WISCONSIN STORIES IS A PARTNERSHIP
OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN
AND WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
HELLO ?
YEAH.
HI, NELLA.
I'M OUT ON LAKE MICHIGAN.
WE'RE RIGHT OVER THE WRECK OF NIAGARA.
YEAH, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU ?
MAJOR FUNDING FOR WISCONSIN STORIESS
IS PROVIDED BY THE MEAD WITTER FOUNDATION, INC.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY
THE HALBERT AND ALICE KADISH FOUNDATION
PHILIP J. AND ELIZABETH B. HENDRICKSON
AND AN ADVISED FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED
WHY THERE'S A SAILOR ON THE WISCONSIN STATE FLAG ?
I'M DEBBIE KMETZ. AND I'M TRACY WILL.
THE WISCONSIN SEAL WAS FIRST CREATED
DURING THE EARLIEST DAYS OF STATEHOOD.
THE SAILOR WAS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE MEMBERS
OF THE WORK FORCE.
THERE WERE VERY FEW ROADS BACK THEN
SO IT WAS ON THE LIQUID HIGHWAY OF THE GREAT LAKES
THAT PEOPLE CAME FLOODING IN
AND RAW MATERIALS WENT POURING OUT OF WISCONSIN.
AND THE WORKHORSE ON THAT LIQUID HIGHWAY
WAS THE GREAT LAKES SCHOONER.
WE HAVEN'T BUILT A SCHOONER IN WISCONSIN FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
BUT HERE IN MILWAUKEE
THE WISCONSIN LAKES SCHOONER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
IS BUILDING THE DENIS SULLIVAN
TO REMIND US OF OUR RICH MARITIME HERITAGE.
? COME GATHER 'ROUND BOYS, NOW ALL HANDS ?
? HEAVE 'ER UP, LADS, HEAVE 'ER HIGH ?
? LEAN AND HEAVE 'ER ALL WHO CAN ?
? HEAVE 'ER UP AND BUST 'ER ?
? WE'LL SAY FAREWELL ?
? TO THIS OLD TOWN, HEAVE 'ER UP, LADS ?
? HEAVE 'ER HIGH ?
? WE'LL SHIP ONCE MORE WE'RE OUTWARD BOUND ?
? HEAVE 'ER UP AND BUST 'ER ?
Rob Stevens: THERE'S NOT A LOT WRITTEN ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES SCHOONERS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM DIFFERENT.
HALF OF THE BLUEPRINTS ARE IN THE OFFICE
AND HALF OF THE BLUEPRINTS, I GUESS, ARE IN MY HEAD.
AT THIS STAGE IN THE BOAT, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT A GREAT LAKES SCHOONER LOOKS LIKE
COMPARED TO A NON-GREAT-LAKES SCHOONER.
? OR ANY DAMN LOAD THAT CAN BE FOUND ?
? HEAVE 'ER UP AND BUST 'ER ?
? LAST NIGHT THE MOON HAD A GOLDEN RING ?
? HEAVE 'ER UP LADS, HEAVE 'ER HIGH ?
? AND THAT FOUL WEATHER IS SURE TO BRING ?
? HEAVE 'ER UP AND BUST 'ER ? ?
William J. Nimke: THE LAKE SCHOONERS WERE THE BACKBONE OF TRADE
IN THE 19th CENTURY
AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION.
THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE TO BUILD THIS VESSEL
SO THAT WE COULD USE IT AS A PLATFORM FOR LEARNING--
LEARNING ABOUT THE LAKES.
PRESERVING, IN A VERY HANDS-ON WAY
OUR STATE'S MARITIME HERITAGE.
THERE WAS A PERIOD OF ABOUT 50 YEARS, WHEN MILWAUKEE, ITSELF
WAS A VERY ACTIVE SHIP-BUILDING PORT.
THERE WERE AT LEAST
A DOZEN YARDS STRETCHED ALONG THE LAKEFRONT
AND UP THE MILWAUKEE RIVER.
BUILDING AND REPAIRING VESSELS OF VARIOUS SIZES.
ON A GIVEN DAY, YOU CAN IMAGINE COMING DOWN HERE
AND THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
A COUPLE DOZEN OF THESE TALL SHIPS
WITH THEIR MASTS TOWERING UP INTO THE SKY.
? HEAVE 'ER UP LADS, HEAVE 'ER HIGH ?
? WE'LL BURY DEEP HER LEEWARD RAIL ?
? HEAVE 'ER UP AND HO ! BUST 'ER ? ?
