Here’s the HURON Lightship Site Manager, Jerry Rome.

You’re now at the pilothouse, and up on the flying bridge, there’s a large helms wheel up there, as well as a helms wheel located in the pilothouse. So entering and exiting the port they would have preferred to steer the ship from the flying bridge, they could have seen all around from up there. However, weather conditions were bad, they would have went in the pilothouse to steer the ship. However the ship wasn’t cruising around, it went out in April, dropped anchor and remained out there until the end of December.

Up on our bow, you see the original ship’s bell, this was casted in 1920 when this ship was built. Over the side of the ship, you’ll see a 6,000 lb. anchor, and because it resembled a mushroom, it was referred to as a mushroom style anchor. Those work very well in the sandy lake bottom. Dropping the anchor down, putting the ship in reverse, it would have scooped down in the sand to help hold the ship. Next to the mushroom anchor is a green buoy, and out in the water, red buoy on one side, green buoy on the other, the ships would go in between the two of them, the safest place to travel. On top of our green buoy, you will see four jiggly wires. As the buoy is out there, those seagulls like landing on top of there, building a nest, making a mess, covering it up, so those wires are on there to discourage those seagulls from nesting on the top.

Next you’re going to come onto the radio room, and 24/7 even at anchor there was somebody on watch in the radio room, somebody on watch down in the engine room maintaining the equipment down there. The liberty boat, when this ship needed a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, they put a small boat over the side, and it would go ashore to Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, picking up mail, pay, and groceries. Up on the Weather Deck up there you also see some large pipes extending up in the air that are open on the end. Those are the air vents for the ship. That was the air conditioning that the crew had available to them, and that is still what we have today. Now coming back down the stairs, which we call a ladder, please remember to come down facing the steps, and hanging on, and be safe.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief audio recording. There is so much more for you to enjoy with a guided tour. For more information, click “PortHuronMuseums.com”

Recorded and produced by Van Rohr