RIVERBOAT ca. 1902, at her permanent berth at Port Dalhousie. In 2003 when I took this photo she a floating seafood restaurant “BIG KAHUNA”. Restaurant staff had no info on the boat butt hanks to tonylast we now have this vessel's history.
This would be, I'm certain, the former steam fire boat *James R. Elliot,* built 1902 at Port Huron, Michigan, as hull no. 19 for the City of Detroit. She was sold into Canadian registry in 1930 and converted at Midland, Ontario, to the small passenger motor vessel *Normac,* operating on Georgian Bay between Owen Sound, Ontario, and Manitoulin Island for the Dominion & Owen Sound TranspCoLtd., Owen Sound. Her name reflected that of the founderer of D&OSTCoLtd., Norman McKay. In 1968 she was retired from service and the following year sold to a Toronto restauranteur, converted to a floating restaurant, and renamed unofficially "Captain John's." She sank at her dock in 1981, was removed from Canadian registry in 1982, was raised four years later, and in 1989 was brought to Cleveland, Ohio, for use as a restaurant. She was sold in 1995 to Pt. Dalhousie owners and it appears, thanks to your fine views, continues as a floating restaurant. Here is how she looked as *Normac:*
http://www.ontarioferries.com/chi/english/images/about/ships_large/normac2L.jpg
Place of Build: Port Huron, MI/Builder: Jenks Ship Building Co./Date of Build:1902/Length: 110.00’/Width: 25.00’ / Depth: 12.00 ‘/NT: 114.00/GT: 210.00