The S.S. Badger was built by Christy Corp. in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. She was the second of 2 ships launched in 1952. She is named in honor of the University of Wisconsin and is 410 feet in length. She is the last coal fired, steam powered ship on the Great Lakes. 

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• Launch, September 6, 1952 at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. 24 k C&O Historical Society

Dan Bissell
• Another view, with the S.S. Spartan in the background. 30 k C&O Historical Society

Dan Bissell
• Bow view of the launch. 25 k C&O Historical Society
• Christening the S.S. Badger Bob Vande Vusse C&O Historical Society
• The boxcars that protected the S.S. Spartan during the launch. Bob Vande Vusse

C&O Historical Society
• S.S. Badger under way, starboard view. 19 k Dan BissellC&O Historical Society
• Maiden voyage. Mike Modderman collection.
• At Kewaunee, Wisconsin with the S.S. Spartan in the background. 24 k C&O Historical Society

Dan Bissell
• Getting ready to unload railcars, circa 1950s. Photographer unknown.
• Stern view, with her seagate open. 19 k C&O Historical Society

Dan Bissell
• In 1964,being cut in half and raised 18" at Manitowoc, WI. Anomonous 48 k
• Inbound, Ludington.M. Hanley
• Outbound, winter. Kyle Brigham
• Loading, spring 1975. M. Hanley
• At Ludington, early 80s. M. Hanley
• Her Chessie days,aeriel view. Dan Bissell 32 k
• Badger taking on freight. Dan Bissell
• Taking on fuel. Kyle Brigham
• Badger in dry dock, stern view 1970s. Art Chavez 58 k
• Carferry Badger,leaving the port of Ludington (M. Hanley).
• At Milwaukee, WI.W. Drablowski 24 k
• Late winter, early spring from Buttersville. M. Hanley
• A beautiful sunset gives the Badger a unique silouette. Tom Cubberly.
• Leaving Kewaunee on July 6th, 1990, the last year for Kewaunee. Tom Cubberly

• Port engine controls.M. Hanley 26 k
• Starboard engine, looking forward. M. Hanley
• The Windlass.M. Hanley 40 k
• Ship's wheel.M. Hanley
• View of the car deck while underway. M. Hanley 43 k
• Aft pilot house.M. Hanley 29 k 

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        Charles Conrad

• Badger, underway, R. Burdick Great Lakes Vessel Passage
• From the air, May 16, 1992. Marge Beaver.  For more aerial photos, visit Aerial Photos By Photography Plus!
• Though the channel at Ludington. Kyle Brigham.
• At night in Kewaunee, August 6, 1994. Tom Cubberly
• Upper Deck Cafe, Badger 1996 Al & Judy Cunningham, Branch, MI
• Mike Modderman at the wheel. Mike Modderman.
• View from Buttersville, with the Spartan and Arthur K. Atkinson. Chris Franckowiak
• Manuvering to the apron at Manitowoc. (05/31) Ryan Hanley
• From Crosswinds Condominiums. Roxy Wienand
• Fireman and accordian player Andy Rose. Paul & Fran Rauth
• S.S. Badger, as seen from the north pier. Kelly Mutton.
• Pulling away from the dock at Manitowoc October 1, 1994. Desmond Bossom
• Stormy trip in to Ludington. M. Hanley
• Rainbow over the Badger, by Tom Cubberly (May 21, 1995).
• As seen from a helecoper, by Art Chavez.

The S.S. Badger was towed to Sturgeon Bay, WI for her 5 year hull inspection on November 3, 1997. In addition to the inspection, some work is being done on the shafts, engines, etc. My wife and I traveled to Sturgeon Bay on November 10th, and got some photos.

• Bow view, from above. M. Hanley
• Bow view, from below (in the dry dock). M. Hanley
• Stern view. M. Hanley
• Working to remove the right prop. M. Hanley
• The left prop removed, showing the exposed shaft. M. Hanley

• Mario Coffola and Margretta Peterson, the friendly staff of the Badger Boatique.
• A beautiful "golden" morning.Mike Modderman.
• Captain Masse enjoying the "Carribean" Shoreline Cruise. M. Hanley
• Entering Manitowoc harbor. M. Hanley
• An open door on one of the boilers. M. Hanley
• Closeup of the valves of the port engine. M. Modderman
• The Badger in the capable hands of yong Jimmy Chroer. M. Hanley
• Fireman Andy Rose provides some entertainment with his accordian. M. Hanley
• The bow from below, a LONG ways up! M. Hanley Special thanks to Mike Moddeman!
• Port side from Pere Marquette Lake. Mike Modderman
• Badger, Spartan and Arthur K. Atkinson. Mike Modderman.
• Arriving Manitowoc. Bob Strauss
• Cruising past the Manitowoc lighthouse.Bob Strauss
• Captain Masse skillfully manuvers the Badger to the apron at Ludington. Michelle Modderman.
• The S.S. Badger arriving Ludington on a foggy afternoon. Michelle Modderman.
• Great Lakes Circle tour dedication, left to right Thom Hawley, Bob Manglitz, Steve Thorp, Kevin Crawford, and Carol Pomorski. M. Hanley
• People watch from the North Pier as the Badger arrives Ludington. Mike Modderman
• Coming in to Ludington, steaming past the Pere Marquette 41. Mike Modderman.
• At Manitowoc. Roxy Wienand
• S.S. Badger at night. Mike Modderman
• Night shot at Manitowoc, about 1:00 Sunday morning, July 26th, 1998. Tom Cubberly
• Bow shot at sunset, July 25th , 1998. Tom Cubberly
• The Badger with her Christmas lights on. Mike Modderman.
• A "bow over the bow", rainbow that is! Tom Cubberly

