By Peter Whorf
This time of year, the Great Lakes teems with ocean-bound shipping traffic headed all around the globe. Ann Arbor’s Roger LeLievre is well acquainted with the big ships. He spent his childhood in Sault St. Marie and grew up watching immense freighters sail the lakes and locks. At age 17, he spent a summer working aboard the
Roger LeLievre on the deck of the Ernest R. Breech. Image: Roger LeLievre.
Ernest R. Breech.
The Breech was among the Ford Motor Company’s fleet of ships, hauling raw materials for the auto industry. Ford ships also carried auto VIPs who traveled in style and comfort in passenger quarters. Roger LeLievre spent his summer of ’73 as a porter aboard the Breech.
Current State’s Peter Whorf speaks with LeLievre about his sailing story in the Michigan History Magazine article “Shipping Out For the Summer.”