Capt. Joseph E. Johnston
April 27, 1892-Aug. 23, 1961
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 24, 1961, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
JOHNSTON RITES FRIDAY
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday in Trinity Episcopal Church here for Capt. Joseph E. Johnston, 69, 991 S. 3rd St., who died early Wednesday in Pawating Hospital.
Capt. Johnston, curator emeritus of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in the Detroit River, was a veteran salt and fresh water sailor and ship's officer. He retired in 959 after serving as curator of the marine museum housed in the schooner J.T. Wing, owned by the Detroit Historical Commission.
The captain went to sea in 1910 after experience on Mississippi River boats and later skippered a training schooner for a Wisconsin boy's camp.
He was widely known for his work in recruiting seamen for the War Shipping Administration during World War II, for the founding of the Great lake Maritime Institute, and as a consultant to various historical commissions.
His services as a consultant were extended to include the Fort St. Joseph Museum in Niles, after he moved here two years ago.
Friends are being received at the Pifer Funeral Home.
Fort St. Joseph Museum will be closed from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, it was announced by museum officials.