Will: STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE BOAT BUILDING
AND SHIP BUILDING CITIES ON THE GREAT LAKES.
( ship horn blowing )
THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES IN THIS TOWN
HAVE WORKED IN THE SHIP OR BOAT YARDS
SAILED ON ITS VESSELS OR FISHED FROM ITS TUGS.
A POWERFUL FORCE, THE SHIP BUILDING INDUSTRY
HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 150 YEARS.
IT BEGAN WHEN ROBERT AND ALEXANDER LOWERY
STARTED BUILDING BOATS HERE IN 1855.
ROBERT AND ALEXANDER CREATED SCHOONERS
AND MADE OF WOOD, GAVE THEM STRENGTH AND VITALITY.
THESE VESSELS WERE USED FOR FISHING, TRADING
TRANSPORTATION, RECREATION--
ANYTHING THE GREAT LAKES NEEDED AT THE TIME.
IN THE EARLY 1900s, MOST SHIPS
GENERALLY WENT FROM WOOD TO STEEL.
NAILS BECAME RIVETS, WHICH BECAME WELDS
AND SAILS GAVE WAY TO STEAM
WHICH GAVE WAY TO DIESEL.
WHEN WORLD WAR II BEGAN
THE NATURE AND THE PURPOSE OF THE SHIPS CHANGED.
ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1939
WHEN THE ALLIES DECLARED WAR ON GERMANY
PETERSON BOAT WORKS EMBARKED ON THEIR FIRST NAVY JOB
PERSONNEL BOATS.
OTHER NAVY CONTRACTS FOLLOWED.
THE TEMPO OF THE SHIP YARDS CHANGED.
THE CITY'S FOUR SHIP BUILDERS NEEDED WORKERS.
I WENT FOR AN INTERVIEW, ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON
WITH COMMANDER ANDERSON.
AND HE SAID, "HELLO, YOU'RE HIRED."
Will: PEOPLE CAME TO THE SHIP YARDS FROM ALL OVER THE MIDWEST.
IN A SHORT TIME, EMPLOYMENT WENT FROM 600
TO NO LESS THAN 7,000 MEN
AND WOMEN... IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
WOMEN ENTERED THE STURGEON BAY SHIP YARDS AS WELDERS.
DOROTHY MOSGALLER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST.
SMY FUTURE HUSBAND STARTED OUT WELDING.
AND I THOUGHT, IF HE CAN DO IT
AND OTHER WOMEN CAN DO IT, SO CAN I.
Betty Peterson: YOU GOT SOMEONE TO SIGN IT WHEN YOU GOT TO WORK.
THEY GIVE YOU WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO WORK FOR THE DAY.
THEN, YOU HAD TO RUN TO THE WELDING SHOP
TO GET THE WELDING RODS YOU NEEDED FOR THE WORK.
IF YOU HAD FLAT WELDING, YOU HAD DIFFERENT RODS.
WHEN YOU GET THROUGH WITH YOUR JOB, YOU GO BACK TO THE FOREMAN.
AND HE GIVE'S YOU SOME MORE.
( laughs )
IT WAS NOISY IN TOWN, WITH THE SHIP YARDS.
YOU COULD HEAR IT ALL OVER TOWN WITH THE CHIPPERS AND BURNERS.
THEY WERE POUNDING ON THIS METAL
TRYING TO MAKE IT FIT.
BUT WE ALL GOT USED TO IT.
Will: AFTER ALL THE WORK ON THE SHIP WAS DONE
AN OFFICIAL LAUNCHING WAS ARRANGED
USUALLY, ON A SATURDAY.
IT WAS A SPECIAL EVENT, DURING A TIME
WHEN RATIONING AND CUTTING BACK WERE AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE.
BETTY KRUEGER, WHO WORKED IN THE NAVY OFFICE
WAS CHOSEN TO SPONSOR A SHIP.
SHE WAS 17.
I WAS A GIRL FROM A SMALL TOWN, DOING A BIG JOB.
TO BE ABLE TO SPONSOR A SHIP, THAT WAS AN HONOR.
Will: DID YOU GET ALL DRESSED UP ?
I GOT ALL DRESSED UP.
IT TOOK ME THREE HOURS TO GET DRESSED UP.
I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO WEAR.
AND I WAS STANDING UP THERE, ON THAT SCAFFOLDING
I LOOKED DOWN AT THEIR FACES
THEY WERE JUST IN AWE.
THEY WERE SO PROUD, YOU COULD SEE IT IN THEIR FACES.
