The Joseph L. Block opened the shipping season just after 6 p.m. Friday
The 728-foot Joseph L. Block locked through the Poe Lock at 6 p.m. Friday, with hundreds of people watching from inside the Soo Locks Park, which is located across the river in Michigan.
Fans of the freighters — affectionately "known as "boatnerds" — packed the viewing platform and stood along the fence to be part of the special day. Tomalou Squires made the trip from Paradise to see the first freighter through for the first time, too. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan resident Diane Lahr-Barclay started loving the boats around two decades ago.
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