Former COE dredge W.A.Thompson

Lack of caring

Nope, today's society is all hi-tech, multi-tasking, and the future, to heck with the past. You might recall that the city of Davenport brought the recently retired Ste. Genevieve to be a hotel/attraction on its waterfront in the late 80s. She was here about a year and met no success, so her travels and travails began, leading to her demise. Thank goodness we still have the WILLIAM BLACK at the museum complex in Dubuque as an example of a dredge. Of course we had the OCKERSON here in Rock Island as part of the Jumers Casino project, but it now languishes on the Illinois River along with the other 3 boats, including the MATEUR. Historical vessels are history... that's why I keep promoting riding the NATCHEZ and BELLE OF LOUISVILLE. If they go, that is it for an entire era of American history. Why can't someone of our river fraternity be as rich in dollars as we are rich in love and respect for riverboats?

There are two other coe dredges still around. the Captain Meriwether Lewis at Brownville, Nebraska. I felt that the best Idea on a river that jumps from normal gage of 982 to over 1000 that a cradle behind a dike was the best idea. And that was what we did back in the (hay I did the design and helped put her on the cradle but the date slips me for the moment found an old resume we dry docker her about 1978) She does need some tender loving care and at 800 miles away I can't do much for her. Farmers have become her care takers. Her sister boat the Capt William Clark has lost her paddle wheels and was converted from a dustpan dredge to a cutter head the last I knew she still had one boiler and was pumping in the Houston area. but that was 15 or more years ago.

Hi Judy and Carl,

Judy your dead right about there being no interest. We truly live in a throw away society now and there are so few stewards for river vessels anymore. I feel fortunate to not only be a volunteer for HSPS and doing my best to promote and keep the BARBARA H as a piece of the past, but also taking on what I hope continues to be a financially feasible restoration of one of the THOMPSON's three original tenders.

Carl, I was fortunate to visit the LEWIS this past fall. I was very glad to see that she was still there in Brownsville, but was sad to not see any signs of activity. We all know too well what happens to boats that sit ideal for too long and without constant supervision. I can understand your situation being so far away. I'd love to be down at the fleet at Lamb, Indiana more often then I am, but like most everyone I've got other obligations to fulfill at work and here at home. Until I win the lottery I'm stuck.

This is one reason I feel the work of volunteers among us is so important, without someone to take the time and interest to show young people this history, either first hand or through what boats are still around, I agree that none of this will be passed on and the history will dwindle.

Let's hope there are enough of us interested in seeing this history pushed forward to keep the few boats operating, keep the museums opened, and keep the history of our rivers flowing.

Met with COE today

Had a meeting at the COE St. Paul District today regarding the Mamie S. Barrett/Penniman and we discussed the Thompson efforts. The paperwork for the National Register has been filled out (I actually have a copy that I'll be pouring through this weekend), but the decision was made by the COE to not file it because they are interested in disposition of the vessel since it was decommissioned. The people who are working on the COE dispersal are very much interested in getting her to an owner who will preserve her, but the economy has kept a lot of prospective owners away. Need to have a business plan that is viable and a place to keep her, and the COE would work with GSA to get the proper paperwork file. I'm unsure as to the timeline that this would need to be taken care of. We will be meeting again on Tuesday, tentatively.

The original plan for the Thompson was to dispose of her as an exhibit at the Minnesota Maritime Art Museum in Winona. A lot of retired crew members live there and they put together a "Friends of the Thompson" organization that morphed into the Art Museum. Unfortunately, what began was a project to save the Thompson ended up cutting out the vessel from their plans entirely. Hence the hang up.

My project to save the Mamie has now taken on a much larger size and scope. Don't know if I'll be able to put plans together for the vessels involved in this project or whether I'll have to scale back, but I see opportunity in ways that others don't. Again, it comes back to planning and funding.

Hey Jeff,

Glad to hear you're meeting with the St. Paul districts folks. They have been very helpful to me in my little restoration project of the former JOSEPH THROCKMORTON, one of the Thompsons three identical tenders built in 1939. Not sure who you've met with up there. My main contact was Marc Krumholz who I think has since retired. The THOMPSON truly does need a good home. The ideal situation would be Dubuque but I think they have enough big "liabilities" in the water at this point. It will help me gaining NHR status for my boat should the THOMPSON get her status and I hope that down the road that happens and that someone does come along to give the old boat a good home.

