Inspired by a classic children’s book, the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
is launching a trio of toy boats made by a member into the Great Lakes.

By Bobby Tanzilo
Senior Editor/Writer
Published with permission of the website OnMilwaukee, where the story appeared June 28, 2021

When the pandemic shut down the Milwaukee Public Library, the activities of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society – whose archives are located in the Central Library – shifted online and some new activities were created.

One of them was a book/movie club that has led to a fun new event.

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The book club is reading Holling Clancy Holling’s “Paddle-to-the-Sea,” which was selected after a model boat was found on a sand beach up in Ashland, says WMHS President Carl Eisenberg.

The boat was 27 years old and had been made by second graders at a school near Duluth, Minnesota.

“Paddle-to-the-Sea,” published in 1941, is the story of a boy who carves a canoe and adds the message “Please put me back in the water. I am Paddle-to-the-Sea” before setting it into the Great Lakes hoping it will reach the Atlantic Ocean.

“Our Executive Director, Suzette Lopez, saw a Facebook post about this discovery and suggested that the WMHS might want to build a boat,” says Eisenberg. “That started the WMHS’s Little Toot project.”

Board member Joe Grygny built and decorated three Little Toot boats.

“One will eventually be displayed in the library, Little Toot #1 will be launched into Lake Michigan, and Little Toot #2 was launched into Lake Superior from the Kaye E. Barker on June 9 by a member.”

It was discovered after eight days on the water, says Eisenberg.

“Little Toot #2 was launched from the Kaye E. Barker by WMHS member Craig Olson, who lives in Fox Point and who works aboard the Barker as a wheelsman,” he says. “On June 17, Little Toot #2 was found floating upside down by the log slide by a family while fishing off of Grand Marais (Michigan).

“Lauren and John Shuman were in Curtis, Michigan, on Big Manistique Lake and are from Canal Fulton, Ohio. Their 2-year-old son, John Andrew Shuman (pictured below with his dad), loves all boats, cars and tractors.”

Weather hasn’t played well with plans to launch Little Toot #1, though it was christened on June 9 by Mequon’s Duke Gordon and Wauwatosa’s Ryerson Winters, whose grandparents and parents, respectively, are WMHS board members.

Now the plan is to launch it on Wednesday, June 30, at 10 a.m. at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, which is providing motor boats for the launch.

Bon voyage, Little Toot #1!

Top photo
Ryerson Winters of Wauwatosa christening Little Toot #1. Photo Credit: Chris Winters

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