Arnold Line’s MV Huron Marks First Spring Crossing

St. Ignace Mayor Bruce Dodson (left) greeted the first persons off Arnold Transit’s Huron, which happened to be City of Mackinac Island foreman Calvin “Cub” Horn (middle) and Island Mayor Margaret Doud. The two mayors have long held a tradition of greeting each other with the first passenger ferry to make it across the lake each spring

The 2005 ferry season officially began Wednesday, April 6, for Arnold Transit Company as the passenger ferry Huron traveled across Lake Huron from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace at 10 a.m. The boat carried a full load of island residents eager to step from winter to spring on the mainland.

At the dock ramp, St. Ignace Mayor Bruce Dodson extended the traditional greeting to Mackinac Island Mayor Margaret Doud as she and Mackinac Island’s city foreman, Calvin "Cub" Horn, stepped off the boat.

The Huron’s crew included Captain Paul Allers, who has been with the company for 53 years, the ship’s engineers, Jeff Gamble and Jim Webster, ticket purser Ron Halberg, and deckhand Keith Dufton, who also serves as captain for Arnold Transit.

Arnold Transit broke ice near the Favorite Dock and Dock No. 1 in St. Ignace Monday, April 4, with its freight barge, Islander. Much of the ice that had covered the Straits had melted or drifted away last week.

Arnold Transit will operate five round-trip departures daily between Mackinac Island and St. Ignace until May 4, when it will then switch to an extended schedule.

Shepler’s Mackinac Ferry will begin its freight business in a couple of weeks. Its passenger ferry service will begin in Mackinaw City Friday, April 29, and in St. Ignace Thursday, May 5.

Star Line passenger service begins Monday, April 25, from its main dock in St. Ignace and Friday, May 6, from Mackinaw City. The Railroad Dock in St. Ignace will open Friday, May
27.

Arnold Transit’s spring departures from St. Ignace to the Island are at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:15 p.m. Departures from the Island to St. Ignace are 8:15 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.