In a recent conversation, the question was raised of what was the first towboat with a retractable pilothouse. The Bull Calf was mentioned, but it came out in 1939 with… Read More
Author: Capt. David Smith
Capt. Michael Johnson Growing up near the Mobile River, Michael Johnson was fascinated by boats. All boats. From small fishing boats to the big towboats he saw, they all sparked… Read More
The January 5 Old Boat Column on the Aetna-Louisville and Allied-Ashland really struck a nerve, judging from the response, so this column will take a closer look at them. Built… Read More
The Ohio River valley, along with much of the Mississippi River system, recently went through winter storm Fern, which dumped several inches of snow in the upper regions, freezing rain… Read More
Capt. Jeff Yates, long with The Waterways Journal and current consulting editor of the Inland River Record, recently queried if there were going to be any Greenville, Miss.-built boats to… Read More
As mentioned in this column before, American Barge Line (ABL), forerunner of present-day ACBL, was formed in the late 1920s when Andrew and Patrick Calhoun pooled resources with W.C. Read More
Streett Towing Company was formed in 1943 as a partnership by Harper C. Patton, Kenneth C. Baker and Rolla W. Streett to move petroleum products for J.D. Streett & Company… Read More
As a young boy growing up in Catlettsburg, Ky., our house backed up to the earthen floodwall about a half mile from the mouth of the Big Sandy River. In… Read More
In early spring 1945, a young man snuck away from his home in Marion, Ky., near old Lock 50, without his parents’ knowledge. His name was Lonnie Ryan, and… Read More
Picking that perfect Christmas present for the boss is always a challenge. In 1946, the indisputable “boss” at Ashland Oil & Refining Company was Paul Garrett Blazer. Swiss… Read More
