recent, follow-up conversation with Joan to learn about their writing career after our 1994 interview. Clay had alluded to a new contract for another book, which, as it turns out,

BLAIR INTERVIEW - PART VII

2011-08-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN - Note: This is the last installment of the 1994 interview. Following is a list of published books by Clay Blair or Clay and Joan Blair, incomplete, but which I hope to update, along with a short piece based on recent conversations with Joan Blair. - DP BLAIR INTERVIEW - PART VII (Feb. 1994) Q - Do you have thoughts of any projects beyond this one? Clay

BLAIR INTERVIEW - PART VI

2011-08-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

Typical Blair worksheets assembled for book on German U-boat warfare in the Atlantic in WWII show patrols, boats, skippers and particular operations. WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN - Notes: This interview segment, Part VI, is about the Blairs tackling the autobiography of General Omar Bradley, and how that work led into two other, related Army books about the Korean War and Gen. Ridgway.

BLAIR INTERVIEW - PART V

2011-08-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN - Note: This is a continuation of an interview I did with the Blairs at their home in February 1994 about their writing career. The Blairs had just completed Silent Victory: U.S. Submarine Warfare Against Japan, some 1100 pages, when they did a quick book on MacArthur (400 pages), work that had led them to Hollywood. After a few false leads with movie studios,

BLAIR INTERVIEW - PART IV

2011-08-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN - Note: The Blairs completed the epic, Silent Victory, then Survive! in rapid succession. Soon, they were immersed in researching newly released papers, a portion of the Kennedy Library collection. This installment is about that effort and the radical point of view their research led them toward. - DP BLAIR INTERVIEW - PART IV Detroit Harbor, Washington Island - Two deep lows converged over the upper midwest Tuesday, fed by a high pressure system south of Hudson Bay. The combination delivered extreme low pressure to the area which in turn brought an abnormally strong and sustained flow of mild air from the south. This developing storm, accurately predicted by meteorologists, began very early

Ninth Coast Guard District Recommended Reading

2010-10-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Duluth, Minnesota - Rich Ellefson, Hoyt Purinton and I attended the Passenger Vessel Association fall Great Lakes Region meeting in Duluth Oct 18-20. Approximately 40 persons representing 25 companies were present, and we were joined by members of several U.S. Coast Guard offices, including Sector Milwaukee and the Duluth Marine Safety Office, and Charles Barbee who as a retired career

CHERRY TRAIN MAKES TERRI MERRY

2010-10-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - Terri Moore has driven and narrated Cherry Train tours for approximately nine years, two or more tours each day for about five months each season. During that time, she's gotten to know most of the idiosyncrasies of each piece of gear. The tram cars have been pulled by units older than most of our drivers (most, but not all!), and there are a few bugs that we

AN OLD TRUNK

2010-10-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

South End, Airport Road, Washington Island, Wisconsin - Peg Sullivan, whose parents purchased the Carl and Maggie Richter home in 1965, generously invited us to pick up an old trunk that had been in her attic for many years. We jumped at the chance to see this home, built for the Richters in 1907. Peg, a retired teacher from the Chicago, spends her summers on the island, and she's kept the

FALL GOODNESS

2010-10-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - With a reduction in traffic this week, but continued warm and stable air over the upper midwest, maintenance work on the Arni J. Richter moves along. Epoxy paint applied at the shipyard during the construction phase in 2003 shows signs of peeling in certain areas. During summer, it's impossible to keep the ferry at the pier for more than a day. This time of year,

BRIGHT REDS OF FALL

2010-10-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN Members of the Washington Island Fire Department and Rescue Squad sponsored an open house Saturday with equipment on display, educational activities for children, and a great lunch that is also a fund-raiser. A more perfect day couldn't have been picked, and the food was terrific (sold out, we heard - not a surprise, with Mann's Store brats done to perfection). I

LOW LIGHT PLEASURES

2010-10-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON ISLAND, WISCONSIN - After work Thursday, I took a short ride with my camera to capture fall colors. The late afternoon sun was bright and shadows were sharp, and I had a hard time getting a good shot of bright leaves and trees. Finally, coming down Lake View Road past the old Potato Farm, I found two or three views that spoke of fall and the island. Jeannine Ronning, on the old

TEACHING TO DIG

2010-10-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

RICHTER FIELD, DETROIT HARBOR, WASHINGTON ISLAND- Aidan and Magnus joined me to observe the digging and see what sorts of things had been found. In the top photo, Eric shows them many small bits of pottery and chips of chert. Aidan was invited to dig, something he loves to do, using Ashley's trowel, and soon he found a chip about 3/8 inch across. With congratulations for

UW-MILW ARCHEOLOGISTS SURVEY RICHTER FIELD

2010-10-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

L to R: Eric Burant, Christine Watson, leader Michelle Birnbaum, Marcus Schullenburg, Bill Balco, Elissa Hewlit and Ashley Dunford. Detroit Harbor, Washington Island - Archeologists from UW-Milwaukee shoveled and sifted all of Saturday and part of Sunday in a field survey of the Richter pasture at the end of Main Road, Detroit Harbor. Led by Michelle Birnbaum, the group

Fall Cool Down

2010-10-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

Washington Island, Wisconsin - While there may be many beautiful fall days yet to come, each one is to be enjoyed for its special attributes. Today it was the lighting, backlit cumulus hanging low in a blue sky, and the first scarlet patches on maples, the red apples dotting fencerows, set against varying shades of green. The scene above was shot along East Side Road, on my return from the