S h i p s h a p eFirst Quarter, 2017- A Quarterly Publication of the S. S. Milwaukee Clipper Preservation, Inc.

Come Renew your Clipper MemoriesBy Jim Plant, President

It’s a great time of the year! The annual Clipper Benefit Auction is just around the corner. May 21st, Sunday at 11am to 3pm. Call 722-2375 or 744-5101 for $30.00 per person tickets. Our big benefit is to be held at the popular Muskegon Country Club, 2801 Lake Shore Dr. in Muskegon.

Many wonderful and exciting items are included in this year’s auction: A trip for 2 to the top of the Mackinaw Bridge towers; An African photo safari for two; A night’s stay for two at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island; A Tour of the City of Milwaukee in Manistee w/an overnight stay aboard.2 tickets to the Tim McGraw & Faith Hill show; 2 ticket on the Lake Express; A kayak and so many more items. Door prizes; and a Raffle on a beautiful hand-made quilt.

If that isn’t enough—a fantastic brunch with custom omelets, hand carved meats, sweet rolls and fruits. A cash bar is available. Casual attire is the dress of the day.

Tim Fitzsimmons, our new board member, from Midwest Auctions is our auctioneer. The Clipper store will have many new souvenirs for sale.

Come join the fun and help the Clipper volunteers get the materials they need for this summer’s projects to help restore our beautiful big boat. OH, did I mention you just can’t beat the view of Muskegon Lake from the balcony at the Muskegon Country Club.

On to another subject—Our National Landmark- Milwaukee Clipper, looks forward to welcoming another season of tourists on the Clipper tours. Tours are Sat. and Sun. from 1pm to 5pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The cost of about a 1 hour tour is $7.00, adults $5.00 students.

Also, I would like to bring to your attention an article about the Clipper in this issue of Michigan Blue a quarterly publication. Get your copy at your local Meijers store.

PLEASE, JOIN US FOR A FUN FILLED SUMMER ON BOARD THE MILWAUKEE CLIPPER

Sterling wrapped green agate stone pendant & earrings - A dual arm auto bike rack - Lake Express round trip for 2 in Cabin Class -. 3 person Rumble Seat Roadster Ride - Rumble seat Roadster ride for 2 persons in 2 Muskegon parades – Movie & Dinner night for 2 – MSU Football Book – A book on Muskegon Sports History – Tour for 6 persons to the Hackley/Hume homes - $100 Travel Gift certificate – (2) – One day Blue Lake Public Radio sponsorships – Tour for 6 people for the Hackley Building & Clock Tower –Tour for 6 persons for the Torrent House - Westshore Symphony & Civic Theatre Tickets - Various Golf Packages - And Many More !!!

Note from Gene Fethke,Chairman of the Auction Committee

The Auction/Brunch at Muskegon Country Club, Sunday May 21st is the day forgood food and an enjoyable live and silent auction to support the Milwaukee Clipper Restorationefforts. The proceeds will be used for the upkeep and repair of the ship. There will also be araffle for a beautiful handmade quilt and 50/50 drawings. For tickets contact any member of theCommittee or board member or call Gene Fethke at 722-2375. The Auction Committee has beenbusy selling tickets for the brunch and accumulating items to sell at the auction. Listed below issome of the items, also see Jim Plant’s article for more. Most of these are the “Live” Auctionitems, but we have many more exciting things in the “Silent” Auctions as well. Thanks go out toour very generous businesses in the West Michigan area and throughout all of Michigan andbeyond.

This handmade quilt is being raffled off at the Auction. Get your tickets! It’s 82” x 92”. You have got to see it in person to really appreciateit. It’s beautiful!!

ARTICLE FROM RAY HILT

It has been a very busy winter so far. Our archiving crew has been going through the John Zipp collection acquired by Capt. Priefer. It is now ready to be moved onboard the Clipper, probably next month. It is a big collection, and a lot of work to go through it all.

I have been planning for the new Aquarama Museum to be placed on the Clipper this year. We found a considerable amount of pictures, articles, slides etc that are going to be included in this display in the Zipp Collection. It all calls for a wall to be removed in the back of the current museum, and the bow end of that area is going to house our large and growing collection of material regarding the Aquarama. I am still looking for a model of the ship to display This portion of the museum is going to be painted in the Aquarama colors.

