Kevin Kimes tells the tale of Fred Snow, a Ludington resident who served as assistant engineer of the SS Eastland, which turned over on July 24, 1915 while docked along the Chicago River. The incident was the worst shipping tragedy in the history of the Great Lakes region. Snow survived and went on to become a chief engineer for the Pere Marquette Railway carferries.
LUDINGTON — The Mason County Historical Society launched its 2026 America 250 cemetery tour series Thursday evening with the “Masters & Commanders” tour at Lakeview Cemetery, where participants explored the lives of Ludington’s maritime leaders and the stories of the people, ships and events that helped shape the community’s Great Lakes heritage.
Led by Mason County Historical Society board member and Mason County Press Editor-in-Chief Rob Alway, the walking tour featured the gravesites of ship captains, engineers, lighthouse keepers, lifesavers and other individuals connected to Mason County’s rich maritime history. Additional historical narration was provided by Kevin Kimes and Brig. General (retired) Axel Johnson, PhD, who shared the histories behind many of the cemetery’s notable maritime figures and events.
Brig. Gen. (retired) Axel Johnson, PhD, talks about his family and the tragic death of his great-aunt, Ida Anderson, who died on the RMS Titanic.
The tour was originally scheduled for Thursday, June 11, but was postponed for two weeks because of inclement weather.
Two cemetery tours remain in the series. “The Civil War Veterans of Amber Township” will take place Thursday, July 9, at Towns Cemetery in Amber Township, highlighting veterans and many others who settled in the area following the Civil War and into the early 20th century.
The series concludes Thursday, Aug. 13, with “The Pioneers of Scottville” at Brookside Cemetery in Scottville. That tour will feature stories of the city’s founders, early settlers and other prominent residents.
The cemetery tours are part of the Mason County Historical Society’s America 250 programming commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For more information about the remaining tours and other historical society programs, visit www.masoncountymihistory.org.
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