As with the last column, a photo shared by a friend recently stirred many memories. It was of a vessel headed to a final resting place after a long career… Read More
Old Boat Column
A look back into the rich history of the inland waterways transportation industry. From the earliest steam paddlewheelers to the grand sternwheel and sidewheel packets, and the eventual transition from steam to diesel, you’ll find fascinating stories and photos of a different steamboat every week.
There are times when a single photo can cause a flood of memories to wash through the mind. This happened recently with a photo depicting a partially beached hull with… Read More
One of my favorite quotes about the passage of time is from the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” “Life moves pretty fast,” Bueller says. “If you don’t stop and look… Read More
In 1952, there were still many steam towboats roaming the Western Rivers of the United States. American Barge Line had seven in its fleet, all DPC prop steamers built during… Read More
A photo was taken recently of two boats beached out on the bank at Ledbetter, Ky., near Paducah. They were apparently placed there for dismantling and scrapping. Both of these… Read More
This column has previously detailed two towboats built by the fledgling Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Company that eventually morphed what’s now commonly known as “Jeffboat.” Those boats were the Progress… Read More
The last column looked at the Harper C. Patton that was built by Hines in 1954. A recent event involving a bell has prompted this look back at another boat… Read More
Having “grown up” around towboats and rivermen, then working actively on the river for more than 50 years, this writer has heard of many superstitions and omens of “bad luck”… Read More
The last three columns recounted a letter written by noted historian and author Capt. Frederick Way Jr. to the marine superintendent of Ashland Oil & Refining Company AO&R) in January… Read More
The previous two columns have been about the original Ashland Oil & Refining Company (AO&R) towboat named Ashland going missing during a flood in December 1942 and January 1943. Read More
