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The Bob-Lo Boats Columbia and Ste. Claire
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Bob-Lo Island was known for being Detroit's summer playground, whether as simply a large pastoral park best for picnics or for the amusement park that came later. One of the more prominent attractions, which existed during both these periods, however, was not on the island itself. These were the two large steamboats that carried visitors to and from the island. They were an attraction unto themselves, and were much remembered and loved by Bob- Lo visitors over the decades.
When the Detroit Excursion Company began operations, it used the smaller, existing vessels of the Detroit, Belle Isle, and Windsor Ferry Company. These were insufficient for the park's popularity, however, and a boat of a much larger capacity was needed. In May, 1902, a new vessel, the Columbia, was launched at the Detroit Drydock Company yard in Wyandotte, Michigan. This vessel was 216 feet long and 60 feet wide, much larger than the vessels previously in service. It was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, one of the most efficient and durable of its day. A test cruise was performed on July 7th, and the boat went into service shortly thereafter.
Despite the addition of this fine new craft, another boat was needed to handle larger crowds and to decrease the amount of time visitors had to wait for a boat (with another boat, twice the amount of trips were possible). In 1910, another vessel was commissioned, called the Ste. Claire. Built at the Toledo Shipbuilding Company in Toledo, Ohio, it was very similar to the Columbia, with the same kind of engine, but was 19 feet shorter and 5 feet wider. This vessel performed admirably in its duties, taking throngs of pleasure seekers to the island with it running mate Columbia for decades.
For much of the boats' existence they departed like clockwork from the foot of Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Thousands of people heading for the island took the 18 mile cruise downriver on them, and they grew to be a major part of the attraction of the island (people also enjoyed special moonlight and holiday cruises aboard them as well). Those traveling on them were able to relax, watch the scenery, and enjoy entertainment and refreshment on board the two stately steamers, both coming and going to the island. To many Metro- Detroiters, the two Bob- Lo boats represented Bob- Lo itself.
Like all good things, however, there came an end to their Bob- Lo runs. The two vessels were laid up in 1991 because of the high costs of maintaining and operating them, never to return to the Bob- Lo excursion service. For many years they lay rotting at the Nicholson Terminal and Dock Company's slip, abandoned but not forgotten. Eventually, groups were formed to protect and preserve them were formed, lest the fond memories of the members of these groups should slip away with the vessels' demise. Two organizations were formed. The first, the steamer Columbia Foundation, is currently struggling to maintain that vessel and while plans for it exist, it still lies in its Ecorse slip, slowly deteriorating, despite attempts to protect its open air decks and a dry-docking several years ago. The Ste. Claire has been more fortunate. Bought by several different owners over the years, most recently the Maximus Corporation of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, much work has been done to it. For several years it served as a haunted house in order to raise funds for its preservation, and has been towed from Ecorse several times, as far away as Toledo, where it was dry-docked several years back., as well as Lorain, Ohio.
These two vessels, so much a part of the Bob- Lo experience, face the future with mixed prospects. While the future of the Ste. Claire seems secure at the present time, the Columbia faces the future with uncertainty. Despite this, their place in the collective memory of the Detroit experience is secure. Hopefully some day we will once again be able to ride these vessels out on the Detroit River, enjoying the experience much as did those thousands of people heading for a days relaxation at Bob- Lo. With them, the memory of the Bob- Lo experience will be passed on to future generation.
Sources Consulted:
Clary, James. Ladies of the Lakes.
LeLievre, Roger. Know Your Ships 2009
Livingstone, Patrick. Eight Steamboats.
Poremba, David Lee, ed. Detroit in its World Setting.
Woodford, Arthur. This is Detroit.
For further information: A Tribute to the Bob-Lo Steamers
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