War of 1812 Sloop Replica Sails from South Haven

Editor's Note: Periodically, as the 200th Anniversary of notable events of the War of 1812 approaches and are commemorated, The Michigan Commission on the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 will post reminders of activities within Michigan and around the world. Following is the first of what will be many posts. May 1811 Detroit, Michigan Territory Yesterday, on the banks of the River Rouge, adjacent to the federal yard, which years ago built, launched, rigged and commissioned the United States army snow Adams, a private yard which was last fall commissioned to build a merchant vessel, hosted a joyful event. The Master builder and yard gang greased the ways, knocked out the stops and those present watched with pride as a new sloop slipped easily into the river and swam high on her lines, awaiting ballast, head rig and top hamper. Her owner, Oliver Williams, a dry good merchant, spoke a few words before his wife, Mary, christened the vessel, Friends Good Will. Also present was Captain William Lee, having recently resigned his command of the sloop, Contractor. He inspected the work with great interest, as upon her completion, Friends Good Will will serve as his next command. She will ply Lake Erie, Detroit to Buffalo and ports between, shipping goods and carrying passengers to the Northwest Territory. Amid events of national importance, leading up to and comprising the War of 1812, routine daily occurrences bore witness to normal persons with normal lives unfolding, unaware of the significance of their actions, or of what the near future would hold. We will follow the exploits of Friends Good Will over the next three years, not because she was special, but because she was typical. Her story exemplifies that of many vessels upon the Great Lakes. She was launched for another purpose than she ultimately served; born from a sense of optimism in the future, pressed by national emergency as a man o' war amid crisis spreading through the shore-side communities she served. For those interested in what Friends Good Will may have looked like, smelled like, sounded like as she heeled and put her shoulder to the breeze, a museum quality replica sails from the Michigan Maritime Museum, in South Haven, Michigan. Passage can be booked on www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org. The Michigan Commission on the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 is charged with encouraging, planning, and developing activities, events, programs, observances and services appropriate to commemorate Michigan's role in the War of 1812. More information can be found at www.michigan.gov/war1812. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources, and related economic interests for current and future generations. Copyright © 2011 State of Michigan Published: Mon, May 16, 2011