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Grassroots Group Convinced

Historic Boat Is
Tourism Gold Mine
Seeks Mediation to Resolve
Village Opposition
By LeClair Stoltmann

IMAGE imgs/glb-su.fa9804.gif

Brothers Josiah and David Truer of Grand Rapids were among the
more than 3,000 people who visited the S.S. City of Milwaukee,
moored in Betsie Bay in Elberta, last July and August. The boat is the
last remaining vintage Great Lakes railroad car ferry.

"Because of her excellent, unaltered condition and her location at her historic site in the Elberta Marine Terminal Railyard (with her associated historic structures), she possesses a high degree of integrity in each aspect of design, location, setting, material, workmanship, and especially feeling." ~ U.S. Dept. of the Interior, in designating the S.S. City of Milwaukee a national historic landmark
A young girl gets to see for the first time the kind of ship her grandpa worked on. Her eyes brighten when
she learns that, yes, those lifeboats are the same make, just smaller, as those on the Titanic.
A former crew member points out the gear on the immense interior deck that once kept railroad cars in
place on the only remaining vintage Great Lakes railcar ferry. He shares tales of his arduous trips across Lake
Michigan as he walks the upper decks and looks out the pilothouse window.
These are some of the scenes from the tours given on the massive black ferryboat, the S.S. City of Milwau-
kee, now harbored in the bayside town of Elberta in Benzie County. So the legacy of this sturdy ship can
continue, a grassroots group of citizens organized as the Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of
Milwaukee has struggled for a decade to open it as a museum.

One of a Kind
The first open water railcar ferry in the world sailed from Elberta in 1892. Many said it was impossible, but
thanks to an engineering triumph and the hard work of those who served on the ships, the Great Lakes railcar
ferry fleet became the world's largest -- 14 ships at its peak -- to operate on open water.
The Ann Arbor Railroad car ferry operations in Elberta came to an end in 1982, devastating the economy of
the community and leaving many folks unemployed and bitter.
Two years later, a group of preservation-minded citizens chose the City of Milwaukee out of the rest of the
fleet because it was in the best shape and closest to its original condition. The boat's history is unique. As the
Grand Trunk Railroad's spare boat, it was leased to other railroads and served with every Great Lakes railcar ferry
fleet.
Since 1984, the ship has encountered a much stormier ride than it ever did on Lake Michigan. Emotions ruled:
"It's not an Ann Arbor ship." ... "The railroad ruined our livelihoods and we don't want to honor it." ... "If it's not
good enough for Frankfort [the ferry's original destination as a museum], it certainly isn't good enough for
Elberta." ... "It's not economically feasible, and we'll get stuck with the bill."
These phrases still echo in town meetings. Village of Elberta President Greg Jenks has characterized the
ship as an "eyesore" and "the joke of the community," and has served the Society with a notice of eviction for
the boat. He charges that the Society owes back rent, can't manage the project, and is trying to force the ship on
the Village -- claims the Society disputes.

Everyone Wants What's Best
Now this long-simmering controversy may finally end if the Society can persuade the village to participate in
mediation and reach an agreement outside of court.
"Costs to settle this dispute in court are adding up on both sides," said Bill Herd, a member of the Society's
board of directors. "We hope we can reach an agreement that's beneficial to everyone."
Society President Max Hanley says the ship can "really benefit the community."
"We want to help Elberta accomplish its goals," he said. "We have the ability and support to raise funds,
hire staff, and run a fine museum that will provide a needed cultural center for the community and draw tourists
if we're just given the chance."
Evidence for the ship's support is strong. More than 3,000 people visited the boat last July and August. Res-
idents throughout the region are putting "Don't Give Up the Ship" signs in their front yards, and the Society's
membership has grown to 600 people.
To bolster their efforts, the Society contracted with the Institute's Grassroots Support Center to improve its
organization and develop strategy. "Our proposal is one that would benefit both the Village and the Society and
could save both of us time and money," Mr. Herd said. "It would move this issue from confrontation to
reasoned discussion." G

CONTACT: Daisy Fredrickson Butler, board member, Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee, 616-275-2078.

