Some things about the S.S. South American from 1919 to 1978 in Door County newspapers
From the July 10, 1919 Door County News
The fine steamer South American stopped in port briefly on the Fourth while bound north with an excursion party from Chicago which had chartered the big boat for a trip to Mackinac Island and return.
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From the September 11, 1925 Door County Advocate
K. C.'s Enjoy Outing Here—The big steamer South American arrived here Monday noon with several hundred members of the Chicago Knights of Columbus. They were met at the Goodrich dock by members of the local order and given a ride about the city and surrounding country in cars during the afternoon. Souvenirs consisting of apples and booklets telling of the beauties of Door county were given them and everything possible done to make their stay a pleasant one.
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From the June 24, 1937 Door County News
BOAT STOP HERE IS CANCELLED; HITCH IN PLANS
A large crowd of local people turned out Saturday afternoon, following an appeal by the Door County Chamber of Commerce, to extend a welcome to an excursion party of Washington, D. C., and Baltimore, Md., Shriners who passed through the bay on board the S.S. South American. The big boat was scheduled to stop at the Municipal dock here for a short time, but something went wrong with the arrangements. Local plans for entertaining the excursion party had to be dropped when the boat continued on through the draw bridge and out into Green Bay, and thence on its trip to Duluth.
Reasons expressed for the failure of the South American to make the stop here were that the barge Milwaukee of the government engineering department was moored about midway between the north and south ends of the dock. With a strong south wind blowing the captain may have feared an accident should he attempt to swing in such a short space.
Local entertainment plans included a short tour of orchards in the vicinity of the city, and a large number of automobiles were ready to transport Shriners, who represented Almas Temple at Washington and Boumi Temple at Baltimore.
From the June 25, 1936 Door County Advocate
KEEP THE DOCK CLEAR
Sturgeon Bay has a municipal dock that can be made good use of, but some one with authority should have charge of it, so as to keep it open for craft that are scheduled to stop there. When boats the size of the North and South American are scheduled to stop at the municipal dock, they need all the room possible, especially if the wind is blowing. This was demonstrated in the case of the South American when it could not make a landing Saturday afternoon as scheduled. It is possible that if the U. S: Engineering Department tow barge Milwaukee had been moored elsewhere than at the adjoining dock the South American might have been able to have docked. However, with the wind blowing a gale as it was at the time, it would have been most difficult to get away from the dock and make the bridge.
From now on it can be expected that yachts will be making this port on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, and the dock should be kept clear for these craft. The U. S. Engineering Dept. boats have been in the habit of mooring at the municipal dock on Saturdays and Sundays. While Sturgeon Bay welcomes these boats in making this port their headquarters over the weekend, as many men from here are employed on them, we believe that with the proper understanding captains of these craft will be glad to cooperate with the city in mooring their craft at some other dock than the municipal dock.
From the June 16, 1955 Resorter Reporter
The S.S. South American is the next ship scheduled for a stop on June 15 with four hundred Cleveland Chamber of Commerce members with their wives, also the Mayor of Cleveland and his councilmen.
Great plans are being made by the Door County Chambers of Commerce, being hosts to this group.
The welcoming committee will consist of: Mayor Stanley R. Greene, County Board Chairman Lawrence Johnson; Past President, D. C. Pisha; Past President, George Baudhuin; Chamber President, D Newton, and Secretary, George Resch.
Plans are for a short welcoming ceremony at Martin Park, starting at 5:30 p.m. and a typical and famous Door county fish boil at 6:00 with past master Chef Herman Birnschein of Egg Harbor.
Music will be furnished by the Sturgeon Bay high school band.
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From the Tuesday, July 12, 1960 Door County Advocate
Following is ,a letter to a local man from an executive of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. We thought the figures worthy of note.
It was indeed good to see you when we visited Sturgeon Bay last week. Both Erv and I regretted that we did not have an opportunity to be together for a major portion of the day.
However, from a passenger standpoint it was a most interesting and enjoyable stop. The Elks did a magnificent job with the Fish Boil and we thoroughly enjoyed the cherry juice which was dispensed at the dock and given to us at departure. Rose and I bought some of the cherry products — juice, meat sauce, soup and jelly — at the park. It's all really delicious and we're going to look for the products in our stores.
Speaking of stores, from memory and by checking some of the advertisements in your book, I was able to direct people around town. I think the Corner House and Paul's got the biggest play. You'll be interested in a "spot check" Erv and I did at dinner aboard the S.S. South American. We checked better than 10% of our passengers — the result indicated an average expenditure of $20 per adult or nearly $7,000, plus $2.50 per person for the Fish Boil.
We shall all look forward to the time when we can return to Door county.
RANDALL M. RUHLMAN
Vice Pres. and Sec.
From the February 14, 1978 Door County Advocate
Want to renovate S.S. South American
The old white cruise ship South American may rise again.
Jeff DeGayner, a Mackinac Island businessman, has made a down payment on the 65 year old vessel and is looking for more investors to help restore her.
The snip, which used to stop at Sturgeon Bay, has been inactive since 1967. It was launched in 1913.
Articles are courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive