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NOVEMBER ☆ DECEMBER, 1981 Volume XXX; Number 6 and Index GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan 48207 TELESCOPE Page 142 MEMBERSHIP NOTES • Please fill out the questionable on the reverse side of your renewed form. Your assistance is needed to decide future Institute projects. The Edmund Fitzgerald 1957-1975 has been reprinted and is available in the sales booth. The 60 page book covers the Fitz throughout her career from shipyard to her sinking. Both disaster reports from the Coast Guard and the Lake Carriers Association rebuttal are included. It retails for $5.00 over the counter or $6.00 by mail. Other new books available this fall are: The Best of Ships Along the Seaway by Skip Gillham The histories of 48 vessels are covered in 60 pages. Vessel types covered include canallers, bulk carriers, tankers, passenger ships, rail and auto carriers and more. It retails for $4.95 at the museum or $5.75 by mail. John Greenwood has written the 6th book in the Namesakes series. Namesakes 1956-1980 (retail $24.75) is the sequel to Namesakes 1930-1955. If a vessel existed on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River after January 1, 1956 and was gone from the scene by the end of 1980, it is included in this volume. Freshwater Press is also offering readers Volume II of The History of the Great Lakes by Beers at a special price. Send $15.00 (check or money order must accompany order) to Freshwater Press, P.O. Box 14009, 334 The Arcade, Cleveland, OH. 44114. MEETING NOTICES • Rear Admiral Henry Bell will be the guest speaker at the November meeting. (See notice on page 167.) The next entertainment meeting will be on January 29, 1982. The next business meeting will be on January 8, 1982. All meetings begin at 8:00 p.m. at the Dossin Museum. Dossin Museum will have an exhibit booth at the Detroit Boat Show at Cobo Hall. The Prevue Night will be January 29, 1982 and the show will run from January 30-February 7, 1982. Watch for details in the Jan/Feb., 1982 issue of Telescope. Those wishing to volunteer in the exhibit booth, please call John Polacsek at 267-6440. CONTENTS • Membership Notes, Meeting Dates, etc. 142 Robert E. Lee 1918-1981 143 The Erie L. Hockley by Edward Middleton 146 The Sturgeon Bay Boat Works in WWII by John Wilterding 151 Great Lakes & Seaway News Edited by Frederic Weber 158 November Meeting Notice 167 Index: Volume XXX 168 Published at Detroit, Michigan by the GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE ©All rights reserved. Printed in the United States by Macomb Printing Specialties. OUR COVER PHOTO. .This photo of Bob Lee was taken by his wife Ruth, while they were on the William Clay Ford in September, 1978. Those wishing to make a contribution to the Robert Lee Memorial Fund, should make their checks payable to the Great Lakes Maritime Institute. Telescope is produced with assistance from the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, an agency of the Historical Department of the City of Detroit. Nov ☆ Dec, 1981 Page 143 ROBERT E. LEE 1918-1981 Robert E. Lee, former curator of the Dossin Bob spent the next 6 years working for the Great Lakes Museum and long time member Detroit Historical Department. In 1959, he of the Institute, died of cancer on August 7, became curator of the soon-to-be-built Dossin 1981. Some of us had known Bob since 1960, Great Lakes Museum. The collections housed while others only shared his friendship for a in the J. T. Wing were small, but were a solid few years. Regardless of the number of years, foundation on which to build. The ship model we all are richer for his contributions to the collection began with 11 models. Today there marine community. are 45 models, all built to Vs inch scale, making Bob was bom in England on June 14, it one of the best collections in the nation. 1918. His father, an American, was serving Behind the public eye, the museum library with the Canadian army during World War I. has become one of the largest repositories of In 1919, the family returned to Canada. Paying ship photographs. Bob’s philosophy for the the 5C fare to travel from Windsor to Detroit museum collections was simple: “We won’t on the ferry Promise, Bob became a nickel allow our desire to ‘have something’ make immigrant. At that time, nickel immigrants us accept something that is inferior, (he were an everyday occurance, but with the would) rather wait for something of quality construction of the Ambassador Bridge in to come along.’’ Dossin reflects this high 1929, Bob became one of a vanishing breed. standard. Hired in 1953 as an exhibit preparator, As one enters the museum, attention is Dossin Museum Collection Using photographs for reference, Bob built a replica of the Gothic Room chandelier for the museum. TELESCOPE Page 144 Photo by Harry W olf Blessing of the Fleet service held at Mariner's Church in March, 1977. Left to nght: Rev. Richard Ingalls, Comm. R.L. Delcol and Robert Lee. drawn to the reconstructed Gothic Room from reused. When the room was purchased in the sidewheeler City of Detroit HI. When the 1965, adjustments had to be made in order ship was scrapped in 1956, the room was to reconstruct the room in the museum. purchased by an Ohio resident. When he The camber and sheer of the ship couldn’t died in the early 1960’s, the room became be recreated, nor could the cathedral ceiling available once again. The Institute began be extended through the roof. Even though raising the $10,000 needed, but the money he was forced to “compromise history’’ came in slowly. Bob talked with Stoddard during the 26 months needed to complete White, marine reporter for the Detroit News the project, the Gothic Room stands today and a few days later on the back page of the as an important chapter in Detroit's maritime News, a feature article appeared. The re­ heritage. The original chandelier was taken sponse was tremendous, raising $6,000. off the ship shortly after the D-III began Bob spoke to various companies and local her career. Using only photographs for re­ organizations and the balance of money was ference, Bob built a replica for the museum. Nov ☆ Dec, 1981 Page 145 Over the years, Bob received many awards the plaque for the hall and it was mounted for his achievements, but when the subject in time for the June business meeting, which of the Gothic Room arose, he would point Bob was able to attend. to it stating: “Of all the achievements, I’m On July 1, 1981, Bob suffered a stroke proudest of this one. ’ ’ caused by the cancer. While in the hospital, Another contribution which can’t be over­ he listened to the marine radio; and when looked is the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony allowed to open the window, he could hear held each March. Beginning in 1962, the the boat whistles on the river. He was especi­ ceremony was held on the museum grounds. ally touched by the 3-Long & 2-Short salutes The facilities became too small to accommodate that echoed up Woodward Avenue. He left everyone, and the weather was always ques­ instructions that he wished to be cremated tionable. In 1973, the ceremony was trans­ and his ashes spread over the river. His ferred to Mariner’s Church and has received request was fulfilled in mid-August. The national recognition. During the service, river seems the proper resting place for Bob read the names of his departed brothers, someone who spent 21 years watching the while the Octorora bell rang once for each ships pass by from the best seat in the house. name read. Next March, Bob’s name will Bob was also a member of the International appear in the booklet as it has for so many Shipmasters Association Lodge No. 7, Al­ years, but it won’t be in the place we’ve gonquin Club, Propeller Club and numerous been accustomed to see it. historical societies. With his wife Ruth, he Bob was fortunate to retire from the museum shared a love of photography and have docu­ in 1980. During the reception held in his honor, mented Detroit’s heritage. the Detroit Historical Commissioners announ­ There could be no more fitting closing to ced that in the future, the main exhibit hall this article than Bob’s own words: “They would be known as the Robert E. Lee Exhibit may not remember me lovingly, but my God Hall. Last spring, the Institute purchased they’ll never forget m e. ’ ’ □ A «• •.V 'It.. ROBERT E. LEE EXHIBIT HALL THIS HALL HAS BEEN NAMED BY THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION OP THE CITY OP DETROIT TO HONOR ROBERT E. LEE IV RECOGNITION OP HIS 2! YEARS ^SVOtED SERVICE, FROM 1959 1 ' CURATOR OF THE DOSSIN C - A* LAX.ES MUSEUM. GIFT OF THE GREAT LAKES MARITIME INSTITUTE 198! mA* TELESCOPE Page 146 THE ERIE L. HACKLEY by ED MIDDLETON (Dedicated to the memory of Robert E. Lee) It seems an appropriate time to say a word His Muskegon dock was at the foot of about the Hockley and her history, since as Market, near the T.D. Stinson Sawmill. this is being written, Frank Hoffman and From there, the boats carried passengers associates are hard at work trying to raise and light freight to docks at Bluffton, Bay her remains from the bottom of Green Bay, Mills, Port Sherman, North Muskegon and where they were located during the summer other points on Muskegon lake.

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