Sport: Ship Dog of the great LakeS

Sport was a stray puppy rescued from the Milwaukee River by crew members of the lighthouse tender Hyacinth. For the next twelve years, this charming dog lived the exciting life of a ship dog, helping the Hyacinth crew as they carried supplies to lighthouses and maintained the buoys and other safety features around Lake Michigan. Sport quickly became a valued companion to his crew and a recognizable mascot of the lake— making friends in every port.

A few years ago, Pamela Cameron, a retired librarian living in Portage, along with her husband, became volunteer lighthouse keepers. They both wanted to find out more about the history of lighthouses. While Pamela was reading Bruce Robert’s book, Great Lakes Lighthouses, she stumbled upon a small passage about the true story of Sport and became intrigued.

She knew Sport’s story should not be forgotten, and that there was a need for true stories about the Great Lakes. She traveled to the National Archives to read ship logbooks, com- municated with maritime experts and did lots of research to be able to write this historically accurate book titled, Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes.

Readers share in Sport’s adventures while discovering the various ways lighthouse tender ships helped keep the lake safe for mariners. Helpful diagrams, a map, and a historical note supplement this engaging 32-page story. The book is enjoyable for all ages, especially those interested in dogs, lighthouses and Great Lakes history.

Sport’s story, from 1914-1926 is a chance for children and adults to see the ships, buildings, and people of that era, especially given the realistic illustrations by illustrator Renée Graef. Their goal was to allow readers to recognize that Sport represents someone, in this case a very large Newfoundland-Retriever mix who is taken in, taken care of, and loved by strangers. It is a universal story, told in a historical context. “Sport had more friends, or should I say acquaintances around the shores of Lake Michigan than any man on ship today. Sport was just a dog, but he was always a good dog and a good shipmate, a friend to everybody and everybody’s friend,” said Hyacinth Captain Harry Maynard, 1926. Sport was even the mascot for the Hyacinth baseball team, playing against teams from other ships, or in port cities and towns. Sport appeared in the baseball team pictures from that era.

Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes, has received three prestigious awards since being published in 2019, including: the 2020 Michigan Notable Book Award, by the Library of Michigan, The State History Award by the Historical Society of Michigan and the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. “I hope that the book has encouraged families to visit historical sites such as lighthouses in Michigan. My hope is that if anyone stands at the base of the lighthouse or climbs the spiral staircase to the lantern room and looks out over a body of water they can be transported back in time, and perhaps Sport helped make that possible,” says Pamela Cameron. Sport: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes, can be found or ordered from: Michigan News Agency, Bookbug,

Kazoo

Books, Lowry’s, Gilbert & Ivy, bookshop.org and Amazon.

Pamela is available to do talks for a variety of ages and interests, including: schools, libraries, and general and historical organizations. Please contact the author for more information or to arrange visits connected to curriculum and maritime topics via webpage: www.sportshipdog.com or email: pjcameron2500@gmail.com.

Historical note: Sport passed from old age on July 19, 1926 and was buried 2 miles off Ludington. The US Coast Guard has recently honored Sport with a wreath laying to remember him, also sponsored by the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association and the Port of Ludington Maritime.

Jackie Merriam