Features

Capt. Crawford’s rise to Pere Marquette flagship ended in suicide

September 16, 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 PM Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief On Monday, July 28, 1919, Capt. John Goodrich Crawford came home from the Pere Marquette Railway carferry fleet in an agitated state. He…

Read more »

Ackerman family built a lasting legacy on the Great Lakes

September 11, 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 PM Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief The final order Capt. John C. Ackerman gave aboard Pere Marquette 18 (II) was an ordinary one. The carferry was entering Ludington harbor…

Read more »

Family memories keep captain’s story alive 116 years after carferry disaster

September 9, 2026

Remembering the Pere Marquette 18, Sept. 9, 1910 This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  Masters of the PM Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON – Marge Christiansen grew up knowing that her great-grandfather, Capt. Peter Kilty (1860-1910), had…

Read more »

Badger experienced some explosive Independence Days under Capt. Carl Ohman

September 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 PM Steamers By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief At 9:45 p.m. on July 4, 1963, the first of about 1,000 fireworks shells rose from the decks of the Badger off Milwaukee’s lakefront. Mortars near the bow and stern sent their charges into…

Read more »

Captain of the pig boat: From Ludington steamers to the Christopher Columbus

September 3, 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 PM Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30, 1917, the Goodrich Transportation Company excursion steamer Christopher Columbus prepared to leave Milwaukee for Chicago with 413…

Read more »

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks