Steamboat Documents, Page 5 "Steamboat Paint" from Burdsal Co. 1911 Nice vignette of a sidewheeler on a receipt from Burdsal's Paint Company of Indianapolis; dated 9 August 1911 promoting "Steamboat Paint" which was probably copyrighted as a specialty item within Burdsal's product line. The paint is described in the 1917 article below as a "paste" which implies that it was intended to be either laid on very thick or thinned down with water or turpentine depending on the application it was to be used for. It's possible that "steamboat paint" was initially designed to be used on the interiors and exteriors of steamboats and its chemistry chosen for durability from exposure to the elements outside and extremes of temperatures and humidity outside and inside, in particular when it was applied near the boilers and engines. Alfred Burdsal established the paint business in 1875 and it was incorporated in 1892. The company was still listed in city directories in the 1920s. The following is from page 5 The Indianapolis Star newspaper September 25, 1917 Indianapolis, Indiana: "The A. Burdsal Company Is, among the oldest manufacturers of ready mixed paints In the United States. It was established In 1867, and this year marks Its fiftieth anniversary. The first can of mixed paint was manufactured in New York city in 1862, five years before the organization of the Burdsal company. Indianapolis stands, therefore, among the pioneer cities in the manufacture of paint. William Bonnet, sales manager of the Burdsal company pronounces the Burdsal factory one of the most modern and best equipped in the entire country. His experience in paint manufacture reaches from coast to coast, and is in a position to speak authoritatively on the rank of the Indianapolis company. 'We manufacture paints and stains and paint products,' said Mr. Bonnet. 'Homestead Paint, ready for use, and Steamboat Paint, a paste, are our leading brands.'"

Log book from the Towboat JOHN J. ROWE From a dealer in Charleston, West Virginia I was fortunate to obtain the original bound 1948 log book for the towboat JOHN J. ROWE. The 49 log pages were printed forms filled in with ink by hand and measure 11.05 X 21.85 inches. I scanned one page in 2 passes that I cobbled together as an example and added the best photo La Crosse had of the ROWE Stenciled in very faded letters in color on the 11.65 x 22.80 olive drab canvas board cover that has brown leather "bumper" triangles in the far right corners. The barely legible name and address was: name: TONY HOLBROOK (in yellow) address: 804 CENTER STREET (in white) city: CATLETTSBURG (in red orange) state: KY (in yellow) [Kentucky] A Google search for Holbrook came up with a riverman from that community who was probably the same person. Stevens & Grass Funeral Home in Malden, West Virginia published the following obituary for James Tony Holbrook 1945 - 2013 from whose collection this log book very likely originated from. stevensandgrass.tributes.com James Tony Holbrook, 67 of Campbells Creek passed away Thursday June 13, 2013 at home of natural causes. Tony was born in Catlettsburg, KY on August 8, 1945 to the late James & Grettie Holbrook. He was a River Boat Captain and currently held a position as purchasing agent at Port Amherst Industries. A memorial service will be held Tuesday June 18, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Stevens & Grass Funeral Home, Malden. Family and friends may gather one hour prior to the memorial service on Tuesday. log page begins with Trip 1 June 15, 1948 from Miami Fort, Ohio on the Ohio River log ends with Trip 49 October 8, 1948 to Huntington, West Virginia on the Ohio River Attached scan of page for Trip #27 from Miami Fort to Hamilton, W. VA. dated Sept 3rd to Sept 5th, 1948 MASTER: Geo Hamilton PILOTS: Walter Fitzpatrick and William C. Spears Photo from the LaCrosse collection JOHN J. ROWE Sternwheel towboat 1947-1955 Way's Steam Towboat Directory Number T1415 Originally the towboat CHARLES T. CAMPBELL built at Neville Island, PA in 1936, 171 5 x 34.6 x 7 2. Condensing engines 16's,32's-8 ft. stroke. Babcock & Wilcox boilers, installed 1948, coal burner, automatic stokers. The original owner was Campbell Transportation Co., then the Mississippi Valley Barge Line Co. (MVBL) who sold her, in fall of 1947, to The Ohio River Co., Cincinnati, OH. In June, 1955 she was renamed ORCO. Editor's note: we have several pages of towboat photos, please refer to Museum index - click here. The map and the color graphic far right are on the cover, the black and white section is the title page. 72 pages all together, 4.10 x 9.00 inches. I upgraded the black and white photo of the CAPITOL. theoldentimes.com Advertising announcement from The Memphis Daily Eagle and Enquirer February 21, 1855: REGULAR SATURDAY PACKET MEMPHIS AND NEW ORLEANS J.O. GREENLAW . . . MASTER The new steamer "INGOMAR" will arrive in a few days and take her place in the New Orleans trade, leaving Memphis and New Orleans on each alternate Saturday in conjunction with the H.R.W. HILL. In fitting out this new and splendid boat, no pains and expense have been spared to make her one of the best boats on the Mississippi. For comfort and convenience of arrangement she cannot be surpassed. Great care and attention have been given to the procuring of safe and competent officers. Shippers and the traveling public can rely upon punctuality. LAVALLETTE & MORRIS rogallery.com Louis LeBreton (1818 - 1866) was a French painter who specialized in marine paintings. Le Breton studied medicine and took part in Dumont d'Urville's second voyage aboard the ASTROLABE as a surgeon. After the official illustrator of the expedition died, Le Breton replaced him. Beginning in 1847 Le Breton devoted himself exclusively to depicting marine subjects for the French Navy. He travelled with Dumont d'Urville's expedition to the South Pole and Oceania from 1837 to 1840. From 1845-1847 he was part of an expedition to Madagascar. LeBreton produced tinted lithographs and chromolithographs on naval forces, ships and boats, sea landscapes and ports of call such as New Orleans, Louisiana. Most likely from the 1852 Pittsburgh city directory. Steamboats built to order, fitted and furnished complete, ready for business" I bought this 18 x 24 inch poster in the DELTA QUEEN's gift shop in Sept '93 and over a span of days en route from Memphis to Cincinnati I took it around and requested folks employed on the boat to sign it for me. It's too clumsy to scan in pieces and reassemble so I photographed it instead and finessed it in Photoshop to enhance it a bit. From JEWELL's CRESCENT CITY ILLUSTRATED a local New Orleans, a full page original advertisement for one of Cap'n Leathers' series of boats named NATCHEZ. Jim Hale believes that this is probably the 6th boat by that name. There was no date on this piece which was yellow with age. I cleaned it up in this hi con version. The reduced scan produced a "moray pattern" in the sky which of course the original doesn't have. Advertising Card - Howard Steamboat Yards picturing the BELLE of the BENDS Undated advertising card featuring the BELLE OF THE BENDS that was built at the Howard Steamboat Yards of Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1898. BELLE OF THE BENDS Sidewheel Packet Way's Packet Directory Number 0531 Built in 1898 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by Howard Ship Yard for Vicksburg and Greenville Packet Company, J.J. Powers president and D.C.B. Robinson supervised construction, both of Vicksburg. One of the more handsome of medium-sized sidewheelers; had all the Anchor Line grace, double stages and all. Ran Greenville-Vicksburg for many years--from 1899-1904 or later made twice weekly mail runs between those two cities for the packet company of that name. Was flagship of the parade celebrating the opening of the canal at Vicksburg when the Yazoo River mouth was diverted on January 17, 1903 --quite an occasion inasmuch as Vicksburg had virtually been cut off the river since Centennial Cut Off which happened April 26, 1876. Sank at Peeler's Landing, 40 miles above Vicksburg, September 1909, and was raised. Sank at Fitler's Landing, 20 miles below Lake Providence during a snowstorm in February 1910 and was raised. Another version states that she was caught in a heavy snowstorm while proceeding up the Mississippi River shortly after leaving Hayes Landing, Mississippi on February 10, 1910 and ran aground at full speed on a sand bar; estimated damage $10,000. Then operated by Captain Morrissy; ran excursions at New Orleans in the winter 1910-11. Used in the Nashville grain trade after 1904. Was converted into an excursion boat and renamed LIBERTY. In 1940 her roof bell was at the Altheimer Plantation near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Original price $33,500; home port or owner's residence circa 1898 was Vicksburg, Mississippi Owned by Vicksburg and Greenville Packet Company (1898); Mr. A.D. Frantz (circa 1910), St. Louis Excursion and Packet Company; H.S. Albrecht (1917) Officers and Crew: Captain A.F. Nimtz (1900); Charlie Kain (clerk, 1901); Harry Bumgartner (clerk, 1901); Henry McFarland (clerk, 1901); Billy Newbill (pilot, 1901); Joe Delahunt (pilot, 1901); Mike O'Keefe (engineer, 1901); George Meir (engineer, 1901); James McGowan (steward, 1901); Captain Sam G. Smith (manager and purser, 1907); Captain Maurice Killeen (master, 1913); Captain Milt Henry (1914); Tom Parker (pilot, 1914); Captain George F. Carroll (master, 1914); Captain Frank Gill (master, May 1914); Captain Steve E. Greenwell (1915); Ed. Hellings (engineer, 1914-15); Captain Morrissy (1910) and J.O. Tayon (pilot) howardsteamboatmuseum.org The Howard Ship Yards in Jeffersonville, Indiana on the banks of the Ohio River were established in 1834 by nineteen-year-old James Howard who and began to build his first boat, the HYPERION. Howard built steamboats included, the luxurious J.M. WHITE, the speedy CITY OF LOUISVILLE and the popular INDIANA. Howard's beautiful 1894 mansion home was built by master craftsmen from the shipyard who created many of the details in the decor of the mansion. The home is now the Howard Steamboat Museum and features original furnishings, brass chandeliers, stained glass windows, intricate carvings throughout and are featured in the grand staircase. Models, photographs, paintings, half-hull models and other artifacts can also be enjoyed at this unique Jeffersonville museum. The Howard Steamboat Museum is open year round. 1927 stock certificate for the DELTA QUEEN & DELTA KING Unused stock certificate for The California Transportation Company Incorporated March 31st 1927 Photographic vignette of the DELTA QUEEN or DELTA KING featured in the upper third of the certificate. Promotional card excursion steamer HARRY G. DREES circa the 1920s Attached fully restored promotional postcard that dates circa the 1920's. Lettering and outlines around pictures are now freshened up. Upgraded the photos that were on the original card of the starboard view of the boat and the cabin with far better quality ones from the La Crosse collection. HARRY G. DREES Sidewheel Excursion boat/Packet Way's Packet Directory Number 2538 Built as the PILGRIM in 1917 at the Howard Ship Yards - Jeffersonville, Indiana. Remodeled into a tourist boat in 1924 by the Mississippi and Ohio Steamboat Company and renamed HARRY G. DREES after the new owner. Ben Winters was Captain during the mid-1920s. The DREES ran between St. Louis and St. Paul and often got stuck on sand bars due to her deep draft. She had 80 state rooms, shower baths, hot and cold water, toilets and electric lights. Was finally sold to Tampa, Florida where she gradually fell apart. Excursion Steamer WASHINGTON promo from August 1937 I was able to narrow down the year that this excursion steamer WASHINGTON promotion referred to by doing a calendar check which confirmed that August 29th, 1937 fell on a SUNDAY, also historically "Swing Music" was not in common usage to describe what dance bands played until the 1930's and a year earlier, on August 21st 1936 the Portsmouth Daily Times ran the following article that confirmed that the WASHINGTON was active on that stretch of the Ohio during the last years of her career: "The new Montgomery island dam in the Ohio river east of here will be dedicated by United States engineers on Saturday, August 29. Colonel W. E. R. Covell of Pittsburgh, chief of engineers, will head the war department delegation. A steamboat parade, with the excursion boat WASHINGTON as the flagship, has been planned. Numerous towboats, the packet GORDON C. GREENE and scores of small motor craft will participate." QUEEN CITY head on photo with stacks, boiler deck & signs over staircase Classic head on photo of the QUEEN CITY showcasing her stacks, boiler deck & signs above the staircase on the main deck. The derbies worn by the passengers indicate that this was probably taken during the early 1900's prior to the 1920's. QUEEN CITY Packet boat 1897-1940 Way's Packet Directory Number 4615 Sternwheel Packet Built in 1897 by Cincinnati Marine Railway Company at Cincinnati, Ohio. Launched on June 5, 1897; ran her trials through June 10th and departed for Pittsburgh June 19th. Captain Anthony Meldahl was pilot and never missed a trip for ten years (1907). QUEEN CITY's fastest time from Cincinnati to New Richmond, Ohio (22.5 miles) was 1 hour 50 minutes in December 1897. Owners 1897: Pittsburgh & Cincinnati Packet Line 1912: John W. Hubbard, Ohio & Mississippi Navigation Company 1918: Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Company 1929: Ohio River Transportation Company Several of her owners sent her on Mardi Gras trips to New Orleans. Her first trip in 1903 was such a success that trips were made in 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, and 