MS Norgoma facts for kids
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The MS Norgoma was a special Canadian ship. It was a freighter that carried goods, a ferry that took passengers, and it could even carry a few cars! Built in 1950, it first used steam power. The Norgoma sailed on Lake Huron, connecting Owen Sound to Sault Ste. Marie. This trip took five days and helped people in small, faraway towns.
Later, the Norgoma was changed to use a motor instead of steam. It then moved to a busy ferry route between Tobermory and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. It sailed alongside its sister ship, the SS Norisle. The Norgoma was owned by the Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited and was built in Collingwood at the shipyards. It took the place of an older ship called the SS Manitoulin.
Early Journeys
The Norgoma mostly traveled on the North Channel route until 1963. During this time, new highways were being built in Ontario, like parts of the Trans-Canada Highway. These new roads made it easier for people to travel by car, which meant fewer people needed to use the ferry.
For example, a new road was finished in 1962 that went to Killarney. This was one of the first places the Norgoma would stop. At the same time, more and more cars wanted to cross between Manitoulin Island and Tobermory. The older ferries, the SS Norisle and MS Normac, couldn't carry enough cars.
A Big Change: Diesel Power
To help with the growing number of cars, the Norgoma got a big upgrade in 1963. Its old steam engine and boiler were taken out and replaced with a new diesel engine. This change allowed the ship to carry more cars.
Even with the new diesel engine, some parts of the ship, like the winches for lifting things and the anchor, still needed steam. So, a special steam generator was added. It was similar to the ones used on trains. The MS Norgoma started its new journey on the Tobermory route in 1964. One captain, Captain Schrieber, even said it was the first ship he commanded where he saw farm animals get seasick!
A New Home as a Museum
In 1974, both the Norgoma and the Norisle were replaced by a much bigger and more modern ferry called the MS Chi-Cheemaun. This new ship could carry more vehicles than both the Norgoma and Norisle put together!
After its ferry days were over, the Norgoma found a new purpose. It became a museum ship in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. In 1981, the ship was given to a charity called the St. Mary's River Marine Heritage Centre.
Recent Years
In early 2019, the city council in Sault Ste. Marie asked the charity to move the Norgoma. The charity suggested moving it to a dock at Roberta Bondar Park. However, city officials said the Norgoma was too big for that spot. It would stick out into the shipping lane and stop other boats from docking.
So, on June 4, 2019, the Norgoma was moved to a different place. This new spot was on land that used to belong to Algoma Steel and was not open to the public. In September 2019, the city took back the ship and put it up for sale. They said the charity had not followed their original agreement from 1981.
A plan to sell the ship to a company called Dwor Metal fell through in January 2023. The company's owner had wanted to fix up the ship for his own use, but the sale didn't happen. As of January 2023, the Norgoma is still docked at the old Algoma Steel property.