Speaking of ship models, There is a very large model of the sidewheel steamer City of Muskegon that is owned by the City of Norton Shores, and is currently on display in the Norton Library. I have talked to the city manager, and he has gotten permission for us to move the model onboard the Clipper for the summer, which will give us another wonderful display. In order to do this, we will set up this model first, before taking down the wall.

The City of Muskegon was launched in Feb 1881 by the Detroit Shipbuilding Co., the same outfit that built the engine for the SS Juniata. When acquired by the Graham & Morton Trans. Co the name was changed to City of Holland. Crosby Transportation Co. of Milwaukee acquired the ship and renamed her City of Muskegon, running between Muskegon and Milwaukee. On Oct. 28, 1919 the ship was coming into Muskegon in a fall storm and hit the south wooden pier and foundered. Around 20 people died, even though they were so close to shore. The Crosby Dock was in Lakeside, I believe I have a picture of it in my collection. Capt. Crosby had relatives here in Muskegon, he died on the Titanic, his wife, daughter and granddaughter survived. This is going to be a very interesting display, and I am looking forward to getting it set up. We have pieces of the wreck, and a sizeable collection of photos showing the wreck in the Muskegon Channel. There is going to be lots of new things to see on the ship this year.

Mike Krivitsky and I went to the Lansing Gift Show on Feb. 26, looking for new items to sell in the ship's store. There are going to be some real neat new goodies that will be shown for the first time at the Clipper auction/brunch on May 21. Another reason to attend!

If any of you have items from the Aquarama or the City of Muskegon you would like to loan or donate to the Clipper, please let me know. When the ship was wrecked on the pier head, there were countless people that were down along the beach and channel wall salvaging stuff from the water. I am most interested in any of these items that might have survived, especially a folding deck chair marked "City of Muskegon."

Bill Thurlow and I have been checking the ship all winter. We had to set traps because we discovered we had company on board. Turned out to be a very large pair of raccoons. We trapped them and moved them far away, and have had no further trouble there. The Alabama Room has been climate controlled all winter, we moved the model of the Carl Bradley in there also. The oak frame cover for the Bradley is now finished and is at Muskegon Glass Co. to get glass installed. The frame was built by my good friend Dan Houseman, who some years back built the display tables in the Model Room. The ship looks good and it won't be long before it will be time to open for another year.

Come see us this summer! Ray HiltMuseum Curator

** WANT AD **ITEMS NEEDED

* Pontoon Boat* Welder

* Electric Sanders* VOLUNTEERS

* Portable Band Saw* Electric Hand Grinders * 5.8 hp or more portable

Air Compressorw/hoses & hammers

* Funding for Marine Paints

*(* VOLUNTEERS!All shapes, ages & genders !

Thank you - Blarney Castle Oil Co.for the drums to provide proper handling of the restoration waste products.

231-683-1590

Thank you to our sponsors!

What does Memorial Day and Labor Day have in common besides the National Holiday celebrations????The First & Last of the Clipper ToursEVERY WEEKEND !!! 1 – 5PM

MEMORIAL CORNERWe have some very loyal “Friends of the Clipper”. They show their love through donations in memory of a loved one: Here is a listing of some we’ve received since the last newsletter.

Helen Gancarz in memory of George Joseph Micka ExxonMobil Foundation – Matching Funds Gift Program through Charles Thurlow.

If you would like to recognize someone – just send your donation and our Treasurer will forward your information to me for publication.

FRIENDS OF THE S.S. MILWAUKEE CLIPPER

Support the restoration and preservation of the S. S. Milwaukee Clipper – A National Historic Landmark!

The S. S. Milwaukee Clipper Preservation Inc. is a 501(c)3 non profit organization. All donations are tax deductible! Donations will be anonymous unless otherwise requested.

Please accept the enclosed donation of $ ________ in support of the efforts of S. S. Milwaukee ClipperPreservation, Inc. in memory/honor of ____________________________.

Earmark these funds for the following project(s): _____________________________ (Call for suggestions)

Please place my name and address as listed below on the mailing list for Shipshape, the quarterly newsletter.

I would be willing to volunteer my time to the following Clipper activities:

Fundraising PublicityWorking on the newsletter MaintenanceMuseum/Gift Shop assistance Restoration workSecurity at the Clipper dock site Other ___________________Archiving

I would like to volunteer ! Please contact me at the address below with more information.

Name _______________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________

City, State, Zip________________________________________

Contact Phone Number ____________________ Email Address _______________________________

Please mail this form to:S. S. Milwaukee Clipper Preservation Inc.

