Rob Alway

Scottville

Editor-in-Chief at Mason County Press

Photographer, editor, writer, journalist, historian.

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masoncountypress.com

Articles

Ludington State Park, Big Sable Point Lighthouse to reopen early

1 week ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefHAMLIN TOWNSHIP — After being closed since Sept. 3, 2024, the Ludington State Park is reopening on Wednesday, June 25, five days earlier than originally planned. The park has been closed for $2.635 million in renovations paid from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID relief funds provided to the state of Michigan during the pandemic.
Boat Blog: Two vessels visit Manistee for Father’s Day weekend

1 week ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

Great Lakes Boat Blog is a presentation of Filer Credit Union, with offices in Manistee, Ludington and Bear Lake, www.filercu.com; Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com; and the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington. Please be sure to visit our companion site, www.greatlakesboatblog.com for more photographs.
Muskegon has seen great success with cruise ships

2 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefMUSKEGON — Cruise ships have been visiting Muskegon, just 60 miles south of Ludington, on a regular basis for the past nine years, thanks to the foresight of the Muskegon County government. The main dock for the three cruise ship lines that visit Muskegon is Heritage Landing, which is owned by the county.
W.L. Mercereau, father of the Ludington car ferry fleet

2 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

This Maritime History Blog is a presentation of the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefThe debut of the Pere Marquette 17 car ferry in 1901 marked a new era for the Ludington car ferries. It was also a testament to the Pere Marquette Railway’s new superintendent of water lines who led the operation for the next three decades.
Rural Fire Authority’s CPR machines increase chances of survival

2 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefRIVERTON TOWNSHIP — Performing CPR on a patient who is experiencing cardiac arrest can be tiresome and inconsistent. To help alleviate this issue, the Mason County Rural Fire Authority found a solution by purchasing three devices, called LUCAS machines, that provide mechanical chest compressions.
The PM 21, 22 capstans

3 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefThis Maritime History Blog is a presentation of the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington. LUDINGTON — Two historic car ferry capstans are on display in the City of Ludington. They belonged to sister car ferries Pere Marquette 21 and Pere Marquette 22, each built in 1924 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. of Manitowoc, Wis.
House severely damaged by dune grass fire

3 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefSUMMIT TOWNSHIP — Multiple emergency agencies responded to what began as a dune grass fire that turned into a house fire Monday afternoon just north of the Mason-Oceana counties line. Riverton Fire Department was initially called to Montgomery Drive south of the Bass Lake outlet near Lake Michigan at 12:50 p.m. for a reported dune grass fire.
SS City of Milwaukee offers unique Boatel overnight experience

3 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefMANISTEE — Would you like a unique overnight experience? Consider staying at the SS City of Milwaukee museum ship’s Boatel. The 360-foot-long City of Milwaukee is docked on Manistee Lake along US 31. The ship was built in Manitowoc, Wis. 1931 and operated most of its career for the Grand Trunk Railroad from Muskegon to Wisconsin. The ship briefly operated for the Ann Arbor Railroad in Frankfort before ending operations in 1981.
Two vessels arrive at Ludington Sunday morning

3 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

Great Lakes Boat BlogGreat Lakes Boat Blog is a presentation of Filer Credit Union, with offices in Manistee, Ludington and Bear Lake, www.filercu.com and the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefSunday, June 1, 2025LUDINGTON — Ludington boat watchers got a treat Sunday morning when two vessels arrived in port within about 30 minutes of each other.
The wooden PM 16, a mixture of historical significance - good and bad

4 weeks ago | masoncountypress.com | Rob Alway

This Maritime History Blog is a presentation of the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-ChiefThe service of the SS Pere Marquette 16, the only wooden car ferry to operate in the Ludington fleet, was a mixture of historical significance — both good and bad. The ship, under a different name, was one of the first of two car ferries to sail on Lake Erie.