Norgoma On The Move

By
Craig Huckerby
-
60
Photo by Maxine Smale

On a rainy Tuesday morning, and no notice about it. The City has moved the MS Norgoma to its grave at the Algoma Steel Docks.

Facebook: Jim Bonnie Boissineau

A tug helped guide the Norgoma thru the American Locks on its way to the dock at the steel plant Tuesday morning. The MS Norgoma will no longer be accessible by the public once it is docked at the Steel dock.

The move comes after some controversy last week when the city seized the vessel from the board of directors while it was still located in the Bondar Marina.

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60 COMMENTS

  1. I sailed On the Norgoma as a Deckhand in 1956 We are definatley losing a piece of history with her gone. Many fond memories of the many trips from OwenSound up the Turkey Trail to the Soo with freight and Passengers.

  2. There is a time and a season for everything. Does anyone know how many visitors it had each year? I’m betting not nearly enough to earn its keep. It’s so easy to sit back and say that it should have been restored or turned into a restaurant when not directly involved with the time or finances that would take. I’m not saying its demise is right or wrong, I’m just saying there may have been good reason and jumping on council without knowing the whole story is not really justifiable either.

  3. Ignorance is bliss. Sad so many don’t understand the importance this ship served for the north. The city could have built on this attraction much like the neighbors south of them.
    Once it’s gone it’s gone forever, to know where your going is to know where you’ve been and without this ship the city loses another part of its identity.

  5. I can’t believe some of the comments I’m reading here! The Norgoma was a very big part of the Soo and North Channel in her day bringing freight north and that’s why she was named after the north Algoma region. And to think, I almost donated the life ring off the ill fated steamer Manasoo that was given to my family by one of the survivors which also did that run for a short few months before she sank. Wouldn’t that have been great! I can’t believe this narrow minded council. As a Transport Canada certified captain who now makes his living in the pleasure craft industry and who does frequent Sault Ste Marie from time to time on yacht deliveries going to Lake Superior, I can guarantee I will “Never” spend another nickle in Sault Ste Marie Canada, nor will any of my clients or I won’t be doing the job. I’m only one person, but I’m into a lot of marina’s during the season from all the Great Lakes to the south of Florida and if Sault Ste Marie even comes up in conversation, I will surly do my part to detour anyone from visiting the Soo because I feel there was better ways to handle this. I hope this one comes back to bite the city of Sault Ste Marie like another similar situation a few years ago.

  10. The boat is not Sault history. It was not built or registered here and the only hint to this region was the “goma” in the name.

  16. The thing that concerns me most about this is the sneaky and underhanded tactics that were used by the City. Makes you wonder what other underhanded things have gone on in the past that we were not made aware of and what underhanded things will happen in the future. We as citizens of Sault Ste. Marie should all be very concerned. I truly believe that the City Council has way too much power. What are they self-governed? A number of things at have gone on recently should have been taken to the citizens to vote on…Don’t we count for anything in their eyes?

  20. It’s gone and now the city will spend tax payers money to build new docks that only a certain number of the citizens will ever use, great way to spend our tax money, don’t fix the roads that are horrible no let’s build docks

  22. Another piece of majestic Sault history gone…notice that since the 70’s, the hamlet has not written anything to add to its history. It has just let things fall apart and die like its residents. No new blood. No new infrastructure. Same old, same old. Nothing new. Adios hamlet.

    • Amy Peltonen I agree, now if they can just tear down the old hospital, tear down the mall and relocate it up town we can have a fully functioning waterfront to develop properly. They want to attract tourists? That’s one of the best ways.

      • Who’s going to want to spend capital on your waterfront? The American Soo has a much more interesting one and invites confidence from the capital class. Your’s is windblown and desolate, devoid of character. The one good thing about your waterfront is that it looks out on the American.

  27. Well at least you can still bring your kids across the river to see some history surounding a ship and the Great Lakes. Be proud Sault Ste Marie…#sadday #pieceofhistoryremoved

    I recall signing a petition to keep Norgoma, it had more signatures then there are city councillors/mayor…I guess it was misplaced or just simply ignored! #yourvotedoesntmatter #ourvoicesignored #wethepeople ah heck, who am I trying to kid!!

    • Luke VanScoy and many signed to keep it too. Where are these petitions now I wonder and I would think if the petitions actually backed up the City Council’s decision they would have certainly made that evidence public.

    • They don’t have to listen to them. Petitions are only public opinion. Council is made up of elected officials and we elected them to make these kind of decisions.

    • Robert Catling Don’t let this distract you from the the fact that in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High School Panthers in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson High School, including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against his old nemesis, Bubba “Spare Tire” Dixon.

      • Indeed. You can see the American Soo with its interesting waterfront and activity. Your waterfront makes a great bleacher seat for watching the activity on the American Side.

    • Aaron Morin what ppl don’t understand is large vessels of any size will not dock here without proper equipment available to them…now that they removed the ship they should put in showers and washrooms ….for overnight boaters …and laundry facilities

      Pine street Marina was going to offer that but it vetoed…..

      To run a proper marina you need
      services…boat servicing….and our marinas offer none of that …

  30. Enough breath has been wasted on this matter. You would think that other issues would warrant more thought than this.

  31. Sad day for those of us who have lived here for so long and have loved to look at this piece of history every time we went downtown. I for one will miss the Norgoma and all of its beautiful history!

    • I hope they save some Norgoma pieces for art projects. Like the Sound Sculpture using S S Chief Wawatam parts. Or Seattle’s Northwest Seaport using parts of the lumber schooner Wawona for a celebrated wood sculpture. The object is to evict and then evoke. Save some pieces.

  36. City hall is a bully.
    Last term for this mayor?
    What other surprises are we going to pay for that his majestic magnificence will decree is good for us at our expense?

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