YOU SHUT YOUR EYES, YOU HIT IT
AND YOU BREAK IT.
AND SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO TAKE A SECOND HIT, LIKE I DID.
THEN, THE SHIP SLIDES DOWN AND GOES IN SIDEWAYS.
Will: LAUNCHING AFTER LAUNCHING
THE FOUR STURGEON BAY
SHIP BUILDING COMPANIES CRANKED OUT SHIPS.
DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE WAR
SHIPS WERE LAUNCHED EVERY FIVE DAYS.
Krueger: WE WERE ALWAYS FOND
OF SEEING THOSE BOATS GO IN THE WATER
KNOWING THAT WE HAD A PART OF IT.
Will: IN TOTAL, 258 WARTIME SHIPS
WERE SET UPON THE WATER AT STURGEON BAY.
AND FOR ITS EFFORTS
IT RECEIVED THE NAVY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE.
WARTIME GAVE STURGEON BAY A BIG BOOST.
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW DECADES
THIS LITTLE CITY IN DOOR COUNTY
CONTINUED THE TRADITION OF THESE SHIP BUILDERS.
THE STRENGTH OF THE COMPANIES REMAINS WITH ITS PEOPLE--
CRAFTSMEN, ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS, AND OF COURSE, WELDERS.
TECHNOLOGY HAS COME SUCH A LONG WAYS.
I WISH THEY COULD SEE OUR TECHNOLOGY AND WHERE WE'RE AT.
AND I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN
THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS.
Will: TODAY, THE COMPANIES IN OPERATION
ARE LUXURY YACHT BUILDER, PALMER JOHNSON
AND BAY SHIP BUILDING
WHICH BUILDS AND REPAIRS A VARIETY OF VESSELS.
OF ITS 350 EMPLOYEES, 7 OR 8 ARE WOMEN WHO WELD.
I LOVE MY JOB.
I LOVE WELDING.
I LOVE GETTING OUT AND DOING THE WORK.
Will: TODAY, LAUNCHINGS OCCUR
APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.
WATER IS NOW SEEN AS A MEANS TO RECREATION
NOT TRANSPORTATION.
THIS VIEW HAS CHANGED THE SHIP BUILDING SCENE FOREVER.
BUT THE WORKERS STILL TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
Brandt: WHEN YOU START A SHIP
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE
AND FINALLY THE BODY AND EVERYTHING IS TOGETHER
YEAH, IT'S REALLY NEAT TO SEE IT'S DONE.
? OUR HANDS ARE SORE AND OUR BACKS ARE HUMPED ?
? LEAVE HER LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? AND HALF THE LAKES ?
? WENT THROUGH HER PALM ?
? AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE HER ?
? OH, LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? FOR THE VOYAGE IS DONE AND THE WINDS DON'T BLOW ?
? AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE HER ? ?
Kmetz: TODAY, WE SOMETIMES THINK OF WATER
AS AN OBSTRUCTION STANDING IN OUR WAY.
BUT IN THE TIME BEFORE RAILROADS
AND PAVED HIGHWAYS
IT WAS WATER THAT OFFERED THE CLEAR
AND EASY PATH TO ANY DESTINATION.
BUT TRAVELERS ON THAT PATH
NEVER FORGOT THAT MORTAL DANGER WAS FOREVER ONLY A MOMENT AWAY.
Bob Mackreth: THE KEEPER'S LOG AT THE LIGHT STATION
WAS WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO RECORD THINGS
SUCH AS THE WIND, THE WAVES, THE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS
AND ANY UNUSUAL EVENTS THAT OCCURRED
IN THE OPERATION OF THE LIGHT STATION.
NOVEMBER 19, 1886:
"FROM TOWER, SAW A VESSEL WITH TWO MASTS
"PRETTY CLOSE TO THE SHORE.
"I WENT DOWN, I FOUND IT WAS--
"WRECKED.
"IT APPEARED THEY HAD LET GO THEIR ANCHORS.
"I DISCOVERED THREE BODIES
ONE IN THE MAIN AND ONE IN THE RIGGING."
THINK OF THE CAPTAIN
WHO'S GOT A CARGO TO DELIVER ON A CRUMMY NIGHT
THINK OF WHAT'S GOING THROUGH THE CAPTAIN'S MIND.
"THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST TRIP OF THE SEASON.
SHOULD WE GO OUT OR HOLD OFF ?"