PO Box 1370Muskegon, MI 49443-1370

ORSend the above information via email to: milwaukeeclipper@gmail.com

The S. S. Milwaukee Clipper Preservation Inc, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, was organized in April, 1997 for the sole purpose of restoring and preserving the steamship S. S. Milwaukee Clipper and to create an on-board Great Lakes Maritime Museum to educate and inform the public about our Great Lakes maritime heritage.

Your continuing donations and volunteerism will ensure our success!

Thank you for your support!

BOARD MEMBERS

SS Milwaukee Clipper Preservation IncP.O Box 1370Muskegon, MI 49443(231) 683-1590

Website:www.MilwaukeeClipper.com

SHIPSHAPE is written by members and friends of the Board of Directors andIs edited by Sandy Ferski of Muskegon, MI. You may email the editor atdpfol@earthlink.net

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE PAIDMUSKEGON, MI

Donations to The Clipper can be sent to PO Box 1370Muskegon, MI 49443

Locatedat 2098 Lakeshore Drive

Muskegon, MI

1st quarter 2017

March 2017

Return Service Requested

‘Shipshape’ is a quarterly Publication of theSS Milwaukee Clipper Preservation, Inc.P.O.Box 1370, Muskegon, MI 49443(231)683-1590. We are a 501©3 tax-exemptnon-profit organization that is funded by tax-deductible gifts from individuals, grants, andbusinesses. We are governed by a board ofcommunity leaders.

PERMIT NO. 308milwaukeeClipper@gmail.com

Pam Babbitt JoAn PietilaAmy Blackburn Jim PlantGene Fethke Cap. Bob PrieferTim Fitzsimmons Bob SchalowRay Hilt John SniderTerry Judd Bill ThurlowDennis Kirksey

Dave Durkee – WCPI WebmasterSandra Ferski – Shipshape EditorMike Krivitzky – Board ConsultantMarylouise Plant – Social Activities CoordinatorPeter Sariorius – Grant Writing Support

Overall we had a very successful season last year and we’re so looking forward togood happenings & some very good news coming soon. This summer I will be 95 yearsof age, 76 of which was in my naval career, with 50 of those years associated with the S.S. Milwaukee Clipper. Not many Captains can boast that two of their Granddaughters were married on their ship.

So with all those years in my back pocket, through the war and all, I’ve seen a few things. Next I would love to see you at the Auction/Brunch fundraiser May 21st.

Smooth SailingCaptain Bob Priefer

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Clipper Memories from the Tour Sign In book: (Names were withheld to protect the innocent!)

**I crossed from Muskegon to Milwaukee in 1969 as a kid. It was foggy the whole way, but still a fun trip. Better than driving around Chicago.

**Missed the last sailing...but the museum is very interesting.

**I was on the Clipper in 1965 as a passenger with my Mom & brother. He was 6 & I was 4 or 5. We went over to see my mom's friend in Milwaukee. Fog horn scared us. My brother had them make him a grilled cheese sandwich, they made it out of Swiss cheese. I remember he didn't like it. I was in a harness and another kid asked my Mom what kind of dog I was. Nice trip, lots of memories.

**I worked on the Clipper with my friend 1961-1965. One of my memories was about missing the ship when it was leaving Milwaukee at midnight in 1965. I was with two girls and we got held up by a train trying to get back to the ship. The ship had actually left the dock but pivoted around the dock so the three of us could jump (about 3 feet) from the dock to the car deck. Captain Priefer was watching us as we made our leaps, just shaking his head. We had college kids from all over the country working in the Steward's Dept. Hard work! but fond memories.

**I worked on the Clipper from 1961-1965. Many memories, and also learned what hard work was. Many great nights on shore drinking beer and having fun. Feeding gulls on the fan tail.

**Stateroom #34 - September 8, 1959, Tuesday night honeymoon. Got on late afternoon and departed for overnight trip to Milwaukee. Met my wife on August 15th, married on September 5th. Good 57 year old memories.

**I worked on the Milwaukee Clipper the last two seasons 1969-1970. My favorite memory was leaving the dock on Sunday morning--the only crossing of the week leaving Muskegon at 6 AM. I was a cabin maid so worked all dockings, but as soon as all the rooms were cleaned, I'd run through the galley, grab a cup of coffee and get up to the fantail to watch the sun rise over the sand dunes as we sailed through the channel. Beautiful!