Thanks to all who joined us on July 19th for our second fundraising cruise on the Detroit River. We were joined by many of the Boblo reunion crew - folks who had worked on the Island or on the boats for a festive cruise down the River. Thanks to Lori Feret and our wonderful Detroit volunteers as well as Karen Winkler of the Boblo Reunion crew and  Capt. Sam Buchanan, Columbia’s volunteer shipkeeper who served as captain on the MV Friendship. Once again we enjoyed the delivery of pizza through the generosity of the good folks at the J. W. Westcott II mailboat. We enjoyed beautiful weather and smooth sailing. Lisa Hagopian again kindly recorded many wonderful memories of SS Columbia.

We all look forward to the next cruise and if you have memories you’d like to share before then please email us and we will arrange for it.  The funds raised during the cruise will go towards completing the essential stabilization project.

Please join us for our second festive fundraising cruise on the Detroit River on Saturday, July 17th from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm aboard the MV Friendship.  The cruise will also serve as an official reunion event for former Boblo crew members and employees.

On this celebratory cruise down the Detroit River, you are invited to bring memorabilia, share your fond memories and reminisce about America’s oldest surviving passenger steamer as you cruise past the beloved Bob-Lo boats, Columbia and Ste. Claire.

During the cruise, you will feast on complimentary pizza delivered by the J.W. Wescott II mailboat while toasting the slow steady progress in restoring the Columbia to its former glory.

The Friendship will depart from the dock behind the Portofino Restaurant at 3455 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte.  Boarding begins at 1:00 pm.  Suggested donation is $35 per person.

• Donate by phone: 248-546-9712
• Donate electronically at www.sscolumbia.org
• Donate by check to:

SS Columbia Project
1574 Westbrook Drive
Madison Heights MI 48071

Please book your tickets soon as that last year we sold out !

Please join us for our first official fundraising event !: A fun and festive cruise on the Detroit River on board the M.V. Friendship. We will serve complimentary pizza delivered by the J.W. Westcott II mailboat and a cash bar will be available. During the 3 hour cruise we will be able to view both the Columbia and the Ste. Claire.

When: Saturday Sept. 19 2009 2 - 5 pm ( please be prepared to board by 1:30)

Where: departure from the dock behind the Portofino Restaurant, 3455 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte

Price: donation of $ 30 (U.S.) per person

Payment Methods:

- donation via this website ( pls. click on donate now button)

- by check payable to the SS Columbia Project and mailed to :

SS Columbia Project

c/o Lori Feret
1574 Westbrook Dr.
Madison Heights, MI 48071-3045

- by telephone via 248 546 9712

Tickets will be held at the dock

Please book as soon as possible as space is limited

For further information:

- contact@sscolumbia.org

- 212 228 3128 / 917 532 4300

Happy 107^th birthday, SS Columbia! On Saturday, May 9, the SSCP with the sponsorship of Electra Information Systems marked this special occasion with an event aboard the New York-based fireboat John J. Harvey.

Could there be a better venue for such a celebration? (Except for a party aboard the majestic Columbia, probably not!) 

Volunteers and members of the sponsor organization gathered at Pier 66 on Manhattan’s west side for a two-hour cruise down the Hudson to Brooklyn’s Red Hook, all to the accompaniment of Bluegrass quintet Woodpecker. The outing was reminiscent of Columbia in her heyday when passengers enjoyed live entertainment onboard as they took in the passing river scenery. The celebratory salute of the John J. Harvey’s signature water-spraying capped off the afternoon’s festivities.

The event was an exciting preview of the waterfront entertainment Columbia will soon offer New Yorkers when she is restored to her former glory. We eagerly look forward to future shipboard celebrations.

Fireboat Facts
The John J. Harvey fireboat proudly served the FDNY and New York City from 1931 until it was decommissioned in July of 1994. She returned to duty following September 11, 2001, pumping water to the World Trade Center site for 80 hours. The boat was also the subject of a children’s book, Fireboat: The Historic Adventures of the John J. Harvey. No longer an active-duty vessel, she continues to provide New Yorkers with educational opportunities along Manhattan’s west side.

The SS Columbia  (Detroit, February 2009)

On February 27, 2009 we went to Detroit to check on the progress of asbestos abatement. We’re happy to report that our contractor Trust Thermal Abatement Inc. made significant progress in removing asbestos from The SS Columbia. Areas that were completed include the removal of linoleum from the grand staircase and dining room. Furthermore, the insulation materials were removed from the boiler room (boilers, piping and fireboxes), the engine room (pipes & tanks), the kitchen and the main deck (pipes, fire system and light fixtures). Additionally three full dumpsters of trash and rubbish were cleared from the Columbia. Weather permitting the asbestos abatement will be fully completed by March 20, 2009.

Photo 1 (Left to Right): Captain Mike Eagan (SSCP Advisory Board); Rick Collins (Carpenter); Kevin Fesler (Asbestos inspection/Quality Control); Darrell Painter (Asbestos Technician) Barry Smith (Friend and long time enthusiast of the SS Columbia); Sean Leon (Asbestos Abatement foreman, Darwin Rettig (Asbestos Abatement Project Manager).

Photo 2: A crewmember clears the grand staircase. Photo 3: In this former well-insulated beer cooler (Note the “Bud Light” signs marked on the taps) workers created a heated lounge area where they take breaks and enjoy lunch.

Photo 4: Tom Vincent (on the right) an inspector from the State of Michigan was doing an inspection on the SS Columbia’s progress. His responsibilities are to ensure that the state standards and procedures on the job site are being met. Photo 5: The crew is carrying the black plastic bags off the ship across the dock where their truck was parked. The ship’s location and the low temperatures (at this time of the year, the river still remains frozen) added challenges to the work but our crew still managed to smile.

Click here for more images on asbestos abatement.