"TIME IS MONEY" IN THOSE DAYS
AND WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS THE LUCERNE
LOADING A CARGO OF IRON ORE IN ASHLAND
BRAND NEW ORE DOCKS, RAILROAD LINES BEING BUILT
BRINGING IRON
AND LOADING IT HERE FOR TRANSPORTATION
TO THE MILLS IN CLEVELAND AND PITTSBURGH.
Kmetz: AND CLEVELAND IS WHICH WAY ?
CLEVELAND, FROM HERE ?
THAT WAY, AND A LONG WAY OFF.
THEY WERE HEADING UP THE SHORE
OF THE UPPER PENINSULA, IN MICHIGAN
WHEN THE STORM TURNED NASTY.
CAPTAIN LLOYD MADE A DECISION
WHICH I'M SURE WENT AGAINST HIS GRAIN.
BUT HE SAID, "WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN AROUND
"AND HEAD BACK TO ASHLAND
FOR THE SAFETY OF THE APOSTLE ISLANDS."
WHERE HE COULD RIDE OUT THE STORM IN THE LEE OF AN ISLAND.
THE THING IS, HE ALMOST MADE IT.
Jefferson Gray: THE LUCERNE WENT DOWN
ALMOST A QUARTER MILE FROM LONG ISLAND
THE BUOY COMES UP RIGHT FROM THE BOW.
Kmetz: NOW, YOU'RE A DIVER, AND YOU BEEN DOWN THERE.
YUP, RIGHT DOWN HERE IS THE LUCERNE.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL FROM WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ?
Gray: IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO COMBINE
THE HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDS
TO GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
WE THINK CAPTAIN LLOYD PROBABLY WASN'T SURE OF WHERE HE WAS
AND DECIDED TO STOP FOR FEAR OF RUNNING INTO AN ISLAND.
THE WINDLASS AND CAPSTAN
ARE THE DEVICES USED TO RAISE AND LOWER THE ANCHOR.
THERE IS A FOUR-AND-A-HALF-FOOT CROWBAR
JAMMED INTO THE WINDLASS CHAIN.
THE CENTERBOARD, WHICH IS A DEVICE
USED TO STABILIZE A SCHOONER LIKE THE LUCERNE
IS ACTUALLY PIVOTED ON THE FORWARD END.
AND IT COMES DOWN INTO THE WATER, LIKE THIS.
IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO HIT THE BOTTOM GOING BACKWARDS.
SO, PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED
IS THE ANCHOR STARTED TO DRAG.
SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE ANCHOR GEAR.
IT'S BEING PUSHED BACK
THE CENTER BOARD HIT THE BOTTOM, TWISTED
AND THE CENTER BOARD PROBABLY ACTED LIKE A BIG LEVER
AND JUST STARTED TEARING THE VESSEL APART
AS THESE GUYS WERE ON IT.
THEY TRIED TO ESCAPE DEATH FROM DROWNING
AND CLIMBED THE RIGGING, HOPING TO RIDE OUT THE STORM.
BUT WHEN THEY WERE CUT DOWN
THEY WERE COVERED IN ONE TO SIX INCHES OF ICE.
WE CAME OUT AND PLACED THE BUOY ON THE WRECK
TO GIVE DIVERS ACCESS TO IT AND TO HELP PROTECT THE WRECK
FROM ANCHOR DAMAGE FROM DIVE BOATS.
WITHOUT THE BUOY, DIVE BOATS COME TO THE AREA
AND DRAG THEIR ANCHORS UNTIL THEY HOOK INTO THE WRECK.
ONE OF THE MAJOR RESOURCES WE WORK WITH IS SHIPWRECKS
AND THE LUCERNE IS ONE OF 700 IN THE STATE.
700 ? YES, 700 SHIPWRECKS IN THE STATE.
AND THEY ARE IN LAKE MICHIGAN
LAKE SUPERIOR, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
AND SOME OF OUR INLAND LAKES
EVEN HAVE SHIPWRECKS IN THEM.
TO VISIT A SHIPWRECK, IN GENERAL
IS TO ACTUALLY TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING PARTS OF OUR MARITIME HERITAGE.
AS ARCHAEOLOGISTS, WE LIKE TO SAY
THAT WE USE THOSE VESSELS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT
TO TELL THE STORIES OF THOSE THAT DID.
Kmetz: THE STORY OF THOSE THAT DID CONTINUES INTO THE PRESENT DAY.
TOLD IN PLACES LIKE THE TWIN PORTS
OF DULUTH AND SUPERIOR
WHERE THE LIQUID HIGHWAY REMAINS WELL TRAVELED.
HOW BUSY ARE THESE TWIN PORTS ?
