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The S.S. Keewatin Sails Georgian Bay Once Again

The S.S. Keewatin Anchored in Georgian Bay

Ross writes: We joined a fleet of small boats on a beautiful Georgian Bay day watching the grand old lady, “The Kee” the last of the Edwardian Era steamers  being towed by tug to Port McNicol her resting place where she will be center piece of a major shoreline development by Skyline Holdings. The company plans to use the ship to stage special events plus housing a maritime museum.

A thrilling sight, with her majestic lines, the ship is 106-metres and weighs 3,800 tons; an unusual sight on a day-to-day basis on this part of The Bay. S.S. Keewatin was built in Scotland and launched in 1907, five years before the Titantic. She was retired in 1966 after 60 years of plying the waters of the Great Lakes ending her days in Michigan.

The jewel in the CPR’s, Great Lakes Steamship Service, a rail- to- water, deluxe travel system servicing passengers and freight to Port Arthur from Port McNicol.

You could almost imagine her looming out of the past moving into the present day continuing her journey to her home port full of freight, passengers lining the rails, waving to her admirers.

I would suggest the book, Ninety-Five Years Young: The Story of the S.S. Keewatin 1907 to Present for a fascinating look at this ship.

 




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