 Offshore in Lake Michigan that Sunday, the sidewheel steamer "John A. Dix" on a passage between Manistee and Traverse City suddenly found itself surrounded by trees swept out from the new Portage Lake cut and changed her course to the Wisconsin side of the Lake to avoid the danger.On Monday, 15 May 1871, the tugboat "Williams" was first ship entered Portage Lake through the cut to loud cheers and celebration.In recognition of this fact, the local people named the Portage Lake side of the cut Williamsport, Michigan in honor of the tug boat.