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From
the Ludington Daily News, March 1953:
"L.H. Kent, superintendent of steamboats for Chesapeake & Ohio
Railway Co., announced that Capt. Bernard Robertson was to be master of
the new trainferry SS BADGER, John Turner first mate, J.E. Holden
second mate, Willis Cross Jr. third mate, Sylvester Larsen chief
engineer, Warren Genson first assistant, Raymond Hall second assistant,
and Kenneth Cartier third assistant."
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- April 9, 1951 -- The keel was laid for the BADGER.
- December 10, 1951 -- The Ludington Daily News reported that
the names for the carferrys that were under construction in Sturgeon
Bay had been selected: S.S. SPARTAN and S.S. BADGER.
- September 6, 1952 -- The S.S. BADGER was launched at
Sturgeon Bay, WI. She was christened by Mrs. Walter J. Kohler,
Jr., wife of the governer of Wisconsin.
- March 11, 1953 -- The crew of the BADGER was announced.
- March 21, 1953 -- The BADGER made her maiden voyage to
Ludington.
- March 21, 1953 -- The Ludington Daily News reported that
the BADGER's first load was to be a ship load of paper from the
Wisconsin Paper group in the Fox River Valley. The paper
was brought from Manitowoc.
- June 25, 1960 -- The Ludington Daily News reported that the
upper auto decks were recently added to the SPARTAN and BADGER.
- February 4, 1963 -- For the first time in their careers,
the SPARTAN and BADGER had trouble with winter ice.
- 1964 -- The BADGER's superstructure was raised 18 inches to
allow for a taller rail car.
- November 2, 1971 -- The Badger was laid up due to coal
strike
- October 4, 1980 -- The BADGER left Milwaukee for the last
time, ending service there. Captain John Bissell in command.
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- June 11, 1981 -- The Badger steamed out of Ludington
enroute to Milwaukee under an MDOT subsidy that was approved earlier in
March.
- August 25, 1981 -- Famous "Love Boat" cruise. Carried
520 passengers, the largest number of passengers for a carferry up to
that time. It was sponsered by the Ludington Area Ambassadors.
- January 9, 1982 -- The BADGER left Manitowoc for the last
time for the C&O.
- July 25, 1983 -- A wedding aboard the Badger during the
sailing of "Love Boat II". Chris Gebhart and Pat Sroka of
Ludington were married by Rev John Christensen.
- January 29, 1987 -- The BADGER almost capsized at her dock
due to a broken water intake pipe.
- November 21, 1988 -- The BADGER was placed back into
service to replace CITY OF MIDLAND 41.
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- November 16, 1990 -- The BADGER made her last run as a
carferry because of alledged incidents in which she "touched bottom" at
Kewaunee.
- July, 1991 -- Holland, Michigan
resident Charles Conrad purchased the BADGER, SPARTAN and CITY OF
MIDLAND
41 and
re-established carferry service for Lake Michigan Carferry
in May of 1992.
- May 15, 1992 -- The S.S. BADGER was rededicated and began a
new career as a non railroad carferry.
- August 15, 1992 -- The BADGER carried it's 80,000 passenger
of the season. The 80,000 marker was the goal set the new Lake
Michigan Carferry Service for the entire first season.
- September 7, 1996 -- The American Society of Mechanical
Engineers designated the propoulsion system of the BADGER a
mechanical engineering landmark.
- August 29, 1998 -- designated a spur route of the Lake
Michigan Circle Tour at dedication ceremonies in Manitowoc and Ludington
- October 24, 2000 -- The Ludington Daily News reported that
presidential canditate Al Gore was to be a passenger on the
BADGER. Scheduling conflicts forced the cancelling of the cruise,
however.
- May 15, 2003 -- The BADGER was re-christened during a
ceremony celebrating her 50th year of service.
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