Pat Labadie: THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF VESSEL PASSAGES
IS 1,000 PER YEAR.
ABOUT 200 OF THEM ARE OCEAN VESSELS, LIKE THIS ONE.
INTERESTINGLY, AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
IN THE LATE 1890s
THERE WERE AS MANY AS 7,000 A YEAR.
Kmetz: SO, FROM 7,000 TO 1,000 ? TO 1,000.
BUT THESE ARE BIG.
YEAH, THEY CARRY MORE CARGO TODAY
WITH 1,000 VESSELS, THAN THEY DID WITH 7,000.
IT'S ONE OF THE FINEST NATURAL HARBORS
ON THE WHOLE OF THE GREAT LAKES.
THE TONNAGE HERE IS STILL VERY HIGH.
IT'S 14th IN THE NATION.
AT ONE TIME, IT WAS SECOND ONLY TO NEW YORK.
ENORMOUS TONNAGE.
WHAT MAKES THIS A GOOD HARBOR ?
WELL, BASICALLY THE PROXIMITY TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES.
THE IRON RANGE IS VERY NEAR HERE
IT'S ONLY 60 MILES BY RAIL.
RAILROADS ALSO HAVE EASY ACCESS
TO THE GRAIN FIELDS IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY.
SO, IT'S VERY NEAR THE COMMODITIES.
IT'S A VERY EFFICIENT WAY
TO GET THESE PRODUCTS ONTO SHIPBOARD
FOR MOVEMENT DOWN THE LAKES.
Kmetz: WELL, HOW WOULD THIS DIFFER
FROM SOME OF THE EARLIER GRAIN CARRIERS ?
GRAIN HAS BEEN CARRIED A LONG TIME ON LAKE SUPERIOR.
Labadie: THE EARLIEST WERE SAILING VESSELS.
SCHOONERS, USUALLY, THREE OR FOUR-MASTED, 150-200 FEET
CARRIED ABOUT 1,000 TONS.
WOODEN BOATS ?
WOODEN VESSELS, THAT'S RIGHT, UNTIL THE 1880s.
THERE WAS QUITE A TRANSITION BETWEEN 1880 AND ABOUT 1900
WHEN ALL THE SAILING VESSELS LITERALLY DISAPPEARED.
THE WHOLE TRADE WENT INTO MUCH MORE EFFICIENT STEAMERS
OF MUCH LARGER DIMENSION, AS WELL.
AND AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
THE LAST WOODEN STEAMERS DISAPPEARED.
AND MUCH LARGER STEAM VESSELS BEGAN TO TAKE THEIR PLACE
400 AND 500-FOOTERS.
SINCE THEN, THE SIZE AND CAPACITY
HAVE INCREASED TO 1,000 FEET
IN THE CASE OF THE LARGEST VESSELS.
NOW, FOR THE EARLIEST GRAIN VESSELS
HOW MANY DO YOU THINK WOULD FIT INTO THIS SHIP ?
THIS VESSEL CARRIES A MILLION BUSHELS, OR 30,000 TONS.
THE EARLIEST GRAIN CARRIERS HERE
CARRIED ABOUT 1,000 TONS.
SO, 30 VESSELS.
AND INTERESTINGLY, EACH OF THOSE 30 VESSELS
HAD A CREW EQUIVALENT TO THIS ONE
OF ABOUT 28 OR 30 MEN.
SO, THE EFFICIENCY HAS INCREASED ENORMOUSLY
OVER THIS CENTURY, OR SO.
Kmetz: A LOT OF GRAIN.
AND IT'S ON ITS WAY TO ALGERIA.
SO, HERE IN SUPERIOR
IT'S IN AN INTERNATIONAL PORT.
WOULD YOU CALL THIS AN INTERNATIONAL PORT ?
OH, ABSOLUTELY. EXACTLY.
THESE ARE NAVIGATION CHARTS
FOR THE WHOLE GREAT LAKES SYSTEM.
Kmetz: SHOW US WHERE WE ARE
AND HOW THIS SHIP IS GOING TO...
THIS IS THE WESTERN EXTREMITY OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
WHEN THE SHIP LEAVES HERE
IT'LL GO ALMOST 400 MILES ON THE OPEN LAKE
BEFORE IT REACHES THE ST. MARY'S RIVER
AT SAULT STE. MARIE.
AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE LOCKS THERE, IT'LL GO
FROM LAKE SUPERIOR'S LEVEL TO LAKE HURON'S.
