Used to go to BOBLO in the 70’s. These boats were fun. I entered a contest to name a new roller coaster BOBLO added. I won along with 4 others. They did a draw for the Florida round trip tickets but I did not win. They gave us quite a few BOBLO tickets as a consolation prize. Called it the Screamer.
Nice video! I spent as much time as I could as a passenger on that boat and its sister ship, the Ste. Clare, as a kid. I LOVED going to Bob-Lo. In the 1960s, which is when I was sailing on her a LOT, they had a live dance band. The band would play Anchor's Aweigh when the ship left Detroit for the 10:00am sailing. The band would then re-assemble at the bandstand and play popular tunes of the day as passengers danced during the 90 minute trip from the dock on Woodward Avenue in Detroit to Bob-Lo Island. I loved going down to the first deck and watching the engine room. As this video shows, it was open-air and while the boat was in motion, you could see the pistons going up and down and you could see all the engineers working away down in the engine room. The third deck had a bar, so I wasn't able to go up there much. Although the bar was in the center of the deck and one could sit on either side at the railing. However, it was more fun to watch the river scenery go by and then look at the people dancing on the second deck as you listened to the band. There was also a small area for passengers in front of the bridge. When the boat blew its whistle while you were up there, it was LOUD, though!
This boat was originally built around 1903. It was used until 1993 to transport passengers from its docks in Detroit, Michigan South to Bob-Lo Island, which in its day was an amusement park in the middle of the Detroit River, very close to lake Eerie. The island is still there, but the amusement park closed in 1993. A sister ship called the Ste. Clare was built a few years after the Columbia was launched. Together, they ferried passengers on the 90-minute trip from Detroit to Bob-Lo and back. You could either go back on the ship or spend time at the amusement park on the island and return at another time, possibly on its sister ship. They were originally coal-burning ships. Their engines were converted to oil some time later. Here's the thing: The island was in Canada, not Michigan. During the draft-dodging era of the Vietnam war, they made sure that you got back on the boats from Detroit and headed back to Detroit. There were U.S. Customs officials on the island. I suppose Canadian Customs were there as well. I never encountered them, and neither did anyone else I know of, but they did have offices there. I suspect the officials were there in case of any issues, particularly with draft dodgers. There were also ferry boats that took people on a 5-minute ride from Amherstburg, Ontario to the island. There was also a marina on the island for private boaters to dock at and enjoy the amusements there. I understand that the people who ran the marina took names of the people and which boat they came on. I suspect that all of it was to make sure that a draft dodger didn't take the boat from Detroit and then escape to Canada via a friend's private boat or the Amherstburg ferry.
@@ChosenWon thanks for refreshing my memory,I was a kid when I rode the boat.and we went to boblo. Cedar point was definitely another boat and time. Nice video,it would be nice to take a boat ride,when they finish the restoration.
Too bad I couldn't clearly hear a lot of what she was saying. She was interesting. I personally might have gotten a bit closer to her, but then in my case getting good audio would have been more of an excuse than a reason, LOL!
+Brooke Hochstetler A famous old ship that ferried passengers in Detroit to Boblo Island. A non profit bought it to refurbish and use in New York. It had sat idle for years.
+michelle seidl I agree, but it's better than the other one a Dearborn doctor lets rot on the Rouge River. Thanks. The people involved in the restoration are very nice.
I agree, since I have spent countless happy hours on that ship and the Ste. Claire as a boy. However, people in Detroit didn't want it any more, I guess.
@@ChosenWon Well, the restoration effort on the Ste. Claire is still ongoing. It costs a lot of money. Still, when you see recent pictures, progress has been made. And from the pictures I've seen of the Columbia, the restoration work on it has been slow to say the least.
Used to go to BOBLO in the 70’s. These boats were fun. I entered a contest to name a new roller coaster BOBLO added. I won along with 4 others. They did a draw for the Florida round trip tickets but I did not win. They gave us quite a few BOBLO tickets as a consolation prize. Called it the Screamer.
