Two former ferry boat workers, Archie Cosens of Mackinaw City and Jerry Cronan of St. Ignace, will speak to the Mackinaw Area Historical Society during its regular meeting Monday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mackinaw Area Public Library. The meeting is open to the public, free of charge.

The two ferry boat workers will present a video concerning ferry boats that were used in the Straits of Mackinac before the Mackinac Bridge was built. After the film, Mr. Cosens and Mr. Cronan will answer questions and relate their experiences.

Mr. Cosens began as a deckhand in 1946 and worked his way up to third mate on the Petoskey by earning a series of licenses. This made him third in command on the ship.

Mr. Cronan, whose father had been a steamboat inspector, also began as a deckhand. He worked his way up to second mate on the Vacationland, which was the last ferry to carry a load before they were taken out of service.