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Oral interview with Alice Poisson Cariano. Alice is the daughter of Captain Charles Poisson, Poisson Family steamboat captain, Reeds Lake late 1800s through 1955/6. Alice was born in and raised in East Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Oral interview with Alice Poisson Cariano. Alice is the daughter of Captain Charles Poisson, Poisson Family steamboat captain, Reeds Lake late 1800s through 1955/6. Alice was born in and raised in East Grand Rapids, Michigan.

SS Hazel A (1893 - ca 1923), seen in this photo at the steamer dock on the west shore, was a Reeds Lake steamboat originally built by Grand Rapids businessman, David Moses Amberg. The boat was named for his daughter Hazel Amberg. The boat was…

East Grand Rapids history of homes and streets, part 1, 2021

1893 - 1925/6
100 x 26 foot wooden hull.
Maximum capacity 350 people

Originally built and owned by Grand Rapids businessman David Amberg and captained by Captain Michael McCarthy. Eventually McCarthy became owner of the boat. There was…

The first Poisson steamboat on Reeds Lake, 1883. Owned and operated by Capt. John Honore Poisson. Originally built with a single deck. A second deck was added later and the boat was lengthened.
Built in Frankfort, Michigan. Sailed up the Grand…

1883 - 1902

Originally built as a single deck. A second deck was added later and the boat was widened.
Built in Frankfort, Michigan. Sailed up the Grand River to Wealthy Street. Teams of horses pulled it to Reeds Lake. This took better…

SS A.B. Watson at dock, in front of the Lakeside Club House (then known as the Colonial Club and then finally the O'Wash-ta-Nong Club, west shore Reeds Lake, circa 1910 - 1918. Rose's Swimming School & Bathing Beach in view

1923 - 1955 (dismantled in ‘56)
110 foot steel hull
Maximum capacity 435 people

Owned and operated by Charles Poisson, son of John.
The last captain of the SS Ramona was William Poisson, grandson of John.
On Sundays a band entertained…