COE St. Paul still has files and photos of my boat the I tried to talk them out of several years ago, including original drawings. If you might mention this to your contact again I'd be eternally grateful. They really have no use for them now and my boat is the only one of the three left. That historic information really should be with the boat.

Best of luck with your efforts and keep us all posted!

Aaron Richardson
Cincinnati

AJ

twenty thirty years ago It was rather simple to fill out a National register form, But today it is more complicate and plain English is being replaced by governmentize. My suggestion is to look at the last, at least half dozen or more , additions to the National Register in your state and see who filled out the forms. there will be a name and address and phone number for them on the second page, first of the application, be sure you get the consultants name and not the owner. Tell them the extent of the information you have on the boat and get a couple of quotes. That is the easiest way to get the nomination trough SHPO and on the way to Washington. You should be able to view and copy the recently approved nominations by doing a search on google for National Register and then go to your state It will likely be recorded by County so you can fine a local person. I did one or two 20-30 years ago but would not tackle one today.
riverrat and chair of our local historic Preservation committee

Thanks Carl for this insight.I've planned to have what I already have filled out edited by someone in the know regarding NHR status. It's a whole different ball game too trying to get a "vessel" documented. Most of the emphasis on this country has been brick and mortar related. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of NHR and NHL vessels but when it comes to at least the local folks they've dealt with many more applications that deal with land based history. I will certainly do more research this as we get close to completetion of the restoration process.

All the best!

Aaron

Yes, it was Marc

AJ Richardson;26588 wrote: Hey Jeff,

Glad to hear you're meeting with the St. Paul districts folks. They have been very helpful to me in my little restoration project of the former JOSEPH THROCKMORTON, one of the Thompsons three identical tenders built in 1939. Not sure who you've met with up there. My main contact was Marc Krumholz who I think has since retired. The THOMPSON truly does need a good home. The ideal situation would be Dubuque but I think they have enough big "liabilities" in the water at this point. It will help me gaining NHR status for my boat should the THOMPSON get her status and I hope that down the road that happens and that someone does come along to give the old boat a good home.

COE St. Paul still has files and photos of my boat the I tried to talk them out of several years ago, including original drawings. If you might mention this to your contact again I'd be eternally grateful. They really have no use for them now and my boat is the only one of the three left. That historic information really should be with the boat.

Best of luck with your efforts and keep us all posted!

Aaron Richardson
Cincinnati

Yes A.J. - It was Marc Krumholz that I met with on Friday. He had a lot of drawings and information, plus the filled out National Register paperwork that just needs to be filed.

There were a couple of people who were in discussions with the USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - the actual abbreviation) regarding the THOMPSON, but those plans fell through for different reasons - bad business plan, bad finances, recession, museum BOD changes mind. They are still shopping her, and she's still in Fountain City, Wisconsin.

Ohio State Preservation Officer

The Ohio State Preservation Officer should be able to help you there, Aaron. That is a function of their job. Contact Mark Epstein, the Department Head for Resource Protection and Review at the Ohio Historical Society. He's the go-to-guy for Ohio, from what I'm told. He can be reached at [email protected] He should be able to help you.

The Trick Is................................................ ..........

Greetings From New Orleans ,
Well , the trick is , first of all , simply to take advantage of ALL the private and govt. loans , promote the boat to both private and govt. historic societies and or promote the boat to the state , the county , the city , or an education system or even a civic organization and if nothing else attempt to sell it to a restaurant or hotel chain ! Imagine turning it into a floating bed and breakfast and making the boat a " must see " tourist attraction for the community !
Otherwise , what would be the attraction ?
You sell and promote the boat as a valuable historic asset , to be used as a civic center or a learning center , or a museum or even a vocational school .
The options are limitless and the only commodity that may be in short supply is some one's energy and desire to do some thing with the boat ! Some one comparable to a BETTY BLAKE !
Food For Thought !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141

Thanks Jeff, and please tell Marc K. with COE I'm still waiting on his pictures of my boat in action. He says he's got a shoe box full and I'd love to see them.

Aaron
[email protected]