• The flag of the "Grand President" of the International Ship Masters Association and the new Lake Michigan Carferry flags flying atop the Badger. M. Hanley

Captain Dean Hobbs was recently installed as the Grand President of the I.S.M.A. He is the first carferry captain to be so honored!
• Passengers on the Badger get a look at a passing ship. Tom Cubberly
• Lifeboat No. 6 in the foreground as the Badger passes the Manitowoc lighthouse. Tom Cubberly
• A look over the bow at the anchor in mid-lake. M. Hanley
• On her deck at night. Mike Moddeman
• Arriving Ludington against a back lit sky. M. Hanley
• From a charter fishing boat. Steve Benoche
• As seen from Buttersville.  Mike Modderman
• The BADGER arriving Manitowoc with a jetski escort. M. Hanley
• Gliding through the channel at Ludington. Michael Birdsley
• All decked out in her Christmas lights.  Mike Modderman
• Christmas lights, port side. Nate Rolfe

• Badger arriving Ludington.  Tom Cubberly
• A cool shot of the anchor hitting the water.  Nate Rolf
• The "welcoming committee" in Manitowoc! M. Hanley
• Making an evening departure from Ludington. M. Hanley
• The BADGER entering Pere Marqutte Lake (Ludington).  Matt Warmuskerken 
• A Stanley Steamer steams onto the BADGER. M. Hanley 
• A bridge beam coming off for the S-curve project in Grand Rapids. M. Hanley 
• Old cars and young people enjoying the "Nifty Fifties" shoreline cruise on September 3rd.  M. Hanley 

• Hear the Badger!, provided by Ed Lemire of Ludington
• Badger whistle, recorded 10/11/97. M. Hanley
• The steam whistle blows a salute. M. Modderman
• The sound of the Badger's Skinner engines.M. Hanley
• The sound of the engine Chadburns. M. Modderman
• The Badger blowing the "Salute". M. Modderman
• The S.S.Badger's New Look! 04/15/97 Thanks to Kari Karr at Lake Michigan Carferry.
• Drawing by Ryan Hanley, May 1996. 23 k
• Drawing by Chad Anthes, May 1997. 21 k

Written by Pete Host. Thanks to Bob Swanson for urging me to dig up this treasure...I wish I could have recorded the song for the page, but it would be huge! The song was written and recorded, to the best of Bob's and my recollection, in the fall of 1970. Bob was fireman on the "Steamer 43", and Pete was his coalpasser. I'm sure there are many more people who remember Pete Host on the S.S. Badger singing this song! The song is written from the sailor's point of view.
Note: The S.S. Spartan and the S.S. Badger did not officially have a number with their name,but were unofficially known as the "Steamer 42" and "Steamer 43" respectively.

"With my gear all packed I'm ready to go, I can hear that mighty whistle blow.
Living on that Steamer 43.
I hated to leave, to leave my wife, Oh my friends what a different life!
I've got 20 days before I go back home.
Then I'll have 8 days that I can call mine, but still it seems like a very short time!
Living on that Steamer 43.

I miss my kids and the home-cooked meals but a job is a job, no matter how I feel.
The work is not hard and there's nothing there to fear.
But Oh how I hate to put up the gear with the weather so stormy this time of the year,
And that's really when I begin to hate this life.
There will always be men on the sea, away from their homes and families.
Living on that Steamer 43.

When it's Sunday morning and my family's in church, I'm right here doing my work!
These are the things that makes a sailor's life bad.
Oh, I lay awake, late at night thinking of my darling wife,
Living on that Steamer 43.

There will always be men on the sea, away from their homes and families.
These are the things that makes a sailor's life bad.
Yes, I lay awake late at night thinking of my darling wife,
Living on that Steamer 43."
Special thanks to Mike Williams!

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Thanks to Kari Karr & Thom Hawley of Lake Michigan Carferry for all their help.
Image of Charles Conrad courtesy of Thom Hawley.

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Since 07/31/97