By Pamela Cameron

Sport – Ship Dog of the Great Lakes

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In this beautifully illustrated children’s book based on historical documents and photographs, readers share in Sport’s adventures while discovering the various ways lighthouse tender ships helped keep the lake safe for others.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.

Author Pamela Cameron may be contacted to inquire about an author visit. Programs can be tailored from preschool level to adult historical society and lighthouse meetings. Interactive story times, art and science maritime activities, and research and writing projects are possible. Adult programs include the construction and management of lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and research required for children’s books.