Nice video! I spent as much time as I could as a passenger on that boat and its sister ship, the Ste. Clare, as a kid. I LOVED going to Bob-Lo. In the 1960s, which is when I was sailing on her a LOT, they had a live dance band. The band would play Anchor's Aweigh when the ship left Detroit for the 10:00am sailing. The band would then re-assemble at the bandstand and play popular tunes of the day as passengers danced during the 90 minute trip from the dock on Woodward Avenue in Detroit to Bob-Lo Island. I loved going down to the first deck and watching the engine room. As this video shows, it was open-air and while the boat was in motion, you could see the pistons going up and down and you could see all the engineers working away down in the engine room. The third deck had a bar, so I wasn't able to go up there much. Although the bar was in the center of the deck and one could sit on either side at the railing. However, it was more fun to watch the river scenery go by and then look at the people dancing on the second deck as you listened to the band. There was also a small area for passengers in front of the bridge. When the boat blew its whistle while you were up there, it was LOUD, though!
This boat was originally built around 1903. It was used until 1993 to transport passengers from its docks in Detroit, Michigan South to Bob-Lo Island, which in its day was an amusement park in the middle of the Detroit River, very close to lake Eerie. The island is still there, but the amusement park closed in 1993. A sister ship called the Ste. Clare was built a few years after the Columbia was launched. Together, they ferried passengers on the 90-minute trip from Detroit to Bob-Lo and back. You could either go back on the ship or spend time at the amusement park on the island and return at another time, possibly on its sister ship. They were originally coal-burning ships. Their engines were converted to oil some time later. Here's the thing: The island was in Canada, not Michigan. During the draft-dodging era of the Vietnam war, they made sure that you got back on the boats from Detroit and headed back to Detroit. There were U.S. Customs officials on the island. I suppose Canadian Customs were there as well. I never encountered them, and neither did anyone else I know of, but they did have offices there. I suspect the officials were there in case of any issues, particularly with draft dodgers. There were also ferry boats that took people on a 5-minute ride from Amherstburg, Ontario to the island. There was also a marina on the island for private boaters to dock at and enjoy the amusements there. I understand that the people who ran the marina took names of the people and which boat they came on. I suspect that all of it was to make sure that a draft dodger didn't take the boat from Detroit and then escape to Canada via a friend's private boat or the Amherstburg ferry.
This is the boat we would take to go to cedar point. If my memory serves me right.
I don't think so. This was Boblo and moonlight cruises on Lake St. Clair
@@ChosenWon thanks for refreshing my memory,I was a kid when I rode the boat.and we went to boblo. Cedar point was definitely another boat and time. Nice video,it would be nice to take a boat ride,when they finish the restoration.
@gregory4247 I wasn't sure. I'll need to research it. It would have been a great trip
Lots of great memories of the boblo boat. Where is the
Columbia boat now???
Buffalo getting rebuilt by a NYC museum.
It has been here in Buffalo for years. They must have run out of money to restore the ship. It's just rotting away next to an old grain elevator.
This ship and its sister ship, the Ste. Clare, were sailing on the Detroit River before the Titanic sank!
great video. thanks
Thanks. It was really interesting.
Nice video. Is there a website to keep up with the restoration?
Yes. It's an outfit from New York. The ship is in Buffalo. I'll try to find the link. Hang on a second. Thanks.
sscolumbia.org/
Thank you. I'm following the U.S. United States as well but fear that may die.
she was my favorite boat the as Columbia
Mine, too. I'm glad it will sail again.
I know and she will still be beautiful ever when she's in new York
+Michelle Gregory Yep. It's great there is a collective interest. I'll go there for a ride when it's finished.
Cool hun lucky you
I'm not counting my chickens yet.
Too bad I couldn't clearly hear a lot of what she was saying. She was interesting. I personally might have gotten a bit closer to her, but then in my case getting good audio would have been more of an excuse than a reason, LOL!
what is that sorry like what is its use?
+Brooke Hochstetler A famous old ship that ferried passengers in Detroit to Boblo Island. A non profit bought it to refurbish and use in New York. It had sat idle for years.
It's sad that my favorite boat is gone to new York
+michelle seidl I agree, but it's better than the other one a Dearborn doctor lets rot on the Rouge River. Thanks. The people involved in the restoration are very nice.
I agree, since I have spent countless happy hours on that ship and the Ste. Claire as a boy. However, people in Detroit didn't want it any more, I guess.
@@ChosenWon Well, the restoration effort on the Ste. Claire is still ongoing. It costs a lot of money. Still, when you see recent pictures, progress has been made. And from the pictures I've seen of the Columbia, the restoration work on it has been slow to say the least.
detroit sold its soul realy a shame
How's that?