A FERRY GOOD IDEA 2: A couple of footnotes to the last entry...

1. The Port's 1999 feasibility study (by TranSystems and Leeper, Cambridge & Campbell -- unfortunately not online) says:

"Regular steamer service between Port Stanley and Cleveland started in the 1870's and was terminated just prior to WWII. Since WWII, there have been several attempts to re-introduce a new service. However, to date there have been no successful ventures."

I can't find anything about this history through Google, and it's definitely not mentioned in the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. If anyone who reads this knows anything else I'd love to hear about it. Email me here.

2. The Port of Erie, Pennsylvania also has a Federal grant to plan a ferry service to Canada. Ditto Rochester. Here's a recent article from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle about the Erie project. Note that Erie plans to acquire the boat and facilities itself and then lease it to a private operator.