IT WILL PASS FROM LAKE HURON THROUGH THE ST. CLAIR RIVER
LAKE ST. CLAIR, THE DETROIT RIVER, INTO LAKE ERIE.
AT THE EASTERN END OF LAKE ERIE
IT WILL PASS THROUGH THE LOCKS OF THE WELLAND SHIP CANAL
AND BASICALLY BYPASS THE NIAGARA FALLS
TO THE LAKE ONTARIO LEVEL.
THEN, PASSING FROM LAKE ONTARIO
IT'LL GO THROUGH THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY SYSTEM
THAT WILL TAKE IT DOWN TO SEA LEVEL.
BUT IT'S 2,400 MILES, ABOUT FIVE DAYS
AND 602 FEET ELEVATION DIFFERENCE
FROM BEGINNING TO END.
IT'S A REALLY FASCINATING ENGINEERING FEAT
WHEN YOU STOP TO THINK ABOUT IT.
Kmetz: A FASCINATING ENGINEERING FEAT, INDEED.
AND ONE SO IMPORTANT TO THE VITALITY OF THE UNITED STATES
THAT DURING WORLD WAR II, THE LOCKS AT SAULT STE. MARIE
WERE MORE HEAVILY PROTECTED BY THE U.S. MILITARY
THAN THE PANAMA CANAL.
Will: SO, IT WOULD HAVE LEFT FROM GEORGIAN BAY
GONE ACROSS THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC
Ralph Ripple: AND CAME DOWN THE LAKE.
WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND 60 PEOPLE DIED.
...AROUND MANITOWOC, IN THAT AREA.
HOW YOU DOING ? GOOD.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ? I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.
Gray: THIS IS A WATERPROOF SLATE.
DIVERS CAN TAKE IT TO THE SITE WITH THEM.
IT KIND OF GIVES THEM A GUIDED TOUR OF THE SITE.
THIS IS THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DRAWING.
IT'S SCALED WAY DOWN TO FIT ON THE CARD.
ON THE BACK SIDE, IT HAS THE HISTORY
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF THE VESSEL
BUT THEN, ALSO, HOW IT SANK
ALONG WITH LOCATION INFORMATION
SO DIVERS KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT.
IT HELPS THEM GET INTO THE AREA
TO THE BUOY
WHICH WE ARE GOING TO BE PLACING OUT THERE TODAY.
Ripple: YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT A DIVER ?
OH, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR YOU.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING AROUND HERE.
Will: IT LOOKS GREAT.
OUR DIVING IS SOME OF THE BEST IN THE GREAT LAKES.
WHY'S THAT ? OUR SHIPWRECKS ARE THE BEST.
A GROUP FROM ENGLAND CAME TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE DON'T DIVE OUR WRECKS.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE MISSING.
WHAT'S THE EARLIEST WRECK THAT YOU'VE DOVE TO ?
PROBABLY THIS ONE HERE, 1856.
WE KNOW THE WRECK IS HERE, WHERE DID IT START ON FIRE ?
OUT HERE, PROBABLY 15 MINUTES BEFORE SHE SUNK.
SHE WAS PROBABLY ANOTHER 1,000 FEET OUT OR SO
WHEN SHE STARTED ON FIRE.
HE WAS HEADING FOR SHORE.
THEY THREW STUFF OFF, AND IT STARTED TO FALL APART.
AS YOU GO OUT THIS WAY, YOU CAN SEE THE PARTS ALL THE WAY IN.
PEOPLE EVIDENTLY-- FELL OFF HERE
BECAUSE SHE WAS BURNING TO THE WATER LINE BY HERE.
SO, THEY CAN SEE THE SHORE FROM HERE.
60 PEOPLE WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE DIED.
AT LEAST 60, YEAH, DIED.
GOTTA BE A BAD WAY TO GO.
THEY HAD HEAVY WOOLS ON WHEN THEY JUMPED IN THE WATER.
THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD SWIM.
THEY WENT DOWN WITH EVERYTHING THEY HAD.
CLOSE ENOUGH FOR HOPE... YEAH.
FAR ENOUGH FOR DISASTER.
HOW WAS IT DOWN THERE, JIM ?
NICE.
NICE ? NICE DIVE ?
Labadie: SO, THIS IS THE "LADY ELGIN."
IT'S REALLY TYPICAL OF THAT WHOLE CLASS OF SHIPS
I REFER TO AS "PALACE STEAMERS."
THEY WERE PRINCIPALLY IMMIGRANT SHIPS.
THE NIAGARA WAS A GREAT DEAL LIKE THE "LADY ELGIN."
DID YOU BUILD THIS YOURSELF ?
AS A MATTER OF FACT, YES, I AM BUILDING IT.
IT'S STILL INCOMPLETE.
THERE ISN'T A WHOLE LOT OF TECHNOLOGICAL DATA AROUND
ABOUT THESE SHIPS, SO I'M LEARNING
FROM OBSERVATION OF VARIOUS SHIPWRECKS.
IT'S A FUN PROJECT.
THE SHIPWRECKS ARE INFORMING HOW YOU BUILD THIS ?
EXACTLY.
WHY WERE THEY CALLED "PALACE STEAMERS" ?
WELL, THEY WERE PARTICULARLY LAVISH VESSELS.
THEY HAD BRUSSELS CARPETING IN THE UPPER DECKS
AND THEY HAD FOUNTAINS WITH SPRINKLING WATER.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND
THEY ALSO HAD TO SERVE THE STEERAGE PASSENGERS
WHO HAD NO MONEY TO ENJOY ALL THE NICETIES.
THE PASSENGER CABINS ARE ALIGNED ON THE UPPER DECK HERE
AND USUALLY CAN ACCOMMODATE MAYBE 200 PASSENGERS.
BUT THE STEERAGE PASSENGERS WERE CARRIED BELOW DECKS
IN WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE FREIGHT SPACE
IN VERY PLAIN SURROUNDINGS.
FRANKLY, IT WAS PRETTY DARN UNPLEASANT.
IT WAS VERY CROWDED.
IT WAS USUALLY VERY WARM.
YOU GET THE IDEA OF PASSENGER TRAVEL, AS IT IS TODAY
AND THAT'S A REAL FALLACY.
IT SMELLED DIFFERENT.
IT SOUNDED DIFFERENT
IT WAS DIFFERENT.
Kmetz: IF SOMEBODY WAS ON A STEAMER
WOULD THEY BE SEEING OTHER BOATS ?
IN THE OLD DAYS, YES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT
THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF CONGESTION.
THERE WERE MORE THAN 2,000 SHIPS ON THE LAKES IN THE 1870s.
TODAY, WE HAVE ABOUT 150.
THESE REALLY WERE HIGHWAYS.
OH, YEAH. YES, THEY CERTAINLY WERE.
Will: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A FLOOD OF IMMIGRANTS
WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT THE FLOOD
WAS COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUALS.
MEN, AND WOMEN, AND CHILDREN
WHO ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AS PIONEERING ANCESTORS.
Beverly Johnson: I TALKED TO MY MOM.
SHE GAVE ME A PRETTY GOOD FAMILY TREE TO START WITH.
GRANDPARENTS ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE
THE DAY THEY LEFT NORWAY, THE NAME OF THE SHIP
AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN LA CROSSE.
AND I JUST STARTED WITH THAT INFORMATION.
Will: WHERE DO YOU GO NEXT ?
WELL, I TOOK THE INFORMATION
AND STARTED PLAYING ON THE INTERNET.
I WENT TO A SEARCH ENGINE
I PUT IN "NORWEGIAN GENEALOGY"
AND UP POPPED A BUNCH OF WEB SITES.
INCLUDING THE DIGITAL ARCHIVES OF NORWAY.
REALLY ?
AND THEY HAVE PASSENGER LISTS.
IT WAS REALLY BIZARRE, BECAUSE I STARTED GETTING TINGLY
ABOUT THREE PAGES BEFORE THEY CAME UP.
AND I WAS ALONE IN THE OFFICE THAT DAY
AND I SHRIEKED.
( both laugh )
WELL, YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED
SMALL POX, TYPHUS FEVER--
TWO INFANTS DIE OF CONVULSIONS.
PNEUMONIA--
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS CROSSING.
IT WAS.
I HAVE READ THROUGH SOME OF THESE TRAVEL NARRATIVES.
AND I WOULD NOT BE THIS BRAVE.
THIS, TO ME, WOULD BE LIKE SAYING:
"YES, I'LL BE ON THAT FIRST SHIP TO THE MOON."
NOT KNOWING IF YOU WERE GOING TO GET THERE
BUT PRETTY WELL KNOWING
YOU'D NEVER SEE ANYBODY YOU KNEW AGAIN, BACK HOME.
IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION
FROM QUEBEC TO WISCONSIN--
HOW EASY IS IT TO DETERMINE
WHAT ROUTE THEY TOOK
AND WHICH TRANSPORTATION THEY USED ?
