Great Lakes History Log

From ship enthusiast to carferry captain, Gregg Andersen lived a Lake Michigan dream

June 18, 2026

Masters of the PM Steamers This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Few people have spent more time watching Lake Michigan carferries than Capt. Gregg Andersen. Long before he commanded the SS Badger, Andersen was a boy standing along the…

Read more »

Searching for the masters of Lake Michigan’s railroad steamers

June 15, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief Over the weekend I ventured out on a whirlwind Great Lakes maritime history tour. The purpose of the trip was to gather information for my Masters of the PM Steamers project, which will tell the…

Read more »

Four generations of the Butler family helped shape Great Lakes maritime history

June 5, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief Editor’s Note: This story was first published on March 16, 2026. Since that time, I have had the pleasure of meeting Barbara Butler, the keeper of the Butler family archives and have found out much…

Read more »

Nephew honors Sgt. Leroy Draby, killed in Vietnam

May 25, 2026

Editor’s Note: Several holidays exist to honor our veterans and active duty military personnel, Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and Armed Forces Day, May 17. But, Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. In today’s article, we remember Sgt. Leroy Draby of Free Soil who died in Vietnam in 1967.  By…

Read more »

Elusive Ludington captain leads to story of Great Lakes mariner Nels Thompson

May 24, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief As I continue my quest to research and tell the stories of the captains of the Ludington railroad shipping fleet, I find myself going down side roads from time to time. While the car ferries and their predecessors…

Read more »

Subscribe to MCP