Features

Capt. McClure and the sinking of the Marshall F. Butters

October 7, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  Masters of the Ludington Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief On Friday, Oct. 20, 1916, Capt. Charles E. McClure was master of the wooden steamer Marshall F. Butters, bound from Midland, Ontario, to…

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Paul Behm: A lifetime on the lakes, tested by one storm

September 30, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  Masters of the Ludington Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief On the afternoon of Jan. 12, 1926, Pere Marquette 18 (II) cleared Ludington for Manitowoc, Wisconsin, with Capt. Paul Behm on the bridge…

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Shipwright’s son William Barnett commanded freighters, carferries

September 26, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  Masters of the Ludington Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief When Capt. William James Barnett died suddenly at his home in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on April 10, 1936, he was remembered as more than…

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Capt. William LaFleur became PM master at 34, later took his career to the oceans

September 23, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  Masters of the Ludington Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — When William H. LaFleur was placed in command of Pere Marquette 19 in April 1904, he was only 34 years old.…

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Capt. Con McCauley faced fire, ice and tragedy during 40 years on the Great Lakes

September 19, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  Masters of the Ludington Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief Editor’s Note: The Masters of the PM Steamers project began as research and writing on the captains of the Ludington cross-lake rail fleet.…

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