![]() ![]() In 1946, with peace in hand, the tour boat resumed normal operations. The lock tour boat Bide-A-Wee remained tied to the dock from 1942 to 1945. Only essential shipping was allowed to pass through the Soo Locks. Army deployed over 10,000 troops to the Soo to guard the area 24 hours a day and barrage balloons filled the skies over Sault Ste. With the outbreak of World War II, tourism came to a halt in the area. ![]() In the fall of 1941, the steam engine and boiler were removed and replaced with a diesel engine. It was 70′ long and 16′ wide, and had a passenger capacity of 92. The second Bide-A-Wee was actually a converted fish tug named the Pittsburg. In 1938 the first Bide-A-Wee was sold and replaced with the second tour boat named Bide-A-Wee. ![]() During the initial years of the Soo Locks boat tour company, Welch continued to work for Great Lakes Towing Company to support his new business venture. This is the current location of Original Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock 1 today. Captain Milo Welch also purchased property owned by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock to serve as a base of operations. Captain Welch then purchased a gas-powered wooden yacht named the Bide-A-Wee from a Scottish gentlemen who lived near Detroit. In the spring of 1934, Milo’s wife sold their house, and a local businessman who owned a drug store loaned Captain Welch some additional funds to make his dream a reality. They reasoned that people were satisfied seeing the locks from the lock wall. Financing such a dream would be difficult, as the local banks thought the idea was doomed to certain failure. Marie deserved the opportunity to experience the Soo Locks by riding through them. He believed that all visitors to Sault Ste. Large Passenger Ship City of Detroit III in Soo LockĬaptain Welch believed that the only way to truly experience the Soo Locks was by boat. At that time, the only passengers that went through the Locks were aboard palatial passenger steamships or shipping company guests riding on the large lake freighters. People were simply intrigued by the ships locking through the world’s largest locking system. As a seasoned tug boat captain, Milo Welch was employed by the Great Lakes Towing Company and always noticed that the Soo Locks had an attraction with visitors. He was a visionary that sacrificed everything to make his dream a reality. ![]() In 1934, Captain Milo Beechgood Welch originated the Soo Locks sightseeing boat tours in Sault Ste. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |