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The Steamship Florence was built in Grand Haven, Michigan in 1869. It was purchased by Captain John Honore Poisson in 1882. The original steel-hulled 54 foot boat was single decked. In 1890 a second deck was added:
Gross tonnage: 26; net tonnage:…

In 1890 Captain Poisson added an upper deck and expanded the length of the SS Florence.

The SS Florence, originally a single deck steel hull steamboat was lengthened and widened by her owner Captain John Honore Poisson, in 1890. She plied Reeds Lake until the Captain's death in 1901. John's son, Joseph Poisson helped captain this boat.…

The SS Florence was John Honore Poisson's first large steamboat. It plied Reeds Lake from 1883 to 1901. It was sold to a party in Muskegon, Michigan in 1902 and sailed on Mona Lake.

"Lake Harbor Park is a 189 acre park located on Lake Harbor Road,…

After John Honore Poisson died in 1901 his property on the west shore of Reeds Lake [in the approximate location of the Grand Rapids Yacht Club, 2023] is under ownership of Frank H. Berles. Berles sells the lakefront land and with it the SS Florence.

The Poisson family had a fleet of smaller steamers. The Sport was the early one. Newspaper clippings of the day seemed to exaggerate the number of passengers that could ride this vessel.

The Poisson family had a fleet of smaller steamers. The Sport was the early one. Newspaper clippings of the day seemed to exaggerate the number of passengers that could ride this vessel.

SS Major A.B. Watson, 1894 - 1921
Civil War Major Amasa Brown Watson was a friend of Reeds Lake steamboat Captain John Honore Poisson. After Watson died in 1888 Poisson named his newly built steamboat after the Major. Watson was a lumberman and a…

1895 - 1902 It met its demise by fire on August 3, 1902.
The Lakeside Club was established in January 1895. In early February 1895 its articles of association were filed with the Kent County Clerk. Those involved with the incorporation included Boyd…

House history of Cotswold Lane SE