Topic starter
01/02/2016 2:16 pm
She made it to the 21st century, our Renaissance river friend Dorothea/Dorothy Frye. Her passing on Feb. 1, 2000 left a big hole in many of our lives. Dorothea was not a big name on the river - she had no license - but she was big in the lives of many river people. She was Betty Blake's confidante and shelter when BB had a bit much to drink. She worked the DQ gift shop for her friend Betty for a while. Sharon Wright was another in their group, as was Doc Hawley. Of course we remember in later years that intrepid trio of Larry and Ethel Walker and Dorothea who attended the river gatherings and spent two weeks every October in New Orleans, doing such river things as visiting garage sales and attending LeRichelieu's family picnic, in addition to riding the NATCHEZ and visiting river sites. It was this trio, Walkers in 407 and DF in 411, that acquainted me with LeRichelieu, which I now call my NOLA home. DF was an accomplished artist - many of us know of her detailed accurate DQ works and personal portraits; a bass player; and hostess of a radio show back in her early years. She went to school with Doris Day... and on and on. But most of all, she was a Friend, one who listened to my almost nightly phone calls about mother problems and whatever else was troubling me. Yes, Dorothea's name isn't found in a Rivers Hall of Fame, but she was a quiet self-effacing giant of our river world...
01/02/2016 6:00 pm
Thanks, Judy, for this bit of information that I, as a relative newcomer, find so interesting. Of course, I've heard the name but wasn't really sure of her place in the scheme of things. Love to get tidbits this way so thanks again.
01/02/2016 7:17 pm
Judy you are so right, how time has flown by, it just does not seem that long ago. I think of that great memorial service in Marietta with all her paintings on display. I think of her every day as I pass by her ORCO painting in our living room. She truly was a giant in our river world and I guess they threw the mold away as certainly no one has taken on her role. A little side note, Dorthea liked to sit at my table at S & D because both my son and I hate salads, she loved them and that way got three!!
01/02/2016 10:52 pm
Judy, what a nice rememberance of Dorthea Frye. One of my proudest possessions is a painting of the GORDON C. GREENE which she did for me years ago. I first met Dorthea, Roscoe and Mickey on the DQ's first trip to Pittsburg in 1958. I'll never forget Dorthea and Roscoe breaking out their guitars and entertaining the passengers in front of their Texas deck stateroom. Mick and I became good friends on that trip. Through the years we had some really good times together, a lot of laughs. I treasure her memory and was lucky to have known her.
05/02/2016 3:13 pm
*Memories of artist/musician Dorthea Frye*
Steamboating colleagues:
Judy, thanks for jolting me with '16 years ago,' memories of our beloved Dorthea Frye. Has it really been that long ago? Remember that bitterly cold, frosty day with brilliant winter sun for her funeral. Dorthea always had a good listening ear for those of us with 'mother issues' as you wisely said. And what an accomplished steambot artist she was--among many other talents and interests. Capt. Doc Hawley, whom Dorothea did a great painting of the AMERICA, said "When you look at a Dorthea Frye steamboat painting you just don't look 'at it,' you can actually see IN to it. She could paint steamboat smoke stacks that actually look round," meaning the way she could paint a boat showing decks, engine and boiler spaces in near 3-D reality with micro scale figures. Dorthea during W.W. II days was a true 'Rosie the riveter' trained in aircraft assembly for the war at the huge 'Wright's Plant' later moving on as an inspector of aircraft assembly--no small accomplishment in those days.
I first met Dorthea, Roscoe, Mickey, Larry/Ethel Walker, Bill/Darlene Judd at the then SSHSA [Steamship Historical Society] meetings here at the Cincinnati Public Library. And what a great group that was including Bob McCann, now and then Letha C. Greene, Capt. Jesse Hughes et. al. This in/around 1956 +. Mickey attended in time Hughes High School here in Clifton, I attended Withrow High School in Hyde Park with us bonding as real river buddies. The Frye home on Probasco Ave. in Clifton a virtual 'clearing house' for steamboat/river and general friends. Roscoe for years worked the night shift as a high crane operator for, I 'think,' ALLIS CHALMERS or AMERICAN TOOL WORKS. A party on Probasco always meant lots of music, river talk. Mickey and I often in those 1950s years took 'hops' on the DELTA QUEEN when she pulled out being permitted to ride the boat down to the lock and dam. Jim Reising on the money about those DQ Pittsburgh trips then for 10 days R/T in Cincinnati. Mickey and wife Linda moved back to Florida from Probasco Ave. the other year with their Christmas card the first always received here the first of December. Judy pulled togeher one touching memorial service in Marietta, OH that September with a fine art display, program, music with Keith Norrington playing the pipe organ and memories from some of us. This over some negative comments heard in the Lafayette Hotel. Thanks, Judy for what you did in her memory. Indeed, she a grand original.
Dorthea a great fan not only of the DELTA QUEEN but of the then AVALON/BELLE OF LOUISVILLE, NATCHEZ, PRESIDENT etc. One time on the AVALON here in town, Doc Hawley was aboard. Dorthea and all down on the boat. There was a deck hatch open with a ladder going down. Dorthea asked what it was with Doc telling her. I 'thought' it was where they stored all the bottled beer. "Here, hold this," Dorthea said whipping the stole off her shoulders and promptly climbed down inside to have a look. When she wanted to see something she wanted to see all outside and in--with it showing in her paintings. When I was much older, Dorthea would look at me with a little wry smile at parties and say, "Dale, does your mother know you're being a bad little boy?" We love you Dorthea.
R. Dale Flick
Old coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati