March 15, 1910. From left to right: Pere Marquette 18 (I) Wheelsman Simon Burke, Second Mate Walter Brown, Capt. Peter Kilty, First Mate Joseph Brezinski. Photo from Mason County Historical Society collection.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
In December, Mason County Press launched a Great Lakes History Log series entitled Masters of the PM Steamers. This series features the stories of the captains of the Ludington-based railroad maritime fleet, which included the carferries and their predecessors, the break-bulk “black boats.”
This series is being presented on MCP in a chronological sequence, beginning in 1875 and will cover the ships’ masters up until the end of the railroad era. To date, I have gathered a data base with a list of 62 captains and have published five articles.
I am not aware of any comprehensive research that has ever been done on the captains of the fleet. Through the years, there have been local historians who have written articles on individual captains. My goal is to eventually publish these biographies into a book or a series of books.
These stories will also become part of a planned digital exhibit that will debut in 2027 at the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, in observation of the museum’s 10th anniversary. That exhibit will allow visitors to access a digital interface and look up the stories of various crew members of the Ludington fleet.
As I continue with this project, the stories that I publish on MCP may be updated when I receive more information on an individual. I certainly welcome contributions of information, documents and photographs from people who had family members who served as captains. I am able to scan photographs and documents.
Capt. Bernard Rotta (1900-1989), master of several of the PM and C&O ferries.
Anyone wishing to permanently donate items may donate those items to the Mason County Historical Society (which is my top source of information).
As a local historian, I am truly interested in a variety of aspects of the rich legacy of Mason County. But, I believe our area has a unique story to tell with the history of the carferry fleet. Ludington was home to the largest carferry fleet on the Great Lakes and continues the legacy with the operation of the SS Badger. At one time, the railroad (which owned the carferries) was one of the largest employers in the county. It is my theory that most people whose families have lived in Mason County for more than two generations have someone in the family tree who worked for the C&O, Pere Marquette or event Flint & Pere Marquette. My great-grandfather came to Michigan in 1909 because he had been hired by the PM Railway.
This project is being presented on Mason County Press by Filer Credit Union and the Mason County Historical Society in partnership with Sable Points Media, a local non-profit news and information service.
Those wishing to make a tax-deductible financial donation toward the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum’s digital exhibit may contact Rebecca Berringer, executive director of the Mason County Historical Society by email, rebecca@mchshistory.org, or phone, 231-843-4808. Donations may be sent to Mason County Historical Society, 130 E. Ludington Ave., Ludington, MI 49431.
Those wishing to donate to the Masters of the PM Steamers book project may contact myself at editor@mediagroup31.com. Tax-deductible donations may be made to Sable Points Media, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
Masters of the PM Steamers series to date:
- Capt. John Stewart was first skipper of the Ludington fleet 150 years ago
- Capt. Muir commanded first Ludington ‘black boat’ until his death
- Ludington fleet captain Duddleson skippered the famed L.C. Waldo during the 1913 storm
- The remarkable career of Capt. Joseph Russell
- Capt. John Doyle, first master of the PM 19
A note to those who enjoy our local history articles, but aren’t necessarily maritime fans. MCP’s Great Lakes History Logs will continue to publish a variety of local history while the Masters of the PM Steamers series is also being published.
Filer Credit Union with offices in Manistee, Ludington, East Lake, and Bear Lake; filercu.com; 800.595.6630
The Mason County Historical Society is a non-profit charitable organization that was founded in 1937 that does not receive any governmental funding. It owns and operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum in Ludington, Historic White Pine Village in Pere Marquette Township, and The Rose Hawley Archives and the Mason County Emporium and Sweet Shop in downtown Ludington.
For more information about donating to and/or joining the Mason County Historical Society, visit masoncountymihistory.org.
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