  Awfavre Member Username: Awfavre Post Number: 179 Registered: 08-2005 |
Gaelic tugs Carolyn Hoey & Patricia Hoey are now (9:45 a.m.) moving the old Boblo steamer Ste. Claire to her winter berth at the Nicholson Ecorse slip. Those of you in the RenCen or in another building Downtown with a view of the river should be able to see the move. | ||
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d Post Number: 6 Registered: 01-2008 |
Did they ever restore this beautiful ship? Lots of memories. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4637 Registered: 10-2003 |
Living, check it out here: http://www.bobloboat.com/ | ||
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2008 |
Cool!, Thanks Johnlodge, You made My day. | ||
Rickinatlanta Member Username: Rickinatlanta Post Number: 132 Registered: 07-2006 |
Took a tour of the Ste. Claire this past summer. The volunteers have done a tremendous amount of work with much to go. The boat was looking really good and it brought back a lot of memories from the 50's & 60's and Bob-Lo Island. | ||
Buyamerican Member Username: Buyamerican Post Number: 294 Registered: 02-2007 |
Both Bob Lo Boats. I don't know which boat is the Columbia or the Ste. Claire; I thought you'd enjoy this picture taken by the Detroit Fire Department photographer many years ago.  (Message edited by Buyamerican on January 16, 2008) | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 915 Registered: 02-2007 |
JL, that webpage made it sound like Columbia is still at Nicholson. I thought it was headed for Buffalo? To be a Casino? I took me old Chris Craft up in there and shot some DVD movies a few years back. That same day (early August 2006) there was a really nice old 90 foot or so steam yacht with someone living aboard. Not sure if they were transient berthed or what. I'll try to get some video posted one of these days. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4639 Registered: 10-2003 |
I believe the Columbia is still here. She is supposed to be moved to the Hudson River by 2009. | ||
Awfavre Member Username: Awfavre Post Number: 180 Registered: 08-2005 |
Sstashmoo, Johnlodge is right, the Columbia is still in the Nicholson’s Ecorse slip. As for that yacht, I’m thinking it might be the lovely old Helene, which used to run charters on Lake St. Clair. Is the one in the link below the one you saw? http://www.boatnerd.com/news/newsthumbs/images05b/HELENEb3206-26-05mn.jpg She went to Nicholson's for fire damage repairs & a new pilothouse, reportedly sank at the dock, & never came back out. I don’t know why. She used to pass by Downtown nightly during the summers for awhile there. Gorgeous vessel. (Message edited by awfavre on January 16, 2008) (Message edited by awfavre on January 16, 2008) | ||
Gingellgirl Member Username: Gingellgirl Post Number: 121 Registered: 04-2007 |
I like watchin' the boats go by . . . http://www.detroithistorical.o rg/webcam/default.htm | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 916 Registered: 02-2007 |
QUote: "reportedly sank at the dock, & never came back out." Yep, thats the same boat I have on video. They never recovered her? That is a shame. Have any idea of her status now? Sometimes I think they should pass laws like they do for pet owners. If people are going to purchase these pieces of Americana they have an obligation to care for them. Unless a qualified surveyor says otherwise. We've lost too many fine old vessels and living examples of our maritime history to simple neglect and disinterest. Our kids and their kids if so inclined will have jpegs. | ||
Msamslex Member Username: Msamslex Post Number: 31 Registered: 06-2007 |
I took our summer day camp kids on the Diamond Jack boat ride last year and we passed by the St. Claire. I almost cried to see it in the shape it's in, pardon me, she's in. We went to Bob Lo so many times when I was a kid and had the best time. It saddens me to think that today's kids will never know Bob Lo just as they'll never know about the Hudson's 12 floor Christmas display downtown. | ||
Buddyinrichmond Member Username: Buddyinrichmond Post Number: 265 Registered: 02-2004 |
Oh the horrors! How will the kids cope? | ||
7_and_kelly_kid Member Username: 7_and_kelly_kid Post Number: 49 Registered: 12-2007 |
memories of the St. Claire?..........dancing with my 3 year old daughter while the engines were thrumming and the music was humming to the beat and watching the Canadian shore pass by.................sigh.....i' m sitting here trying to remember the song exactly........ | ||
Gingellgirl Member Username: Gingellgirl Post Number: 123 Registered: 04-2007 |
Did it go "Comic books and rubber bands Climb into the tree top Falling down and holding hands Tricycles and Redpop . . ." | ||
7_and_kelly_kid Member Username: 7_and_kelly_kid Post Number: 51 Registered: 12-2007 |
When was the last time you had a good slug of Red Pop?............no no.....................It was a rock song out in the summer of '85?.....I'm working on it............. | ||
7_and_kelly_kid Member Username: 7_and_kelly_kid Post Number: 53 Registered: 12-2007 |
got it!........."Everybody wants to rule the world"..(ain't it the truth) | ||
Gingellgirl Member Username: Gingellgirl Post Number: 124 Registered: 04-2007 |
Tears for Fears Tres cool. | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 417 Registered: 09-2004 |
For the past four summers, I've worked on the Diamond Queen, on Diamond Jack's downtown Detroit tour. We passed by the Ste. Claire moored on the face of Tri-Centennial park for every tour this past summer. If it's back in the same place this summer, we'll be doing it again. If you want to see the Columbia, take the Wyandotte 1PM tour on the Diamond Jack. They go up into the Nicholson's slip in Ecorse and turn around right beside the Columbia. The Columbia has shrink wrapping covered most of the upper decks. | ||
Ltdave Member Username: Ltdave Post Number: 108 Registered: 09-2006 |
i went to Bob-Lo with my parents, sister and grandmother one year. i think i was 9. i was not very impressed. i had been to Cedar Point 4-5 years earlier... i felt TERRIBLE for my mom and dad having spent so much money (dad never got rich working those 42 years) for a fairly lame outing. after we got to the park we had to buy tickets to ride anything, just like at a transient carnival. the costs just kept on going up and up and you didnt really know what you spent until the day was over and you had an empty wallet... i did like the boat ride and im sure my grandmother did too... | ||
7_and_kelly_kid Member Username: 7_and_kelly_kid Post Number: 54 Registered: 12-2007 |
yup.................thanks!... ...........of course I can't get it out of my head now......ah.it was a warm day.............maybe I can get them to play it at her wedding.............(if I'm invited). | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 917 Registered: 02-2007 |
Quote: "Oh the horrors! How will the kids cope?" The same way they do now, stick em in front of a TV, buy em a PS2 and turn their brains to jelly. Know anyone like that? | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1183 Registered: 10-2003 |
I worked on the St. Claire on the summer of 82. Best job I ever had! You are killing me with the talk of the Helene sinking. My old dog Casey was a puppy living on the sly on the Helene before she came to live in our home. It seems like only a summer or two that she (The Helene) has been off the water | ||
Flyingj Member Username: Flyingj Post Number: 83 Registered: 08-2006 |
You're already dating yourself Sstashmoo, it's not a PS2 or a PS3, it's a Wii...if you wanna spend $59 a game. I recall the rates for the Ford, Chrysler & GM Employee Days @ Bob-Lo weren't too bad. The prices on Cali amusement parks are just nuts-even going thru Costco or ASB | ||
Dan Member Username: Dan Post Number: 1486 Registered: 10-2003 |
B..O..B..L..OOOOOOOOO It's Boblo Island. It's Rock'n It's Roll'n WOW MAN! Watch it go, round and round B..O..B..L..OOOOOOOOO With none other then Bart and Homer Simpson singing back up. -Boblo commercial circa 1991....Somewhat distorted by my memory. | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 918 Registered: 02-2007 |
Quote: "You're already dating yourself Sstashmoo" Batsonian reply: It was simply a metaphor.  | ||
Kville Member Username: Kville Post Number: 94 Registered: 04-2007 |
We did the Ste. Claire tour this summer too. It was a rainy day, so we had all the privacy and time we wanted to explore what was available to see. Unfortunately, the rain also highlighted the leaks in the ceilings and other places that need attention. There's a lot of work to do, but it's attainable - the Book Cadillac is a case in point. But it'll take money. The memories are great. The boat seems smaller somehow (surprise, surprise), but it would be nice to get her back as an actual moving vessel. | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 229 Registered: 05-2006 |
Memories? I was a DJ on the boats during the summer of '84. Love/hate kind of job. Loved it for the exposure and prestige, hated it because seldom were we allowed to actually go on the island with everyone else. Plus, it was the era of records and we had to bring our own equipment. 3-4 record crates, mixer and two turntables. Thanks, Apple! I coulda used an iPod 20 years ago! | ||
Mr_lee Member Username: Mr_lee Post Number: 7 Registered: 07-2006 |
Watch the Bob-Lo commercial here 80's Bob-Lo commercial Faygo Red pop commercial It thrills me to know that so many remember our beloved Bob-Lo Steamers. Visit my sites The Bob-Lo Boat and The Bob-Lo Steamers Tribute site Full Steam Ahead Mr. Lee | ||
Motown Member Username: Motown Post Number: 33 Registered: 10-2003 |
My dad worked the Beer Deck of both the Ste Claire and the Columbia from 72-77. One of the stories I remember him telling me was how when the cruise was winding down and heading back to Detroit, they'd always play "Brandy" by The Looking Glass | ||
Grumpyoldlady Member Username: Grumpyoldlady Post Number: 13 Registered: 06-2005 |
I was fortunate enough to be a guest on the Helene during the hydroplane races on the Detroit River one summer in the late 60's or early 70's. It was owned by the uncle of a friend of mine. I believe his name was C.M. Verbiest or something like that. He was in the insurance business. The Helene was one classy vessel. I remember the crew members in their white uniforms serving drinks and food to all of us. Boy did I feel special! Out of place, but special! I'd never been around people that had much money. | ||
Cdwaters Member Username: Cdwaters Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2008 |
I remember back in the very early 80's my brother performed in a talent show or something at Boblo. He was a magician (Doventi was his stage name) I was only 7 or 8 so the whole day is a hazy memory, but the boat ride was my favorite part. I remember the seagulls would follow the boat and you could toss a french fry in the air and they would catch it in mid air which was the coolest thing ever. I remember a loud band on board and my dad taking me to see the paddle wheel. It was so big and loud I was afraid to get too close. I remember the 2 boats passing by and everyone waving to each other and the big horns saluting. Oh, to go back in time for a day... | ||
Ahartz Member Username: Ahartz Post Number: 16 Registered: 04-2007 |
hey Mallory...I was on the St. Clair in the summer of 1984, working for the fred silber concessions company. Worked the stand at the rear of the boat on the dance floor. Girlfriend worked the souviener booth. good good times....andy | ||
Billybbrew Member Username: Billybbrew Post Number: 312 Registered: 07-2005 |
Grumpy, You are correct that Mr. Verbiest owned the Helene at that time. She is currently owned by Shamrock Charters. This is one of the companies owned by the family that owns Nicholson's (Deane's) She is a beautiful boat and has always been diesel powered. They did an extensive job of restoring the wheelhouse after a winter fire and somehow the following winter she sank at her winter lay up dock. She has been raised, but has not yet been repaired. Sad to see. She's always been my favorite yacht. |
