Delta Queen Flags

Mel, thanks very much for posting the photos of your ONA flag. I was really surprised when I saw them, because I seem to remember that the one we flew on the DQ had the letters ONA inside the pilotwheel instead of the DQ steamboat logo. But then, an old man's memory ain't what it used to be, so maybe I'm just imagining what it used to look like! I'll have to dig up some of my slides of the boat and see if I can find one of the ONA flag flying from the masthead.

Dave,

There WAS an ONA flag with out the steamboat in the middle! The MQ carried one on her Maiden Voyage....I might have a picture of that somewhere. I will look it up this weekend. I know I have pictures of it somewhere. Then again, I might be wrong, too...this age thing is hell on a steamboater! LOL!!!

Travis

DQ ONA flag

Dave, my mind is older than yours, but we are both thinking the same thing: the DQ ONA flag had ONA on it, because passengers would ask what ONA stood for. The usual answer was: on a .... sandbar, etc. This was not being disrespectful to the passengers, by the way. But a DQ ONA flag flew on the stern of the roof, two of them in fact. They are very visible in a couple of postcard views, which of course I don't have down here to post. I'm pretty sure the jackstaff version also had ONA on it too.

and dont forget the ONA logo on the inside Gazebo on the Observation deck of the MQ I believe. correct me if I'm wrong.

It sure is nice to have good friends on this board to help reassure me that I haven't totally lost it yet! Thanks for your comments. At some point along the way, I also seem to remember the DQ flying from her masthead the state flag of the place she had a shore stop that day. In my early days on the boat, though, we always had the company houseflag up there -- never a state flag.

Was it the yellow Penant with the Green DQ letters Dave?

DQ pennant

In the mid 70s it was yellow and red, then it went to yellow and green. During my first years riding 73- , the porters wore yellow polo shirts with the red DQ boat logo on the pocket. They were sold in the gift shop too. Some repose in boxes in my attic to this day, unwearable because they have seemed to shrink????

Judy, we have noticed the same thing about shrinkage. I REALLY think that's what it is, because Sharon and I both have T-shirts from that period that Walt (9 years old) can wear, but we couldn't get into to save our lives!

As to the yellow and red logos, I have a whole box of book matches with that yellow and red "DQ" logo on them.

Mel,

You are right, there was a ONA logo on a crystal disc mounted to the middle forward window of the Gazebo. One of the things currently missing from the MQ is that crystal cut disc. Wonder who has that? They probably don't know what it is or means!

On a related subject...anyone know what happened to this model of the MQ? It was a strange grey thing with lights inside it. Never saw if after her Maiden Voyage. I am sure it is in some collection in Cincinnati...'cause I was told it was in the 511 Main Street offices at one time.

Note in the postcard image I am attaching the Coke pennant and the ONA pennant on her forward mast. This image is a Bill Muster photo from her maiden voyage. She has a towboat on her starboard side doing the motivating. Well hidden from view. The dead giveaway is the wake of the sternwheel and the missing bow wake! I am guessing ths picture is taken on the Ohio River somewhere near Golconda, IL. My reasoning for this is the high hills on the left of the picture and the very fflat land on the right. Not to mention the hill it is being taken from on what I am supposing is the Kentucky side. Any Pilots or more knowledgable persons want to take a guess? 'Cause till someone can positively identify the real location, I don't think any of us will know for sure!

Travis

Travis, it could be 'most anywhere on the Ohio, but I'm going to guess he was at old Lock #50 above Cave-In-Rock near Weston, KY. The bend of the river and the hills on the Illinois side are what make me think this, but without other reference, that's just a guess. Could also be the lower end of Carrsville Bend, below Rosiclaire, IL.

As this thread twists and turns its way downriver, the door is open for a look back at the various DELTA QUEEN logos that have been used over the years. My all-time favorite was the one used when I first starting riding the boat, and I suppose it dates back to the beginning ca. 1948. Riding overnight for my first time in 1965, the tables in the Orleans Room had paper place mats, and in honor of Greene Line's 75th anniversary, this classic drawing of the DQ appeared on those mats. I saved about a half dozen of them, and still have them filed away here at home. A few years ago I fished a couple of them out of the cabinet, laminated them, and they now are in the Steinike's Stoddard, WI home.

Many years ago, and I mean many, I asked Robert H. McCann where he thought that photo of the MQ was taken. His response was that it was shot in Wolf Creek Bend. I think that it was photographed during the first "shakedown cruise" and she was on her own, so to speak. I don't think she had any diesel helpers on her side yet.

Frank, that fits. I bet Muster went to Otter Creek Park to do the photography.

The "stuff we collected over the years"...... I go on ebay once in a while and laugh at some of the stuff thats for sale and then proceed to collect more Stuff. I've only bought a few things and they were dirt cheap and well worth it to me. Last week I got a set of 4 of the cheap plastic MQ coasters, brown with gold etching of the boat...like I needed those. but it was 5.02 with shipping so I caved. A while back I found a 16 0z. Glass Mug bearing the names of 2 of the Libation Emporiums we frequently inspected at LaCrosse and Winona that are no longer operating...these things bring back fond memories so whats 5 bucks.

Acquired 'stuff'

Yes Mel, its amazing how much 'stuff' we acquire over the years. I have a packet of those matchbook covers Bob mentioned. I particularly liked the red/yellow color scheme because those are my high school colors too. Much of the duplicate 'stuff' Keith and I have acquired will be available at much less than Ebay prices after the Capt. Carl River Rambling at the Howard in August. One way to get it to good new homes!