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Karl R. Josker | all galleries >> Buffalo >> Crystal Beach > The Canadiana
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1984 Karl R. Josker

The Canadiana

This was the last time the Canadiana looked like the Canadiana. Someone got the bright idea to remove the superstructure, tow it to a backwater in Port Colborne, and let it sit on the bottom for a decade or more. After its' Crystal Beach days were over, it was used as an excursion boat in various areas, then a restaurant in Cleveland, until it sank in the Cayuhoga River. It was raised and towed back to Buffalo, I'm guessing sometime in the 80's. And now it's just a sad hull that held thousands upon thousands of happy memories. Remember her this way.


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Frederick j. Maher 29-Jul-2016 14:45
Frederick j. Maher 29-Jul-2016 14:44
Jim Vince owned it for about 15 years in Cleveland .when he opened it up as a restrant the city soon shut it down stating that it didn't me the fire codes .Which was not true pressure was put on the city by Jims competition and led to the closing of over 10 years of hard work and Jims dream that he had tried so hard to make happen.He then leased it to some business men with the intent to reopen the restrant.They forgot for one reason or another to pay the electric bill which shut off the pumps that remove the water from the ship.And that is what caused her to sink on the cuyahoga.And Jim Vincis dream sank with it .To anyone who cares he did his best to keep her alive.By the way Jim was murdered in1985 I miss him he was a true person of vision.Rest in plece Jimmy.
Joseph A 26-Jun-2016 12:25
Hey guys, I actually just had a long conversation with my grandfather yesterday about crystal beach and what it was all about. My grandfather is a old school person who does not show a lot of enthusiasm about pretty much anything as far as getting very excited about something. We brought up crystal beach and he was going for hours about the riots, and the fun that it used to be. I was on today looking up the history to get all the details about this because I am trying to put something together very nice for him. He mentioned about wishing he had picture of the Canadiana with the dock and the people playing in the water. If you guys have any extra photos besides the ones that come from google images and don't mind sharing. Please send to scrapmanjoejr@Gmail.com
Gary 23-Feb-2011 20:13
The Canadiana was brought back from Ohio about 1985 if memory serves me right. I knew some of the folks involve with it at the time and my wife and I were allowed to board it shortly after it's arrival back, at the time it was moored by the NFTA dock terminal building off Furmann Blvd. We were only on the first deck but the superstucture was in really rough shape. It had sunk in teh Cayahoga River in Clevelenad and the slime at the water level left an oily sludge mark around the walls where the sunken water level had been. The wood structure was severely rotten. I understand coast gaurd regulations prevent passenger ships like this from having wood so the entire supestructure needed to be replaced anyway. Also, the entire superstructure leaned to one side as the Canadiana had sunk at an angle in the Cuyahoga, when they raised her the cranes that helped lif bent the structure to the angle it was in when it returned to Buffalo.
In Cystal Beaches final years, a Paino Roll firm on Niagara street brought a smaller version of the Canadiana, Block Island I think, to run from Buffalo to Crystal beach. I don't recall it being viable and it ended service before crystal beach closed for good.
Bruce Hoffmann 11-Jun-2008 23:44
I remember "The Crystal Beach Boat" like it was yesterday. I remember boarding the boat at the end of Main Street, watching the engine working through the open engine room door, hearing "Rock Around The Clock" for the first time on the jukebox (my Dad listened to WBEN), just having a ball running around and having a ball on that big boat! Thanks for all the pictures in all your albums.
W. DIEBOLD 25-Nov-2006 20:43
I REMEMBER HER AS JUST THE CRYSTAL BEACH BOAT BUT WHAT FUN WE HAD ON HER...GREAT TIME AND FOOD AT THE BEACH. GOD BLESS YOU REAL BIG FOR A GREAT SITE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BUFFALO I LIVE IN BRYANT ARKANSAS NOW . I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A CHILDRENS HOME CALLED THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER IT OR HAVE ANY PICTURES OF IT THANKS AGAIN
Sharon 24-Aug-2006 13:02
I rememeber it all - as a youingster, the fun of being there and the great rides, having a cottage and going up to the park before the Canadiana left for the day and being given leftover tickets from whatever "special" day it was, and then riding and eating everthing there.

