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Transitions: There have been notable comings and goings and up-for-sales recently. The only remaining fleet based on Lake Superior – Great Lakes Fleet – has been put up for sale by its current owner, Canadian National Railway. The vessels with the distinctive gray-and-black bars – like the 1,000-footer Edgar B. Speer arriving in this David Schauer photo from September – have resided in Duluth since 1901 when the fleet was part of the Pittsburgh Steamship Company, a subsidiary of United States Steel. Phil Bencomo did a story for Lake Superior Magazine on the history of the Great Lakes Fleet in 2016. Justine Lofton of MLive reported CN is in negotiations to sell the fleet, but quoted Helen Quirke, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, as saying, “We are willing to continue to operate the vessels should a deal not be concluded at a favorable value to us.” There are currently nine vessels under the Great Lakes Fleet, including the tug/barge Presque Isle.
• In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Soo Maritime Services, a new subsidiary of Interlake Maritime Services, will operate the assets of the American and Canadian Lock Tours, which include the tour boats Hiawatha, Bide-A-Wee and Holiday that provide river and lock tours. Interlake’s president, Mark W. Barker, said in a press release about the acquisition: “The Soo area plays a vital role in Great Lakes shipping and we’re excited to have new employees, new tour boats and a waterfront presence to continue the legacy of educating the public on the importance of the Soo Locks. We’re looking forward to working with the Soo team, which has built such a successful business in Michigan’s oldest city that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.” Interlake is the parent company for Interlake Steamship Co. as well, which just launched a new U.S.-built freighter bearing Mark’s name.
• Odyssey Resorts bought Mountain Inn at Lutsen, a 29-unit hotel at the base of the Lutsen Mountains along Minnesota’s North Shore. This is the developer’s eighth property, which includes East Bay Suites in Grand Marais, Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, Grand Superior Lodge in Two Harbors, Breezy Point Cabins on Lake Superior in Two Harbors, Larsmont Cottages in Two Harbors and Beacon Pointe Resort in Duluth. It also manages the Lutsen Sea Villas in Lutsen.
Saving Time: A time capsule sealed into the foundation of the Finnish Labour Temple that
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