 | Great Lakes Freighter Frontenac Soo Locks Great Lakes freighter "Frontenac" in the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan connecting Lake Superior with Lake Huron. |
 | MS Frontenac II This is the ferry that is used to get to Amherst Island where my family is from. It's 4 miles out in to Lake Ontario west of Kingston. The only way to get to the island is via this ferry. I realized after I created that video that I think that the ship's actual designation is "MV" (motor vehicle) not "MS" (motor ship). The old ferry was the MS Amherst Islander... I'm livin' in the past. |
 | Quebec celebrates 450 years (1534-1984) Large gathering of sailing ships to trumpet the 450 years of Quebec's existence frothed with festivities celebration in Quebec city in 1984. Get a glimpse of a Russian sail ship as it docks at the Quebec harbor. |
 | Wolfe Islander A Collingwood Ship yard built The Ottawa Maybrook and a sister ship during the last days of World War II, they were originally designed as 206 ton, 164ft, class C Coastal Freighters. Built to be delivered to China as part of an aid package by the Canadian Government. The war ended, China fell to the Communists, the aid was cancelled and the two ships were never delivered. It was decided to convert the Ottawa Maybrook to a car ferry for use on the Kingston to Wolfe Island run. The Shipyard had to do extensive modifications to convert the freighter to a side loading ferry, but the Maybrook, renamed The Wolfe Islander II, was delivered to Kingston where she replaced the older side paddlewheel ferry Wolfe Islander. From 1945 to the late 1970's this converted coaster traveled back and forth between Kingston, Garden Island, and Wolfe Island. During the summer she would load at the foot of Brock street in Kingston and cross to Marysville on Wolfe island, then back again. Once the Ice of winter closed the Marysville dock the ferry would make the longer trip down the river to her winter dock on the island. As the ice strengthened, a tug was employed to keep a path open and would even tow the Islander back and forth on her rounds. Eventually it would become impossible to get through so the ferry and her consort would be tied up for the winter. The Wolfe Islanders would have to fend for themselves. In 1976 a new end-loading ferry was delivered, the Wolfe Islander III, to take over the route. Larger, more powerful and more maneuverable, with four multi-directional diesel power units, it traveled in a channel created in the ice following apth made by a brand new bubble system run by 5 huge compressors on the mainland. The new ship was able to provide year round service. The Wolfe Islander II was kept around for a time as back up, in case the new ferry broke down, but the modern unit was reliable. The old ship found herself the property of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes on the Kingston waterfront. Her luck ran out again when the Museum was able to secure the acquisition of the Coast Guard light icebreaker Alexander Henry which is now permanently moored by the dry dock at the museum. It looked for a time like the Wolfe would go the way of the scrap yards. That is until a group of concerned Marine enthusiasts and divers formed a company and took the ship over with the express purpose of sinking her as a dive site in an area protected from the prevailing south west wind. The idea was to provide a safe and interesting dive site accessablein all kinds of weather. At the same time saving the ship from the wreckers torches. The ship was cleaned and made safe for divers. Sponsors were found and provided the much needed money for the project. Each large sponsor had the name of their company engraved on the glass of the port holes.On September 21st 1985 the old ship set out for the last time out of Kingston's harbour, this time under tow, almost the same route the route taken to the winter dock for so many years. There in the St. Lawrence River, within sight of the winter dock the Wolfe Islander II was finally put to rest. A fitting retirement for a Kingston landmark, she landed upright in 80 ft of water with the bow facing north. |
 | The Comet The Comet was built by a gentleman by the name of George Ault at Portsmouth village (which has since been swallowed up by the city of Kingston) in the year 1848. The ship was a steam driven side paddle wheeler of some 175 ft long 24 ft in breadth and 10 feet in depth. In 1851 it was renamed the Mayflower. Then in 1861 the ship was refitted and renamed the Comet. On an evening in the year 1861 the Comet left Kingston in heavy winds to make the trip up the lake. Near the false Duck Islands it was run down by the Schooner Exchange. The Comet, badly damaged and without power, was driven down wind in the direction of Kingston. It finally sank 2 miles off Simcoe Island out side Kingston's harbour. It sits upright in 80 feet of water. The superstructure is gone but the two massive paddlewheels some 32 feet across sit upright on the bottom still connected to the walking beam engine. The anchor windless, wheels, engine, rudder, stove, plus much more await the diver. |
 | Global Treasures Vieux Quebec, Canada GTR-DVD-1119 - On behalf of the French crown, in 1608 Samuel De Champlain established a fur trading post from which originated Québec, a city that today looms over the Saint Laurence River like a majestic fortress. It is the birthplace of French culture in North America. With its small towers and green glimmering roofs the Chateau Frontenac majestically watches over the city, a castle-like hotel that was built and lavishly furnished in 1894 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Québec's upper city is encircled by a four kilometre long fortified wall that was alternately built upon by the French and the English. In former times, various gates barred entry to the fortress but today they are wide open and welcome visitors into the well preserved old town. The Cathedrale Anglicane symbolises the English period of occupation. The Anglican Bishop's cathedral was inaugurated in the year 1804 and bears a strong resemblance to Saint Martin-In-The-Fields, in London. At the Place Royale, Québec's birthplace, is the tiny church of Notre Dame Des Victoires and it was here that the early settlers worshipped with models of their ships that were later suspended by rope above the pews. Québec is truly a sparkling gem of French culture in North America. Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments. |
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