I HAVEN'T STARTED LOOKING FOR THAT YET
I HAVEN'T KNOWN WHERE TO LOOK.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'M HERE.
I'M BEV JOHNSON. YES.
I'D LIKE TO DO SOME GENEALOGY
I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A HAND.
OKAY, WE'LL TRY.
MY MOM'S GENEALOGY IS WHAT I'M WORKING ON.
IT'S ALL FROM NORWAY, AND THEY CAME TO WISCONSIN.
HOW DID THEY GET FROM QUEBEC TO LA CROSSE ?
GETTING FROM A POINT
IN THE EASTERN PART OF NORTH AMERICA TO THE MIDWEST
AT WHAT TIME PERIOD ?
WE'RE TALKING THE LATE 1860s.
THE LATE 1860s-- YOU'RE AT THE PERIOD
WHEN THERE WERE MULTIPLE CHOICES
BY WATER...
AND BY RAILROAD.
AND IT'S LIKELY THAT THEY USED BOTH METHODS
FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE TRIP.
THE PRIMARY METHOD FROM QUEBEC TO WESTERN LAKE MICHIGAN
WAS BY WATER.
IT WAS REGULAR LAKE STEAMER SERVICE.
Johnson: I THINK I WOULD LIKE
TO LOOK AT THOSE PASSENGER ARRIVALS FROM QUEBEC.
Hansen: OKAY, THAT'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK IN THE CATALOG
AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH ANYTHING.
Johnson: OKAY, GREAT.
I THINK I'VE GOT ENOUGH TO GET GOING.
Hansen: FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE DAY, I SUSPECT.
Johnson: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
Hansen: OKAY, GOOD LUCK.
Hansen: THE INTERNET HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT
ON HOW PEOPLE DO GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH.
WHAT HAPPENS, IN MANY CASES
IS THAT PEOPLE START AND END WITH THE INTERNET.
AND THERE IS SO MUCH ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE ON-LINE, YET.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE THAT CAN BE INVESTIGATED.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT BY HITTING KEYS
AND WAITING FOR THE ELECTRONIC MAGIC TO HAPPEN.
Johnson: WELL, THERE'S PART OF IT...
Hansen: WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGER HISTORICAL
AND GENEALOGICAL LIBRARIES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
SIMPLY GETTING
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A YEAR
TO THE RIGHT ONE OF THE 3.5 MILLION ITEMS
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COLLECTION
IS A SUFFICIENT CHALLENGE TO KEEP US OCCUPIED.
Johnson: THERE WE GO...
THAT WAS JUST WAY COOL.
I LIKE IT.
? OH, LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? FOR THE VOYAGE IS DONE AND THE WINDS DON'T BLOW ?
? AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE HER ?
? AND JUST BEFORE THAT SHIP DID GO ?
? LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? THE RATS THEY MARCHED OFF IN A ROW ?
? AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE HER ?
? OH, LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? FOR THE VOYAGE IS DONE ?
? AND THE WINDS DON'T BLOW ?
? AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE HER... ? ?
Nimke: IT'S EXCITING TO ENVISION AND THINK ABOUT
KIDS OUT WITH US FOR A FOUR-HOUR VOYAGE
OF DISCOVERY AND LEARNING.
TO SEE THIS FINALLY BECOMING A REALITY--
WHAT STARTED AS A DREAM
SHARED BY A SMALL HANDFUL OF PEOPLE--
HAS NOW BEEN EMBRACED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
TO KNOW THAT SOON IT WILL BEGIN
ITS JOURNEYS AND ADVENTURES
ON THE GREAT LAKES AND ELSEWHERE.
? NOW, THE MATE WAS A SHELLBACK FROM BELOW ?
? LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? TO CURSE AND ROAR ?
? HE WELL DID KNOW ?
? AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE HER ?
? LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? OH, LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER... ? ?
WELL, THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S WISCONSIN STORIES.
IF THEY FIND US HERE, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
IF NOT, BON VOYAGE FROM WISCONSIN STORIES.
? LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? OH, LEAVE HER, LADDIES, LEAVE HER ?
? FOR THE VOYAGE IS DONE AND THE WINDS DON'T BLOW ?
? AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE HER... ? ?
MAJOR FUNDING FOR WISCONSIN STORIES
IS PROVIDED BY THE MEAD WITTER FOUNDATION, INC.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY
THE HALBERT AND ALICE KADISH FOUNDATION
PHILIP J. AND ELIZABETH B. HENDRICKSON
AND AN ADVISED FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.