1914. On her 1914 trip downbound, she sank on the Falls at Louisville on Feb. 17th. She continued on Mardi Gras trips in 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1930. After her ill-fated Mardi Gras trip in 1914, she was laid up in the Kanawha River at Pt. Pleasant, West Virginia until early summer 1916 when she returned to Louisville and ran excursions. She again went back to the Kanawha River until spring of 1918 when Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Company acquired her. In May, 1920 she was towed to Mound City, Illinois where she received a new hull. She was finally laid up at Pittsburgh in September 1933 and became a wharf boat on the Monongahela River at Pittsburgh. As a wharf boat, river-men and boat fans visited her to purchase or borrow souvenirs. She was moved to the foot of Liberty Street because of wharf improvements and she sank there in January, 1940 her wreckage was burned on February 17, 1940 QUEEN CITY 1931 Purser's report Purser Clyde Packard's Trip Statement Number 3 for operating expenses on the Steamer QUEEN CITY from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati during the 11th to the 17th of July in 1931. This document is folded and opens to a spread sheet (attached separately in reduced format) with further details of the expenses. QUEEN CITY Packet boat 1897-1940 Way's Packet Directory Number 4615 Sternwheel Packet Built in 1897 by Cincinnati Marine Railway Company at Cincinnati, Ohio. Launched on June 5, 1897; ran her trials through June 10th and departed for Pittsburgh June 19th. Captain Anthony Meldahl was pilot and never missed a trip for ten years (1907). QUEEN CITY's fastest time from Cincinnati to New Richmond, Ohio (22.5 miles) was 1 hour 50 minutes in December 1897. Owners 1897: Pittsburgh & Cincinnati Packet Line 1912: John W. Hubbard, Ohio & Mississippi Navigation Company 1918: Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Company 1929: Ohio River Transportation Company Several of her owners sent her on Mardi Gras trips to New Orleans. Her first trip in 1903 was such a success that trips were made in 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, and 1914. On her 1914 trip downbound, she sank on the Falls at Louisville on Feb. 17th. She continued on Mardi Gras trips in 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1930. After her ill-fated Mardi Gras trip in 1914, she was laid up in the Kanawha River at Pt. Pleasant, West Virginia until early summer 1916 when she returned to Louisville and ran excursions. She again went back to the Kanawha River until spring of 1918 when Louisville & Cincinnati Packet Company acquired her. In May, 1920 she was towed to Mound City, Illinois where she received a new hull. She was finally laid up at Pittsburgh in September 1933 and became a wharf boat on the Monongahela River at Pittsburgh. As a wharf boat, river-men and boat fans visited her to purchase or borrow souvenirs. She was moved to the foot of Liberty Street because of wharf improvements and she sank there in January, 1940 her wreckage was burned on February 17, 1940 STEAMER HAWK EYE STATE CABIN PASSAGE 1862 This rare and rather dainty little ticket measures 2 x 3 1/4 inches dated on the back April 26, 1862 in pencil. Front of the ticket reads: STEAMER HAWK EYE STATE CAPTAIN R.C. GRAY Trip No 3 Room No 4 ONE CABIN PASSAGE To "DuBuque" (signed by) "Ditto" Clerk. HAWKEYE STATE Sidewheeler Way's Packet Directory Number 2557 Built at Shousetown, Pennsylavania in 1860 under the direction of Capt. Richard C. Gray for the Northern Line Packet Co. 405 tons along with the SUCKER STATE. Ran St. Louis-St. Paul. Departed St. Louis June 11, 1861, under the command of Captain R.C. Gray, and arrived in St. Paul three days, six hours 20 minutes, made 54 landings en route, her freight receipts totaled $2,087. Made eight rounds that season in 73 days. In 1867, Capt. Wordon, raced the PHIL SHERIDAN to Dubuque, and then continued to St. Paul. On another occasion round-tripped in six days 20 hours. The best time St. Louis-St. Paul lies between the PHIL SHERIDAN, GEM CITY, and HAWKEYE STATE, all fast nags. Dismantled and her engines went to the LAKE SUPERIOR, built in 1870. With the exception of images credited to public institutions, everything on this page is from a private collection. With the exception of images credited to public institutions, everything on this page is from a private collection. Please contact Steamboats.com for permission for commercial use.* All captions provided by Dave Thomson, Steamboats.com primary contributor and historian.