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Page 119 100th Anniversary Cruise °4£obr0 June 20th, 1998 aboard the Diamond Belle By JOHN GATZ As I left the Great Lakes Maritime Institute Board of Directors meeting early last year, we had sel the plans in motion for a special cruise to Bob-Lo Island on June 20, 1998. This cruise would be on the 100th Birthday Celebration of the Bob-Lo Island. From the opening on June 20, 1898 to the Steamer STE. CLAIRE'S last departure from Detroit on September 2, 1991 at 6:00 PM, Bob-Lo Island has provided many people with a treasured destination on the Detroit River. The French-named Bois Blanc island is nearly three miles long and one half mile wide and approximately 18 miles downstream from downtown Detroit. It was nice to think that the island would again be visited by people with fond memories of boat rides on the Detroit River and island entertainment. Much has been written about the history of Bob-Lo Island. A Catholic mission was established by the French for the local Huron Indians in the early 1700's. In the late 1700's, Fort Malden was built across the river from Bob-Lo in Amherstberg by the British. Indians used Bob-Lo for their base camp so they could trade furs with the British. Tecumseh, the famous Indian leader, used the island for his raids on the Columbia, Detroit River, July 1979 U.S. mainland during the war of 1812. Photo by John Gatz Photo by John Gatz