As a youing adult, the park took on a different role - THE place to go for a date (especially if you had already gone to the fall many times).

I remember the smells of waffles, french fries with white vinegar, all day suckers, and the hustle and bustle of the people in the park.

As a young parent, I remember bringing our own children to the park, to capture some of our own remembered fun - going on rides like the railroad with them, and spending the day at the beach - what fun we had!

I especially remember the sadness I felt when the park finally closed.

The kids of today may have their Disney World, Fantasy Island and Darien Lake, but we will always have our memories fo Crystal Beach
DICK PENKSA 08-Sep-2005 02:08
WAS TAUGHT TO JITTERBUG 55 YRS AGO TO THE TUNE OF SHANGHAI BY DORIS DAY ON THE DANCE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE JUKE BOX ON THE OLD BOAT AND THE GAL THAT TAUGHT ME IS NOW MY WIFE OF 52 YEARS. SPECIAL MEMORIES OF THE CANADIANA FOR US BOTH!!!!!!THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIENDS WE THOUGHT WOULD NEVER END........
Tony Caggiano 11-Aug-2005 04:11
My parents met on the Canadiana and I bought them a print of her and had it framed. I remember when they unwrapped it and the joy on both their faces. My dad has passed but my mom is still going strong at 88 and that print still remains one her favorite things. Mine too. After all, if it wasn`t for the Canadiana.......where would I be today?.....Thanks for the memories
Amir FaSaad 24-Apr-2005 14:15
I'm 5. Mom or dad hand me some boat bought Cotton-Candy. Never had anything like it! Still glomming the remains of the CC when the wind kicks up. The flat-bottomed vessel starts-a-rockin' on the shallow lake. Uuuhhhhh ... oh no !! My inaugural voyage and first time CC meet on the floor in the form of ... vomit !?!
Ugly, but true.
Mark C. Judd 01-Jan-2005 19:56
Greetings. I currently own the 15-acre site of the old "American Shipbuilding and Buffalo Dry-dock Company" facility, told to me as the oldest maritime facility on the Great Lakes. It is the birthplace of both the Canadiana and Americana. I am very proud to continue the maritime heritage of this site and great city of Buffalo New York. I am president and CEO of BIDCO Marine Group, Inc located on Ganson Street in Buffalo (www.bidcomarine.com). For those that do not know, the Canadiana has been scraped is no longer intact. There are only memories and salvaged portions of her left and even those are scattered about. I posses one of her mooring bits, which was pulled from the scrap heap by some caring BIDCO employees and now adorns my museum like office along with several photos of the 'ol girls lying in dry-dock at my place in 1918. Efforts are underway to save and restore to working condition her old steam engine (all 40 tons of it), which was spared the scrapper’s torch, and the pilothouse although rotten from neglect, currently sits across from the Great Northern Elevator waiting to be restored. It is the intent of several enthusiasts to restore and display these maritime artifacts at Buffalo's proposed new Great Lakes Museum to be located adjacent to the new Bass Pro Mega Store (Buffalo Memorial Auditorium). I have agreed to sponsor these activities at my shipyard and support the relocation/restoration efforts of both. Although, I am primarily a sweat equity donator to these efforts, those in charge and undertaking the preservation are seeking financial contribution and have formed a "not for profit" in this regard. Any interested parties can contact me directly and I will forward information to pertinent parties, as I am unaware at this moment of that e-mail info. These folks have passion about this project and need your help if you are able to give it. I have confidence that with support from those such as you, that their dream will become reality. I encourage your support.
Andy 15-Aug-2004 16:29
I was talking to someone that I worked with and he told me that we cleared the Americana, not the Canadiana, now I feel silly..... sorry
ANDY 14-Aug-2004 16:25
I am a Customs Inspector. At the beginning of my career, we used to drive from the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie to Crystal Beach and clear the passengers disembarking from the Canadiana. I got to go all over that boat. It is the final memories of a wonderful park. Where my father worked, Thompson Products, they used to hold their family picnics at Crystal Beach. So as a kid, we used to go every summer from as far back as I can remember up to being a teenager. I am so happy to have seen this site. All the pictures brought back such happy memories.
Warren Walters 04-Apr-2004 02:20
