This ship log goes back in time, with newest entries at the top. We cover the Save the Delta Queen Campaign, general steamboat news and history, steamboat ancestry, paddlewheel boats wanted or for sale, and model boats. More Save the Delta Queen Campaign web sites: steamboats.org * save-the-delta-queen.org * DQ bumper stickers, pins To search this section or the whole site, go to Steamboat News Archive. If you want to post to this page, click here.
Guestbook Posting
On Feb 11, 2010, at 11:47 AM, Mark Foster wrote:
name: Mark
location: Massachusetts
message: Working on a children's book about river ports and looking for information on African American steamboat pilots and captains. Have seen one reference to a boat being built in Cincinnati in the 1850s that was to have a black captain - nothing more. Does anyone have any info? Thank you.
email: Yes, include my email (encoded in SpamStopper software) email Mark
visits: First time
rate: Steamboat art, music, movies.
Editor's Note: Sounds like a great project, keep us posted on what you find!
Hi Nori -
Correction - regarding that one reference to an African American captain, it was published in the Cleveland Gazette, March 14, 1885. A group of "colored" citizens of Cincinnati had organized to build a steamboat to run between Cincinnati and Memphis. Stockholders were from Covington, Louisville, Lexington, Charleston, Jeffersonville, New Albany, and Madison. She was to be eighty feet long, built by John Mack, "according to the most recent statement." The crew was to be all black, and "Cooper has been spoken of for captain, with Matt Mitchell for mate and Wm. T. Peyton, of Louisville, for head clerk." To be spoken of for captain I assume Cooper had a license. I found this piece (see attached) under "The African American Experience in Ohio, 1850-1920," on the Ohio Historical Society website.
Our book is in the proposal stage - we'll see if we can sell it. It is intended to be a well-researched 64-page picture book (illustrated) history of an imaginary but "typical" river port from Native American village to today.
Thank you so much for your support!
Mark
Editor replies: Thanks for the information, and may I post the jpg you sent?
Guestbook Posting
On Feb 6, 2010, at 10:28 AM, Tim Schoemehl wrote:
name: Tim Schoemehl
location: St Louis Missouri
message: My parents had a wedding reception on a boat called the ss edgewater. They were married between 1945 and 1955 in St. Louis Missouri. Their names were Fred and Virginia Schoemehl. I'm doing some family research and I was just wondering if someone on this site might be able to help me.
email: Yes, include my email (encoded in SpamStopper software) email Tim
visits: First time
Editor's note: The Way's Packet Directory has no mention of a boat by this name, does anybody else have information to share with this researcher?
Steamboat Items for Sale
Posated 2/7/10 - these items won't last long
Delta Queen pinball machine - excellent condition - $750
Call Rick: 734-776-7448 see listing on CraigsList
Editor's Note: The boat does not look anything like the Delta Queen, but it is an interesting novelty item.
Warren Stichtenoth (1925-2005) was a Cincinnati artist and graphic artist for Greene Line Steamers. He has an exhibit in the Steamboats.com online museum, to see more of his artwork click here. Every once in a while, one of his pieces comes up for sale on the Internet. Here is a framed work currently for sale on eBay: see listing on eBay
New Steamboat Photos! Steamboats.com has expanded the Dave Thomson wing of the online steamboat museum, adding new items to the following pages:
Waybill and steamboat paperwork page
Steamboat people
Old boats
Newer boats
Steamboats in the movies
Steamboat illustrations
Pilot house preservation
To see all Dave Thomson exhibits at Steamboats.com, click here.
Guestbook Posting
On Jan 25, 2010, at 7:47 AM, Benjamin Ray Center wrote:
name: Ben Center
location: Augusta GA
message: My Great Great grandfather was Alex Wagnon and my grandmother tells me he used to pilot the Altamaha up and down the Savannah river when she was a little girl. I am trying to find a picture of the boat.
email: Yes, include my email (encoded in SpamStopper software) email Ben
visits: First time
rate=Threads of our genealogy.
NEW at Steamboats.com: A remembrance of Captain Mary Greene called, "My Mother Reprimands a Ghost," reprinted with the permission of the author - read it here.
Delta Queen has friend in Newburgh Town Council
Posted January 21, 2010 at 11:27 p.m. Evansville Courier & Press*
by Garret Mathews
Acting on behalf of the Town Council, Newburgh Town Manager Cynthia Burger wrote letters this week to area congressmen in an effort to get the Delta Queen back on the Ohio River.
The four-deck craft was taken off the water last year when Congress refused to grant an exemption from federal law that bans overnight passengers on boats that are made largely of wood.
The 83-year-old sternwheeler was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. It is currently docked in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In the letter, Burger pointed out that in 2008 the town of Newburgh presented 1,250 signatures on a petition to extend the exemption.
"This issue is still of utmost importance to citizens of communities along the Ohio River," Burger said in the letter.
"Any legislative assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated."
Editor's Note: Please write to your federal legislators (two Senators and your local Representative) and ask them to grant the exemption to the Delta Queen so she can return to service.
Joke sent in by John Weise 12/18/09:
A man had just arrived on the Delta Queen & the porter carried his bags up to his room. As he set the suitcase in the room the porter asked him if his wife was traveling with him on the trip.
"No, not this trip" he says, "I'll have the room to myself."
"That's terrible!" said the porter. "Who in their right mind would pass up a trip on the Delta Queen, especially with the beautiful weather we are having for the Fall Foliage this year!"
"Well, actually, she was supposed to make the trip, but she passed away. This will be the first trip we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967."
"Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone else, a friend or a relative, or even a neighbor to share the room with you?"
The man shakes his head. "No they're all at the funeral!"
New exhibit at Steamboats.com: Let's Remember the Mississippi Queen, including photos donated by Karen "Toots" Maloy.
Watch the Delta Queen ghost story Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009 on Discovery Channel's "Ghost Lab." (It is the "Ghost of Blackbeard" episode.)
Editor's note: Everybody watched the show. The ghost busters were quite harsh with our beloved ghost, Mary B. Greene. They taunted her by pouring a glass of whisky and by telling her the boat would never run again. Instead of Mary, they found the ghost of Edgar Marshall, a pilot who died about twenty years ago. That was kind of creepy, but they interviewed Mike Williams, who knew Edgar Marshall, and he said that he for one would aspire to ending up as ghosts on the Delta Queen. The boat probably has hundreds of spirits hanging around.
New exhibit at Steamboats.com: steamboat jewelry - click here.
"We envision the Delta Queen, wheel turning, traversing the rivers."
(an affirmation may not be true yet, but if we visualize what we want, then our subconscious mind will send us ideas and encouragement to achieve our goal - please affirm with us)
Photos by John Weise 12/6/09
