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August, 2010
Volume: 1 Issue: 1 |
Friends and Family
The Keewatin is all about people...and her people continue to add to her history and bring it alive for others to enjoy and study.
A regular contributor, Gerry Ouderkirk, from Toronto has forwarded to us newspaper articles, magazines, and pictures of interest to the Keewatin.
Al Hart visited, toured, and left his Keewatin scrapbook for us to enjoy. We were able to scan many of his pictures and articles, and they have been added to the collection.
Ron Rueckwald, a former crewmember, forwarded to us several items relating to Chief Engineer, Fred Irvine. Included in this packet was a hand-written letter from Chief Irvine, a newspaper clipping about the Assiniboia, and several Port Arthur/Fort William postcards, which are on display.
Ron also transferred and narrated about ten minutes of his family’s silent 8mm movies to DVD. These movies were taken when Ron worked aboard the Kee in the late 1950’s. This DVD is shown daily to the visitors...it adds so much to the tours...to actually see the boat being used by people. Thank you also for the donation of this vintage camera equipment to the museum...it has been worked into the displays.
Terry Doidge sent a photocopy of a 1943 CPR travel brochure, “Great Lakes Cruising” to add to the collection.
Duncan Lyall sent a great article about the Musee de la Mer, located near Rimouski in Quebec. It tells the story of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland in the nearby waters of the St. Lawrence River. The Empress was a CPR steamship, and the Kee has been filmed for use in documentaries about the Empress. By the way, the Zimmermans are looking forward to a visit to this museum this fall!!
Nancy Calkins, whose parents actually met aboard the Keewatin and were later married in 1953, donated several boxes of vintage clothing, hats, purses which are being displayed in various staterooms as part of the Hall of Fashions. The Hall of Fashions are Promenade Deck staterooms showing items relating to the decades the Keewatin was in service.
Janice Sinker sent a newspaper clipping about her grandfather, Captain Jarman. Her mother, Jacqui, was with the bus group from Port McNicoll who toured in July.
The friends of the Keewatin from Port McNicoll, Victoria Harbour, and Midland who toured in July came bearing gifts for the Kee, as if it were Christmas in July. There was a souvenir t-shirt, two Port McNicoll history books, a framed photo of Superintendent Alvin Gallagher, Ebner Day’s work certificates, Electrical Plans from 1907, and many photos and articles that have all been worked into displays. The plans have already helped answer some construction questions!
Mrs. Pauline M. Leonard donated several books relating to the Great Lakes which are now part of the Cartier Reading Room, aboard the Keewatin. Her husband was Captain of the S.S. Charles Dick, and she also donated that ship’s brass gong and two brass fire hose nozzles.
John Ashworth donated several items relating to deep-sea cruising on CPR and Italian Line vessels and the MS Donizetti.
Harvey and Ethel Clarke toured the Kee again in June. “We really appreciated the guided tour...you have done so much since our last visit, and it looks great...we walked back to the car with the attractive young guide...we were very impressed with how bright she was!” Way to go, Rhianna!!
The Kee had many other special visitors who had ties to the Keewatin...Al Desjardins of Port McNicoll, Terry and Rosalind Anderson, Marlene Soychak of Thunder Bay, and Paul and Doris Sloan of Victoria Harbour.
Eric and Fiona Conroy planned their annual trip to the area to coincide with the bus group arriving from Port McNicoll. “Captain Rick” once again donated his time to guide tourists through the Kee. We haven’t decided who enjoys it more, the tourists or Eric! They enjoyed their time spent at Saugatuck’s Victorian Inn, visiting the local restaurants and winery, and of course shopping. They live in Toronto, but they love to come here to shop. That sure says a lot about the Kee’s home in Douglas/Saugatuck!
The Conroys have donated and loaned several items to the Kee...a little jacket of a very young Eric, a sport coat of his from the 1960’s, an Empress of Britain hat box (with two Edwardian hats inside!!), a clock to hang in the Cocktail Lounge, and a Les Pomeroy painting of the Keewatin.
The Belcher Family is very important to the Keewatin. Ted sent down four photos of divers retrieving items such as chunks of coal, wine and beer bottles, and a CPR cup and saucer from the Keewatin and Assiniboia’s former slip in Port McNicoll. Gordon forwarded an accordion-type postcard booklet and several postcards of the Kee and Assiniboia. After the July bus group had shared their memorabilia with the current-day crew...Lorne opened up his cooler and said, “All of this is well and good, but I know what Bob [Zimmerman] really wants!” He proceeded to hand Bob a Molson, followed by a toast of Keewatin comraderie!! (We still have two unopened can—–we’re saving them for your next trip down to Douglas!)
It is with sadness that we also write that Lloyd Belcher (see article, "We Remember the Edmund Fitzgerald) passed away on Monday, July 17, 2006. Our thoughts are with the Belcher Family.
There isn’t a week that goes by in the off-season that there isn’t one or two online, e-mail, or snail mail contacts regarding the Keewatin. We enjoy all of those continued contacts from the Bowmans, Winfields, Jarmans, Mitchells, and many others. KEEP IN TOUCH!! |
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