THE FOUNDRY / STORIES WE KEEP
Boblo Memories Belong Here
Come see our small Boblo display in downtown Pontiac—and help us bring the Boblo community together this fall.
Some of you remember the boat ride better than the island.
The whistle. The breeze off the river. Standing at the railing, watching the shoreline slip past. That feeling that the adventure had already started before you ever reached Boblo.
Others remember a favorite ride, a summer job, a school trip, or somebody who always went with them.
Those are the stories we want to hear at The Foundry.
A small display. A lot to remember.
We’ve put together a small Boblo display at The Foundry by History Loves Company in downtown Pontiac, and we’d love for you to stop in and check it out.
You don’t need to be a collector or remember every date. If Boblo meant something to you, you already have something to contribute.
Come take a look. Bring somebody who remembers it. Tell us what comes back.
Maybe it’s the ride you were finally tall enough to get on. Maybe it’s the person who held your hand on the boat. Maybe you worked there and remember what happened after the guests went home.
A little display can start a pretty big conversation.
I’ve gotten to know Boblo through you
I never had the chance to ride the Boblo boats as a kid. But through the comments on our History Loves Company videos, I’ve gotten to experience pieces of those days through the people who were there.
You’ve told me about family traditions, first jobs, friendships, and people you wish you could take one more trip with.
Then I got to step aboard the SS Ste. Claire myself, meet Ron and Steve, and hear about the work going into its restoration. By that point, I was carrying a lot of your stories with me.
I can show you a place. You can tell me what it felt like when it was part of your life.
COME ABOARD WITH ME
Inside the SS Ste. Claire
Watch our walkthrough, then bring your own memories to The Foundry.
PLANNED FOR THIS FALL
Boblo Day at The Foundry
The island. The boats. The memories we still carry.
Proposed date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Planned time: 1–4 PM Eastern
Location: The Foundry, downtown Pontiac
Planned admission: Free, with reserved screening seats
We’re finalizing the arrangements. Confirmed event details and the reservation link will be announced here and through History Loves Company.
Let’s get the Boblo people in the same room
Former employees. Families who went every summer. People who remember the boats. Collectors, history lovers, and anyone who wants to hear what made Boblo so memorable.
We’re planning an afternoon to explore the display, watch our History Loves Company Boblo documentary, and spend time sharing stories.
I want to leave room for the conversations that happen when somebody says, “Wait—you remember that too?”
You won’t need a prepared speech. You’re welcome to share a memory or simply pull up a chair and listen.
What we’re planning
- Time to explore our small Boblo display and meet other guests.
- A screening of our Boblo documentary.
- A conversation about the island, the boats, and the people who made those days special.
- A chance to show photographs and memorabilia you choose to bring.
- Time to browse The Foundry’s local makers, small businesses, and vintage finds.
Bring a memory. Maybe a photograph.
A family picture from the boat. A ticket you kept. A postcard, a souvenir, or a story from a summer spent working on the island.
Photographs on your phone and copies of older pictures are welcome. Anything you bring stays yours unless we separately agree otherwise. We’ll ask before recording or publishing your story.
And if you don’t have an object to bring, come anyway. Sometimes the detail nobody thought to photograph is the one that makes everybody in the room smile.
What comes back first?
The boat ride—or your favorite ride on the island?
The person who always took you?
A friendship that started with a summer job?
A sound, a smell, or a moment you haven’t thought about in years?
Help us shape Boblo Day
If you worked at Boblo, have family photographs or home movies, or would like to share a memory during the gathering, I’d love to hear from you while we put the day together.
Tell us your connection to Boblo and whether you’d be interested in attending. Sharing your interest does not reserve a screening seat; we’ll announce reservations once the details are confirmed.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FALL
Come see the display
Stop into The Foundry during our regular business hours. Take a look at the Boblo display, bring a friend, and explore the businesses sharing our space inside the historic Riker Building.
The Foundry by History Loves Company
35 W Huron Street, Suite 101
Downtown Pontiac, Michigan
Follow History Loves Company on Facebook or subscribe to Stories We Keep for the confirmed Boblo Day announcement.
If somebody immediately came to mind while you were reading this, send it to them. They might be exactly the person we’re hoping will walk through the door.
Boblo gave a lot of people a day they never forgot.
This fall, let’s get some of those people together.
— Chris
History Loves Company
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