The Sailing Adventures of Captain Hans A. Simonsen (1868 – 1954?)
His First Home in Bay View (1907)
309-333 East Becher Street (torn down)
His Ships and Sailing Adventures While Living Here
Above: The schooner Lucia A. Simpson, 1907 (ultimately captained in total 1903-1929); Sailing adventures while captain: None reported. Photo courtesy of the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Thunder Bay Research Collection.
His Second Home in Bay View (1909-10)
101 West Becher Street (torn down)
(southwest corner of Becher and S. 1st St.)
His Ships and Sailing Adventures While Living Here
Above: The schooner Lucia A. Simpson, 1909-10 (ultimately captained in total 1903-1929); Sailing adventures while captain: None reported. Photo courtesy of the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Thunder Bay Research Collection.
His Ships and Sailing Adventures Before Bay View
Above: The schooner A. B. C. F. M., 1899; Sailing adventures while captain: none reported. Photo courtesy of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Thunder Bay Research Collection.
Photo courtesy of the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University.
His Ships and Sailing Adventures Before Bay View
Above: The schooner Lucia A. Simpson, 1910-29 (ultimately captained in total 1903-1929); Sailing adventures while captain: On 22 June 1915, the mate and the entire crew walked out in protest when it was discovered two new crew members had never sailed on a large schooner before. 37 On 03 June 1916, collided with the docked steamer Schuylkill while the Simpson was under tow by the tug Welcome that was forced to take evasive action when a railroad bridge that was supposed to open didn’t in order to let an oncoming train pass. The Simpson’s jib was wrecked but the Schuylkill received only minor damage. 38 On 08 May 1921, the owner of the Lucia A. Simpson, Charles Sanderson (his lumberyard still in Bay View) granted use in off-time (weekends) to a charitable organization called “The American Junior Merchant Marine” to use as a sail training ship for youth of Milwaukee. Hans Simonsen continued as captain for these sailings. There was much news coverage at the start of this program, including pier-side bands and open-houses for the general public. A radio club for the youth was also established aboard. 39 Photo courtesy of the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Thunder Bay Research Collection.
Captain James G. “Stormy Jim” Thorpe (1885-1949)
His First Home in Bay View (1931-36)
3004 S. Delaware Avenue
His Ships and Sailing Adventures While Living at 2992 S. Delaware Ave.
Above: The steamship and car ferry City of Milwaukee, 1930-36; Sailing adventures while crew: he was mate, never captain, during this time or of this ship; of interest, the City of Milwaukee was also captained by two and probably three different Bay View lake captains (Ottmar Jahnke, Roland Martin, and Albert Neumeier) and is today preserved as a museum ship available for touring in Manistee, Michigan. Photo courtesy Kenneth Thro, the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Thunder Bay Research Collection.
His Second Home in Bay View (1937-48)
2992 South Wentworth Avenue
His Ships and Sailing Adventures While Living at 2992 S. Wentworth Ave.
Above left: The steamship and car ferry Grand Rapids, 1938-44, 1946-47; Sailing adventures while captain: none discovered
Above right: the steamship and car ferry City of Grand Haven, 1945; Sailing adventures while captain: none discovered.
Both photos courtesy Kenneth Thro, the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Thunder Bay Research Collection.
His Ships and Sailing Adventures Before Bay View
Above: The steamship Sheboygan, 1926-probable 1929; Sailing adventures while captain: none discovered.
Photo courtesy of the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University.
