HART SMITH'S KALEIDOSCOPE

Many thanks for stopping by to view my web site!

It contains a truly eclectic collection of material concerning so many different subjects that at least one or two items should prove interesting to just about every visitor who is old enough to read, learn and reminisce.

The INDEX below shows how diverse the contents of the KALEIDOSCOPE really are. You are welcome to leisurely brouse through as many of the these pages as appear to be of interest. This is only a very small part of my vast collection of memorabilia concerning Steam Trains, Steam Boats, Electric Interurbans, life as it was lived in America's smaller towns during the early 1900's, etc. Please come back again some time, because I still haven't scanned all the material that I want to include on these pages.---Hartland B. Smith

INDEX

Strawberries "R" In Season. If you can't wait to partake of a home made shortcake, if you are a true berry picker or grower or merely long to be one some day, hop over to THE BERRY PATCH. Warning! After wandering around these particular pages you may very well start drooling right onto your keyboard! It's surprising how luscious that fruit looks, even when it only appears on a computer monitor.

You're invited to peruse a sampling of MY RAILWAY PICTURE COLLECTION.

Read about a world famous type of LOGGING LOCOMOTIVE which was invented by Michigan resident Ephraim Shay.

During the 1930's the General Motors sponsored an annual model building contest known as THE FISHER BODY CRAFTSMEN'S GUILD. Click on the link to learn more about the Guild.

In the early part of the 20th Century, through many parts of the country, Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed Electric Interurban Service, a very convenient, rapid and relatively inexpensive mode of transportation from their farms and small towns to the nearest Big City. Click on THE PITTSBURGH, HARMONY, BUTLER AND NEW CASTLE ELECTRIC RY. and you'll see what these rural trolley lines actually looked like.

View ANN ARBOR RAILROAD'S MOTOR CAR NO. 3, an the old time "Doodlebug" that provided passenger service on branchline railways which suffered from rather low traffic densities. This page also contains an interesting short history concerning MCKEEN MOTOR CARS of which AA #3 is an excellent example.

If you are interested in Great Lakes Shipping history, I suggest that you hop over to "STEAMBOAT TALES AND PIX" where you'll find a number of old time photos and informative articles.

Before the Mackinac Straits Bridge was built, transportation between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace was provided by the Michigan State Highway Dept. Automobile Ferries. Among them was THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC

In the summer of 2002, what remains of THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC was towed to CHICAGO where it was sunk in Lake Michigan on April 10, 2003 for use as a scuba diving site.

In addition to the State's Auto Ferries, The Mackinac Transportation Company operated Ice Breaking Railroad Car Ferries between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. The largest of these was the CHIEF WAWATAM.

The fate of many Great Lakes ships was to be CONSUMED BY FIRE!

Although not as well known as Mackinac Island, Michigan's LES CHENEAUX ISLANDS resort area, is well worth visiting.

Take a look at Cruise Advertisements for THE CHICAGO, DULUTH & GEORGIAN BAY TRANSIT CO.

Among Michigan's prime tourist attractions are the SOO LOCKS where huge thousand foot vessels are raised and lowered at the point where Lake Superior joins the St. Marys River.

Important repairs to the MACARTHUR LOCK were made during the winter of 2000/2001.

Welcome Home To THE MILWAUKEE CLIPPER! It started out as the passenger steamer Juniata and ended its days as a cross Lake Michigan auto ferry. Here is a photo taken at Muskegon, Michigan on April 6, 1998 where it is now being restored to its former elegance by an eager group of ship enthusiasts.

Another vessel once scheduled to be used in cross Lake Michigan service was the AQUARAMA. CLICK HERE to see rare photos of this palatial excursion boat that spent most of its career operating in the Detroit and Cleveland areas.

Visit a FREE STREET FAIR which took place over 100 years ago in Owosso, Michigan and featured Fillian's three story high Spiral Ascensionist Rolling Globe Balancing Act.

Have A Team Of Horses. WILL MOVE A HOUSE. Even in the late 1920's horses were still used to move even large houses and similar structures from one part of town to another. Here's a photo and article which shows how these tasks were performed.

Do you enjoy eating anything with a chocolate flavor? Read how Edwina J. Lewis is ADDICTED TO CHOCOLATE.

Learn how a Monkey was trained toPLAY AN ELECTRIC ORGAN

You might even like to take a peek at MY FAMILY ALBUM where you can learn a little bit about my roots.

After you've checked out the KALEIDOSCOPE you may wish to visit some of my FAVORITE LINKS.