Masters of the PM Steamers

Introducing the Masters of the PM Steamers history project

January 19, 2026

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…

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Capt. John Doyle, first master of the PM 19

January 17, 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 Grounding the PM 19 On Feb. 6, 1904, the Pere Marquette 19, which had been in service for just over two months, went…

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Ludington man survived worst Great Lakes maritime disaster, on the SS Eastland

January 9, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. 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 Call it a miracle, good…

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The remarkable career of Capt. Joseph Russell

December 31, 2025

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 Captain Joseph Russell had a remarkable career that consisted of many historical milestones. The first ship he sailed on was the acclaimed schooner…

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Ludington fleet captain Duddleson skippered the famed L.C. Waldo during the 1913 storm

December 19, 2025

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 In the historical record of Ludington shipping, Capt. John Wesley Duddleson is remembered as the first skipper of the Flint & Pere Marquette…

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