About this item
In 1914 crew members of the lighthouse tender Hyacinth rescued a stray puppy from the Milwaukee River and named him Sport. For the next twelve years, this charming Newfoundland-retriever mix lived the life of a ship dog, helping the Hyacinth crew as they carried supplies to lighthouses and maintained the buoys and other safety features around Lake Michigan. Sport quickly became a valued companion to his crew and a recognizable mascot of the lake - making friends in every port. In this beautifully illustrated children's book based on historical documents and photographs, readers share in Sport's adventures while discovering the various ways lighthouse tender ships helped keep the lake safe for others. Helpful diagrams, a map, and a historical note supplement this engaging story for young readers.
About the Author
When I decided to be a volunteer lighthouse keeper I knew I needed to find out more about the history of lighthouses in the Great Lakes. I found the true story of Sport in Bruce Robert's book Great Lakes Lighthouses. I knew Sport's story should not be forgotten, and that there was a need for true stories about the Great Lakes. I traveled to the National Archives to read ship logbooks, communicated with maritime experts and did lots of research to be able to write a historically accurate book.Sport's story, from 1914-1926 is a chance for children and adults to see the ships, buildings, and people of that era, especially given the realistic illustrations by illustrator Renee Graef. Our goal was to allow readers to recognize that Sport represents someone, in this case a very large Newfoundland-Retriever mix who is taken in, taken care of, and loved by strangers. It is a universal story, told in a historical context.Sport's webpage: https://sportshipdog.com/events/
