PUT-IN-BAY – As a young boy, Captain Sean Whelan of Arnold Transit Company in Michigan developed a strong attachment to the ferries that started with Miller Boat Line on Put-in-Bay, particularly the West Shore and South Shore. Both vessels were sold long ago to make room for new ferries in the Miller fleet, and they sailed away to Michigan, where the West Shore was later renamed the Anna May.
This year, to commemorate the ferry’s history, Arnold Transit Company renamed the Anna May the West Shore, and Whelan captains the boat that captured his heart many years ago.
But Whelan’s first love was the South Shore, which included daily trips to Beaver Island, which his family visited frequently.
“As a kid, I remember hanging out by the South Shore,” Whelan told me.
Whelan was so enamored with the South Shore as a child that he contacted William Market, who owned Miller Boat Line with his wife, Mary Ann, to learn more about the ship’s history. Miller Boat Line is currently owned by William and Mary Ann’s children, Billy, Julene, and Scott.
“When I was a young kid, I wrote Miller Boat Line, and William Market wrote me back,” Whelan recalls. “I had a connection to the South Shore and inquired if he had any old photographs. He sent me photos and a copy of the inspection.”
When the West Shore began to visit Beaver Island, Whelan discovered a second love. Today, he captains the West Shore and transports passengers from Arnold’s St. Ignace dock to Mackinac Island and back.
“When the West Shore came to the island later, it never dawned on me that one day I’d be the captain of it,” he remembered.
The West Shore has a long history on the Great Lakes. It was built in 1947 as a passenger and vehicle ferry for Miller Boat Line before being sold to Beaver Island’s Bud Martin in 1998. It became a freight hauler on Lake Michigan. Bay City Cruises purchased it in 2008 with the intention of using it as a touring boat, but that did not happen.
In 2013, it was sold again, this time to Mackinac’s Star Line, who renamed the ship the Anna May. For many years, the Anna May hauled cargo during the day and hosted sunset cruises on Lake Michigan in the evening.
When Star Line rebranded as Arnold Transit Company, Whelan approached the owners about restoring the West Shore name.
“I’m a history buff, and I always liked the West Shore name,” he told me. “When we did the rebranding of the company, I asked about changing the name of the Anna May back to the West Shore, which was its name for over 60 years.”
The West Shore’s name was changed in May, and the ferry is now back to its original purpose of carrying passengers. The ship has a liquor license, and passengers can enjoy leisurely trips to Mackinac Island while holding a drink in one hand and a snack in the other, surrounded by a legacy of service and history.
“It’s been very popular. “It’s a nice, comfortable ride,” Whelan explained. “They don’t make boats like that anymore.”
The West Shore is Mackinac Island’s oldest operating ferry, and there’s a reason it’s been around since 1947. William Market had the foresight to keep it out of saltwater, which would eventually erode and destroy it.
“My father knew he’d have to sell the vessels as he replaced them. But what my father had in mind, and I love this, was that he would not sell them to anyone in saltwater,” Julene explained. “He had offers, but Dad declined. He stated that we will keep these vessels in the Great Lakes and freshwater.
Julene recalls when each vessel was sold and permanently left the dock.
“When we sold the vessels, we had farewell parties with former captains and community members,” she told me. “It was like saying goodbye to an old friend when they floated away for the last time.”
The name change was an unexpected addition to Miller Boat Line’s 120th anniversary celebrations this year. The news that the West Shore’s name had been restored sparked joy throughout the island. Their beloved West Shore had returned from the dead.
“It wasn’t just my family that was happy; it was the whole island community,” Julene stated. “Year-round and summer residents – it made everyone very happy. People began reminiscing. “It was an emotional, nostalgic moment.”
