Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Frankfort, MI: Ann Arbor Coal Tower, Roundhouse and Ferry Dock

Satellite
Of course, it is the coaling tower in Peter's posting below that caught my eye. But I learned from the SPV Map that Ann Arbor ran ferries to Manitowoc, WI, Kewaunee WI, Menominee, MI and Manistique, MI.
Peter Hayes posted
Ann Arbor Railroad 2846 sits in Boat Landing, AA's yard for loading carferries to cross Lake Michigan. In the background across the bay, you can see Frankfort. This yard is now an open field with little trace of the railroad that defined the area.
October, 1980. Slide from my collection.

While looking for possible pier remnants for the coaling tower, I found what looked like some remnants of a roundhouse. When I saw the preserved outline of the turntable, I knew that had to be a roundhouse.

Satellite

Association for Great Lakes Maritime History posted
The cross-lake railroad car ferry Ann Arbor No. 4 after colliding with the pier at Frankfort, Mich., circa February 1923 (Image Source: Central Michigan University – Clarke Historical Library - Digital Collection). The name of the photographer is not included in the notes for the image.
[The description continues with a history of the ferry.]
Shawn Keith: The story of her sinking in 1923 is quite the thrilling tale and worthy of much more than a passing mention. The feat of navigation that brought her inside the piers was legendary, and she came within an ace of disappearing out on the lake. By all rights she should have been lost, and blown far off course. That she was still on course without the aid of modern navigational devices is a testament to the skill of her officers. It must have been incredibly nerve wracking for her entire crew, and other than a couple broken bones all were brought home unharmed.
[And the comments on this photo contain a lot of info.]


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