WELCOME (MARKER #19)

The tiles on this marker present an illustration of the wooden ferry WELCOME carrying passengers and cargo across the St. Clair River between Courtright, Ontario and St. Clair, Michigan. The 80 ft. double-deck WELCOME was the second last of 30 schooners, freighters and specialty boats built by Simon Langell in his shipyards at St. Clair. For several years, the WELCOME was owned by the Douglas Transportation Co., a subsidiary of the Diamond Crystal Salt Company, carrying cargo in connection with the Michigan Central Railway. In 1914 she carried tourist passengers on the Niagara River. Renamed the FRANKLIN in 1917, the ferry operated in the Niagara River area until being abandoned and left to sink in the river near its owner’s place (Charles Fix) on Grand Island, New York.

Vessel Name: WELCOME

Official Number: 81492

Rig: Propeller

Vessel Length: 80.00 feet

Vessel Width: 21.00 feet

Vessel Depth: 9.42 feet

Gross Tonnage: 212.59

Net Tonnage: 129.71

Hull Material:  Wood

Builder: Simon Langell

Notes: 1894 – November 12, enrollment issued at Port Huron, MI

1894 – running in connection with Michigan Central Railway

1904 – rebuilt 140/77 tons

1910 – January, owned Douglas Transportation Company, St. Clair, Michigan (a subsidiary of

Diamond Crystal Salt Company)

1913 – Owned Frank F. Fix, Buffalo, NY

1914 – ran Niagara River routes for Erie Beach Amusements, Limited (Niagara Ferry & Train

Company, Incorporated)

1917 – renamed FRANKLIN

1925 – owned Charles Fix, Buffalo, NY

1941 – abandoned for age, lies in sunken condition at Grand Island, NY. Skeleton lies at

Fix’s place Grand Island.

Great Lakes Maritime Database and photo archives, Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library. “Shipbuilding in St. Clair,” Research Binder, Ships File Cabinet, St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center archives.   WELCOME, Consolidated Certificate of License and Renewal, United States of America, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation, Nov. 5, 1941.