| A 1970s reproduction of the Armed Sloop
Welcome stands on a trailer in the field behind the Mackinaw City,
Michigan Harley-Davidson store. A local businessman purchased the sloop
from Emmet County in March 2017 for $10,111 and it may one day be on display
in the water nearby. For two years prior to its purchase, the Welcome was
stored in a purpose built barn at the Headlands International Dark Sky
Park, west of Mackinaw City.
The original Welcome was one of three cargo sailing vessels
which were built on the shore of the Straits of Mackinac in the mid 1770s.
They were constructed in present day Mackinaw City, Michigan for the British
merchant John Askin.
During the American Revolution, Askin sold the Welcome
to the British Governor of Michilimackinac, Major Arent Schuyler DePeyster,
for 900 pounds, and the Welcome was converted into an armed sloop of war.
Although there is no record of the Welcome's use in combat, it did serve
the British military for several years, including use in the transfer of
the Fort from the mainland to Mackinac Island. Following damage received
while laid up for the winter, the Welcome was declared unfit for further
service in 1782.
The present replica Welcome was constructed in the short
lived Michilimackinac Maritime Park during the 1970s. It was built under
a plastic shelter between the foot of the Mackinac Bridge and Old Mackinac
Point Lighthouse, which may have been close to where the original was built.
The 7 year project was an ongoing exhibit for the park and part of the
celebration of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. Following completion
in 1980, the Welcome was placed on exhibit in the Mackinaw City Marina
for ten years and occasionally sailed.
By 1990, the Welcome needed significant repairs and in
1991 the vessel was given to the Maritime Heritage Alliance and moved to
Traverse City. The Maritime Heritage Alliance worked on the Welcome for
14 years, nearly completely rebuilding the entire ship and replacing much
of the original Douglas Fir with Michigan White Oak.
Wooden ships take a lot of work and by 2014, the Welcome
was again in need of major work, more work then could be justified. The
engines were removed and after negotiations with Emmet County officials,
the ship was sold to the County for $1. The county moved it into this new
building at the Headlands where it awaited funding for restoration and
the construction of a building where would be displayed.
Election turnover on the Emmet County Board of Commissioners
changed those plans and The Welcome was sold by the county in 2017.
|
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Fort Mackinac
Fort Michilimackinac
Colonial Fort Michilimackinac in winter
Mackinac Island
Historic Mill Creek
Discovery Park |