LeClair Stoltmann, the Institute's publications coordinator, is a member of the board of the Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee.



	Grassroots Group Convinced
Historic Boat Is Tourism Gold Mine Seeks Mediation to Resolve Village Opposition By LeClair Stoltmann

		Brothers Josiah and David Truer of Grand Rapids were among the more than 3,000 people who visited the S.S. City of Milwaukee, moored in Betsie Bay in Elberta, last July and August. The boat is the last remaining vintage Great Lakes railroad car ferry.
"Because of her excellent, unaltered condition and her location at her historic site in the Elberta Marine Terminal Railyard (with her associated historic structures), she possesses a high degree of integrity in each aspect of design, location, setting, material, workmanship, and especially feeling." ~ U.S. Dept. of the Interior, in designating the S.S. City of Milwaukee a national historic landmark A young girl gets to see for the first time the kind of ship her grandpa worked on. Her eyes brighten when she learns that, yes, those lifeboats are the same make, just smaller, as those on the Titanic. A former crew member points out the gear on the immense interior deck that once kept railroad cars in place on the only remaining vintage Great Lakes railcar ferry. He shares tales of his arduous trips across Lake Michigan as he walks the upper decks and looks out the pilothouse window. These are some of the scenes from the tours given on the massive black ferryboat, the S.S. City of Milwau- kee, now harbored in the bayside town of Elberta in Benzie County. So the legacy of this sturdy ship can continue, a grassroots group of citizens organized as the Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee has struggled for a decade to open it as a museum. One of a Kind The first open water railcar ferry in the world sailed from Elberta in 1892. Many said it was impossible, but thanks to an engineering triumph and the hard work of those who served on the ships, the Great Lakes railcar ferry fleet became the world's largest -- 14 ships at its peak -- to operate on open water. The Ann Arbor Railroad car ferry operations in Elberta came to an end in 1982, devastating the economy of the community and leaving many folks unemployed and bitter. Two years later, a group of preservation-minded citizens chose the City of Milwaukee out of the rest of the fleet because it was in the best shape and closest to its original condition. The boat's history is unique. As the Grand Trunk Railroad's spare boat, it was leased to other railroads and served with every Great Lakes railcar ferry fleet. Since 1984, the ship has encountered a much stormier ride than it ever did on Lake Michigan. Emotions ruled: "It's not an Ann Arbor ship." ... "The railroad ruined our livelihoods and we don't want to honor it." ... "If it's not good enough for Frankfort [the ferry's original destination as a museum], it certainly isn't good enough for Elberta." ... "It's not economically feasible, and we'll get stuck with the bill." These phrases still echo in town meetings. Village of Elberta President Greg Jenks has characterized the ship as an "eyesore" and "the joke of the community," and has served the Society with a notice of eviction for the boat. He charges that the Society owes back rent, can't manage the project, and is trying to force the ship on the Village -- claims the Society disputes. Everyone Wants What's Best Now this long-simmering controversy may finally end if the Society can persuade the village to participate in mediation and reach an agreement outside of court. "Costs to settle this dispute in court are adding up on both sides," said Bill Herd, a member of the Society's board of directors. "We hope we can reach an agreement that's beneficial to everyone." Society President Max Hanley says the ship can "really benefit the community." "We want to help Elberta accomplish its goals," he said. "We have the ability and support to raise funds, hire staff, and run a fine museum that will provide a needed cultural center for the community and draw tourists if we're just given the chance." Evidence for the ship's support is strong. More than 3,000 people visited the boat last July and August. Res- idents throughout the region are putting "Don't Give Up the Ship" signs in their front yards, and the Society's membership has grown to 600 people. To bolster their efforts, the Society contracted with the Institute's Grassroots Support Center to improve its organization and develop strategy. "Our proposal is one that would benefit both the Village and the Society and could save both of us time and money," Mr. Herd said. "It would move this issue from confrontation to reasoned discussion." G CONTACT: Daisy Fredrickson Butler, board member, Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee, 616-275-2078. LeClair Stoltmann, the Institute's publications coordinator, is a member of the board of the Society for the Preservation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee.