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The S.S. CITY OF MILWAUKEE was the last of six ships built to the same
design by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company. Built in 1930, she
entered service for the Grand Trunk in 1931. Her sister’s
included the PERE MARQUETTE 21 and 22, built in 1924, the ANN ARBOR NO.
7, built in 1925, the GRAND RAPIDS, built in 1926, and the MADISON,
built in 1927. She was built to replace MILWAUKEE (formerly the
MANISTIQUE MARQUETTE and NORTHERN 1) lost in a storm with all hands in
1929.
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Captain
-- John F. Cavanaugh
First Mate -- Capt. Charles McCauley
Chief Engineer -- Thomas Rice |
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The new carferry entered service as the Great Depression gripped the
nation, so CITY OF MILWAUKEE soon became the Grand Trunk’s “spare
boat”. She survives today nearly as-built; the only major
modification was her conversion from coal to oil-firing.
CITY OF MILWAUKEE was involved in relatively few mishaps during her
career. One such incident occured on February 14, 1932 while she
was docked in Grand Haven. Her sister-ship MADISON, was driven by
a strong northwest wind and collided with CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
Damage was minor.
When the Grand Trunk’s operations were moved from Grand Haven to
Muskegon, a new slip was built and CITY OF MILWAUKEE participated
in the dedication ceremonies that were held in July of 1933.
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CITY OF MILWAUKEE survived the termination of car ferry service from
Muskegon in 1978, and from Frankfort/Elberta where she was in service
until 1982. In 1983, the City of Frankfort purchased the carferry
from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), who by
then owned her, for the grand sum of $2. The Society for the
Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee purchased the carferry from
the city of Frankfort in 1988, also for the sum of $2.
In December of 1990 the CITY OF MILWAUKEE was designated a National
Historic Landmark. For membership and tour information, please
visit S.S. City of Milwaukee - National Historic Landmark
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- November 11, 1930 -- The CITY OF MILWAUKEE was launched at
Manitowoc. She was sponsered by Mrs. Walter J. Wilde, wife of the
collector of customs at Milwaukee.
- January 8, 1931 - The Muskegon Chronicle reported that the
new CITY OF MILWAUKEE was expected to arrive Grand Haven on January
17th.
- January 17, 1931 -- The CITY OF MILWAUKEE arrives Grand
Haven to a grand welcome. She carried a full load of Case
tractors on flat cars.
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- February 14, 1932 -- Sister-ship MADISON was driven
by a strong northwest wind and collided with CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
Damage was minor.
- July 17, 1933 -- The Grand Trunk carferry CITY OF MILWAUKEE
took part in the dedication ceremonies of the new Grand Trunk slip in
Muskegon.
- February 24, 1936 -- The CITY OF MILWAUKEE was stuck in the
ice outside Grand Haven along with sister-ships GRAND RAPIDS.
- February 8, 1951 -- The CITY OF MILWAUKEE was trapped in
the ice outside of Muskegon along with her sister-ship MADISON.
- November 1, 1978 -- The CITY OF MILWAUKEE made her last run
for Grand Trunk’s rail car ferry service.
- November 11, 1978 - CITY OF MILWAUKEE steamed to Elberta to
begin working on the Ann Arbor route.
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- November 22, 1978 -- The CITY OF MILWAUKEE was chartered to
the Ann
Arbor Railroad Co. and started the Frankfort, MI-Kewaunee, WI service.
- May 18, 1979 -- The Grand Trunk sold CITY OF MILWAUKEE to
MDOT
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- August, 1981 -- The CITY OF MILWAUKEE ceased operations.
- April, 1982 -- The Ann Arbor carferry fleet ceased
operations.
- December 6, 1983 -- Formal ceremonies were held during the
afternoon as CITY OF MILWAUKEE was officially turned over to the
City of Frankfort by MDOT.
- December 12, 1983 -- CITY OF MILWAUKEE was towed from
Elberta across the river to Frankfort.
- October 17, 1988 -- The Society for the Preservation of the
S.S. CITY OF MILWAUKEE purchased the carferry for $2.
- December 23, 1990 -- CITY OF MILWAUKEE was declared a
National Historic Landmark.
- January 14, 2000 -- CITY OF MILWAUKEE was moved from
Frankfort/Elberta to Manistee.
- April 11, 2000 -- CITY OF MILWAUKEE was moved to her new
location at Manistee -- 9th & 10th St.
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