The item about ships in the Portage Canal reminds me of my job during college summers of 1957-1960. I was a deck hand on the ore freighter Ralph S. Caulkins. We brought a load of coal up the canal to Lake Linden once. I remember how the boat pushed the water up onto the banks in the narrow parts, and how the screw sucked it down amidships. That was a good summer job – fresh air, exercise, decent pay for the time and nowhere to spend it, playing euchre after dinner, seeing a number of ports and places on all the lakes except Ontario – although there were occasional storms, continual painting, and “soogie”ing for downsides.

Denis Hayner ‘61

Thanks, Denis. I would have loved to have had the chance to work on one of these boats, if even just for a week or two. There’s something really special about them—and they’re something that makes it special being here. –Kevin