Dave Thomson comments,
"Jim describes technical stuff clearly and concisely so that a non-engineer can grasp it, which is quite a gift. He knew quite a few old time rivermen in the South and has letters and interviews with them that are full of fascinating details of that vanished era. Jim kept track of all the descriptions they gave him including color schemes (very handy for model making) and the particular idiosyncrasies each boat had."
Dave made this image by incorporating Jim Hale's face into an actual old photo of a steamboat officer.
Click here to see the Jim Hale Model Boat exhibit at this site.
Click here to see the new Steamboats.com model building page at this site.
Jim steered the Julia Belle Swain with John Hartford on the Tennessee River out of Chattanooga, they got along very well together.
Ralph DuPae kindly put me in touch with John Hartford who signed his name with vintage style on this photo of himself steering the Julie Belle Swain.
