Black and white photograph of the ship "Illinois". On June 18th,1855, the Illinois was the first boat to go through the Soo Locks and for many years was a frequent visitor to Traverse City enroute to Chicago from Detroit and Buffalo.
Images from the S. Wait album. Three tugboats pulling a larger ship (The O.W. Cheney, The Lorenzo Dimick, The Merry Virginia, likely pulling The Grecian; Vessels often got caught on the Soo Lock sills during low water levels.); school house and shed;…