Working on the Columbia 1971

[mpadamo]

Hello, please forward this to any historian whom it might be of interest to...

Thank you for restoring the Bob-Lo Boat

I worked on the Bob-Lo Boat the summer of 1971. I worked on the Columbia.

The hours were long (16 hour days with the next day  off!) but it was probably one of the best jobs - and most fun jobs - that I have
ever had.

I remember that the job began in May and I was in my senior year of high school
so I had to get special permission from my principal to attend school every other day for the last few weeks. My request was approved. That meant
that my teachers had to rearrange my final exam schedule so I could take them on whichever days I was in school. Imagine being 17 years old and
working a 16 hour shift one day and then going to high school the next day and then working a 16 hour shift the day after that! Ahhhh, youth!

I lived on Grosse Ile, so I had to get up early in the morning and drive in rush hour traffic to downtown Detroit to get on a boat that would take me within a couple of miles
of my home. Sometimes I can't believe that my parents let me do that. But I really, really wanted that job.  I remember going to the employment office
to apply for the job and then following up with telephone calls and other personal visits almost daily - I think they hired me just to get rid of me!

We had to join the Merchant Marines to be hired. My father just about fainted when I came home with my official Merchant Marine card with a big red
stamp across it that read "validated for emergency service". He was sure that meant that I could be drafted! I poo-pooed it at the time but in recent years
I have learned (from a Commander in the Coast Guard) that, in deed, I could have been drafted!

We had so much fun on that boat. The customers were always nice and in a great mood (as long as it wasn't bad weather) and my co-workers were terrific.
I remember stormy and cold days on the river when the Purser would give us coats and blankets to keep us warm. I remember the staff and crew getting off of work
and driving to  Cedar Pointe  in Ohio and sleeping in the parking lot until it opened. We would stay there all day, return to Bob-Lo employees parking lot, sleet until
it was time to go to work and then work the entire shift. We were one big family. It was great.

Thank you again for restoring this gem.
Sincerely,
Michelle Adamo (formerly Shelly Smith)

PS If you ever hear of any reunions for former employees I would love to be notified.

[dgill2708]

WHATS UP WITH THE COLUMBIA? Is she still going to be restored or what? Shame to let her rot!

[jaybird4777]

I took a lil river tour today, and we slipped in to the US Steel dock...I find myself wondering, what is there to save anymore with Columbia? This ship is in horrible shape, with all of the rot in the wood, and holes in the decks, it seems only a matter of time until this ship collapses in on itself. So very sad, but I think that the time to save this great ship may have passed, and that is very upsetting to me. The New York group really seems to have abandoned her, and after nearly 20 years, the toll on the ship is nearly absolute. Just my thoughts...

[Lighthouse Lori]

  Don't give up on the old girl yet.  The SS Columiba Project is still working on her.  Below is the plan:

The plan to restore and operate Columbia is based in part on four distinct Phases:
·   Phase I: Stabilization of ship to prevent further weather decay (underway)
·   Phase II: Transport and permanently relocate ship from Detroit, MI to New York, NY
·   Phase III: Full restoration of the ship’s interior and exterior
·   Phase IV: Enter into service and operate on the Hudson River and New York Harbor (planned 2011)

This year they have started prep work on her.  Much debris has been removed and the asbestos has also been removed.  Old Columiba is definitely not ready to fall apart.

We are currently working on a fundraising party for the Columbia being planned for Saturday, September 19th with a cruise, which will go down by the boats, on the Friendship from the Portofino Restaurant in Wyandotte.  Keep watching if you are interested in joining us.

[jaybird4777]

I would like some clarification on the work to prevent "further weather decay". I did not see any work done to prevent any further decay. No tarps, no shrinkwrap. So, I guess that this would have to be pointed out to me, as I got really close to the ship, in the slip, and hadn't seen anything different...

[Lighthouse Lori]

Well, in answer to your question regarding what is being done by the SS Columbia Project to the ship, I contacted Richard Anderson.  His answer is this:

"Asbestos abatement needed to be completed to ensure safe working conditions.  We are now close to finalizing a contract for carpentry work. IF we are lucky and all goes smoothly there may be work already underway on the date of our cruise 9-19-09. Otherwise, work will begin this fall, and there will be visible progress from the outside."

So far 4 large dumpster have been filled with the asbestos removed and debris from the ship.  This work would not be visible to those viewing her.