The following stories are taken with permission from the book, “The South Manitou Story” by Gerald E. Crowner, who was a surfman at the island Coast Guard station from 1926-28.
The book is available to purchase from the Manitou Islands Memorial Society, 15150 E. Michigan Ave., Galesburg, MI 49053. Call 269-492-8063 for further information.
*** The Swallow was Ben Johnson’s prides and joy. She was a staunch craft, around 30 foot in length and framed up heavily with prime oak. Her planking was heavy, too, being an inch and a half in thickness from stem to stern. She would have been a good icebreaker, but Ben never used her for those tasks. She was always pulled high and dry before winter struck the Manitous. Planks and rollers, heavy tackle and a strong Coast Guard and Lighthouse crew helped Ben pull her out each fall. The launching, each spring, was an easier task, but against help was needed by the C.G. and Lighthouse crews.
