2014 Sternwheel Towboat Calendar available

I just wanted to add my thoughts about the new 2014 wall calendar.

In past years these calendars were actual fundraisers toward maintenance of the 1923 sternwheel towboat Barbara H. The boat sold in March 2012 and our non-profit is now mostly inactive.

This time last year, various factors made it inpractical to publish a 2013 calendar (not the least of which being the notion that we no longer had a boat that needed a fundraiser!).

However, two things made me decide to publish these calendars again:

1. Last year when we didn't offer a calendar for the first time in 11 consecutive years, we still had numerous people requesting them anyway.

2. And maybe most importantly, I really enjoy publishing these calendars!

So I figured "why not"? Maybe there is still enough interest, even though it won't directly benefit an old sternwheeler.

While these calendars are no longer a fundraiser, they are still a practical gift, and a nice novelty item with lots of riverboat history. The process of doing the research for the calendar fits into my plan of someday publishing a directory of these boats, similar to Way's Directories. The difference is that Way's is for steamboats, and my directory would be for Motor Sternwheelers (gas boats, gas packets, diesel sternwheel towboats & excursion boats). So publishing these calendars still helps toward that goal, even though we no longer have the Barbara H...

Excellent!

I enjoyed the 2012 one and have forwarded this to my wife. 🙂

Hey Captain Steve and .orgers,

I've put a request in with the Captain of the Revonah to allow a quick landing on Tuesday at Lamb so I can pick up a calendar for home and for work. The shipyard Forman asks about the calendars every year at this time so I'm delighted to report to him that once again they are available.

I've heard tell that there is to be a big gathering next Fall for the Idlewild's birthday. Wondered if you had given any thought to talking with your collaborators to feature her in her various inclinations for next years installment?

Hope the Captain is obliged to land as long as we aren't delayed by fog or ice on Tuesday. Hope to see you there to catch our headline.

Aaron

Sure, the Revonah can shove-in here at Lamb. Sorry I no longer have the Loretta Howard wharfboat for easier landing!

We featured the IDLEWILD in our 2008 Steamboat calendar (March). I have had some requests to again offer a steamboat calendar, similar to what we did in '08. If my schedule permits, for 2015 I hope to offer 2 different calendars: Vintage motorized sternwheel towboats (as usual), and Steamboats (packets, excursion, etc).

Now and then I get some interesting feedback with the calendar orders. One order had a note in it that stated, " The chap on the bow of the OWL on the cover of calendar is my wife's great-granddad! ".

The attached photo is an enlargement of the OWL's bow. Any guesses as to which unknown sidewheel steamboat is in the background? Unknown date and location. I'd guess mid-1920s, and perhaps at Marietta? (the OWL often operated on the Muskingum River).

Another customer wrote: "My husband's grandfather was A.J. Slepski, who owned the SANDOW (March calendar boat) and a few other of these boats".

And another wrote: "My dad owned the HOLLAND (September calendar boat), and I worked aboard it as a kid."

I would not swear to it, but the tail end of the steamboat looks to me as if it belongs to the ROSE ISLAND. At first I thought that it might be the original JULIA BELLE SWAIN, but I couldn't find a photo of her with stacks for'd of the knowledge box. The ROSE ISLAND, which was originally named VERNE SWAIN, fits into that time period, and I agree that it might be at Marietta. Perhaps she's on her way to Pittsburgh in 1929 after having her name changed to ROOSEVELT, or on her way to Memphis after new buyers and another name, CITY OF MEMPHIS.

Maybe Jim Reising can shed some light on this dilemma.

Frank, I think ROSE ISLAND may be a winner! I found a similar photo of the ROOSEVELT's aft port quarter, and it seems to be a match. Not sure if this link will work:
ROOSEVELT (Univ Wisc LaCrosse collection)

Well done!

Just a note that I still have a supply of 2014 calendars in stock. Thanks again to those who have already purchased! It was nice to see so many returning customers, considering that we did not offer a 2013 calendar.

Thanks for making it!

I have itchy fingers wanting to skim through the months but I won't. I just won't! 🙂

Thanks for sharing such a nice post. I really like this post.