Historic freighter ready to move to new home
10/26/2012The S.S. Col. James M. Schoonmaker is set to be towed Saturday from its International Park dock to its new home next to the Toledo Maritime Center.
The historic Toledo-built freighter, rechristened last summer to its original name after decades as the S.S. Willis B. Boyer, is to become a centerpiece of a new National Museum of the Great Lakes set to open next year at the maritime center on Front Street.
The tow is to start at about 11 a.m. and last about four hours, including passage under the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge, ship curator Paul Lamarre III said. The trip will be made very slowly for safety reasons.
The Great Lakes Historical Society is sponsoring a luncheon on board for local leaders and benefactors. Great Lakes Towing Co. is donating tugboat service, Mr. Lamarre said.