by William Lafferty » August 10, 2025, 1:34 pm
September through December 1895 the excursion steamer Rhocean (D. Y. Williams of South Haven its designer, builder, and owner, as well as designer and builder of its steam engine and unique water tube boiler) was contracted by Butters & Peters to tow two 100-foot scows upon which tracks were mounted and upon each track was mounted a loaded flat car, hopper car, or box car destined for Buttersville. The cars were standard gauge brought from the F&PMRRCo, and unloaded at Buttersville with supplies and coal for the mill and community where a standard gauge track had been built. Rhocean also transported mill crews and was originally brought to Pere Marquette Lake as a ferry between the Seymour dock at Ludington and Buttersville. In 1895 (according to Williams, which may be apocryphal) Rhocean travelled 6000 miles those three months, running 5:40 AM to 9:30 PM, and carrying 15000 passengers. Rhocean remained on Pere Marquette Lake for the following season but I don't know for certain if the car float operation continued. By 1897 it was on the Mona Lake route at Muskegon and began its career on Pine Lake between Charlevoix and Boyne City, May 1898 to August 1904. I've been fascinated by Rhocean for years.
September through December 1895 the excursion steamer Rhocean (D. Y. Williams of South Haven its designer, builder, and owner, as well as designer and builder of its steam engine and unique water tube boiler) was contracted by Butters & Peters to tow two 100-foot scows upon which tracks were mounted and upon each track was mounted a loaded flat car, hopper car, or box car destined for Buttersville. The cars were standard gauge brought from the F&PMRRCo, and unloaded at Buttersville with supplies and coal for the mill and community where a standard gauge track had been built. Rhocean also transported mill crews and was originally brought to Pere Marquette Lake as a ferry between the Seymour dock at Ludington and Buttersville. In 1895 (according to Williams, which may be apocryphal) Rhocean travelled 6000 miles those three months, running 5:40 AM to 9:30 PM, and carrying 15000 passengers. Rhocean remained on Pere Marquette Lake for the following season but I don't know for certain if the car float operation continued. By 1897 it was on the Mona Lake route at Muskegon and began its career on Pine Lake between Charlevoix and Boyne City, May 1898 to August 1904. I've been fascinated by Rhocean for years.