What a boat. Three floors of fun (for a kid). Except my interest in engines often found me glued to that screened door which allowed you to peer into the engine room below. Watching the pistons moving in and out and the smell of steam were as much fun as the rides yet to be ridden. Prior to WW2 gambling (slots) were on board. As soon as the boat cleared the harbor covers would be taken from the machines and folks would line up. I coaxed my dad one day for the dime it would cost and patiently stood in line for my turn at the handle. He was impatient but resolved to allow me this one-time chance. Low-and-behold, my one dime hit the jackpot and a waterfall of coins issued forth onto my 7 year old feet and across the rolling deck. My dad tore off his hat and turning it upside down scrambled to catch the windfall before it hit the deck. I ran about gathering up as many coins as I could and we came away totally delighted. I can't remember what became of the money as it wasn't handed over to me. Lamenting this story to my grandfather some years later he said, "you should have given your dad the dime back, plus an extra one for interest." Good advice too late.
Russ 31-Mar-2004 17:56
I have a video tape entitled "Remembering Crystal Beach" - produced by a former employee who worked at the Comet. It's a shame to think all those memories cannot be shared in this high-tech world, by the kids of today.
elaine hepp 31-Mar-2004 01:57
Funny, my brother and I were just reminiscing about Crystal Beach and the great anticipation of riding on the Canadiana. Didn't matter if Lake Erie was rolling, we counted the days and of course, we had to get a seat on the rail, so the summer breezes could just wash over us. It was the height of our summer vacation. Waiting for "Nickel Day", so we could get on as many rides as possible. We left on the first ride out and never returned until after dark and then stayed up even later just recalling our favorite ride. Every kid in the neighborhood went in a group. French Fries with vinegar, powdered sugar "things" 4 for a $1 and loganberry drink. Pure junk, but bliss. Thank you for bringing back this wonderful memory.
Susan Dolce 31-Mar-2004 01:20
What a wonderful treat to open my email and be transported back to Crystal Beach!! What is even better is that I was finally able to visually share my Crystal Beach memories with my husband (who is from Wisconcin) instead of him just listening to my childhood adventures at this great amusement park! We moved from Buffalo to Sarasota, Florida in 1992.so I don't get back to Buffalo very often. I did pay a visit after the park was replaced with condominiums and it made me sad. Glad to hear that the Comet is alive and well in another park. Also, I received a gift box this past Christmas from my brother and in it was a bottle of "logenberry" and two suckers just like the ones we bought at Crystal Beach. I can picture the bees swarming around the big glass jars just filled with the great assortment of suckers. Thanks again for the memories. Great job.
Rita Badgley 24-Mar-2004 21:47
Actually my husband & I took a ride to Port Colburne last Sunday. (3/21) The ship is still there, but is not recognizible. The only thing left is the very bottom floor--the one side is water level and the other side is just about a foot out of water. There is no way to identify it at all. I'm sure by next week, it will be totally gone. After the rides to & back from Crystal Beach were stopped, the boat never 'made' it again. There were plans about using it as an excursion boat, turning it into a restautant dockside, and several other plans - but none of them got off the ground! The boat's final demise was to be sold as scrap iron, since scrap prices have climbed.
After saying our last goodby, we drove through the town of Crystal Beach. It seems to be coming alive again - but greatly changed. There are antique stores and botique shops---
No corner tavern, no soda shop. SAD
I'm 60, and Crystal Beach has been a part of my entire life. Pictures of me in a buggy over there--right up to riding the Comet on the last day the park was open. I have so enjoyed your gallery of pictures. I'm looking for any other park or boat related pictures. Does anyone have a picture of the Americanna? What about the old mill, or the caterpiller or the heyday. Any of the amusements that were overthere in the 50's & 60's. Thanks for the memories!!
cathy 22-Mar-2004 01:55
yes I saw the canadiana when they brought it back. its such a treasure . youd think some groups would put her back together and let people enjoy this once again... this boat is a treasure just as the frank lloyd wright house..... the dancing on the boat.. i can still feel the breeze and how pleasant it was riding back to buffalo on those summer nights exhausted and sunburned but happy.