The Ironton Ferry
Recently I was able to travel aboard a vessel called the Charlevoix—this is the Ironton Ferry, found in the lower peninsula of Michigan. It carries persons, automobiles, and bicyclists across the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix.
According to a pamphlet given to me by Captain Bob Goodenough, the ferry has been in operation since 1883 and the current vessel has been around since 1925. The crossing covers a distance of 610 feet and is secured by cables.
The town of Ironton does have a relationship to that metallic element—the Pine Lake Iron Company opened shop here in 1881. It turned ore from further north into pig-iron; it failed in the late 19th century. A steel mill can still be found nearby however—the East Jordan Iron Works, founded in 1883. It operates today at the end of the South Arm, in the town of East Jordan.
Five images by Richard Koenig; taken August 10th and 11th of 2017.
