Topic starter
20/07/2015 9:32 pm
Hi everyone, just wanted to check in as its been awhile. As many of you know the Illinois River has been flooding for awhile now and the Goldenrod has managed to ride it out without any problems. Unfortunately i can't say the same for our landing barge and ramps.
When the river first started coming up we realized that one of the compartments of the landing barge had several leaks. While efforts to get these leaks stopped were ongoing. The river caught up with us. The landing barge started taking on water to the point that the bow was riding high. Attempts to pump the leaking compartment out failed and the river eventually got into the forward compartments of the landing barge and totally sank it. One of our new ramps is accounted for but the newest one we built has never been found and probably never will be. Access to the boat by road has been hit and miss as the water keeps receding and then coming back up due to heavy rains to the north.
We continue to await the river to go down in order to be able to start cleaning the landing and the area around the boat as well as pump the landing barge out and getting it floating again. Just wanted to give everyone an update and let those interested know that the Goldenrod has been riding the flood out in fine fashion just as it always has in the past.
This has sure put a damper on our tours and other events that would have been held had it not been for the flooding. We are thankful that thinks haven't been worse and i will post back again when the water finally goes down.
Sincerely Wayne
Lead Caretaker for the Goldenrod Showboat
20/07/2015 9:55 pm
Goldenrod Showboat Update
Thanks Wayne for the 7-20-2015 update and pictures.Hope things improve soon.Glad the Goldenrod made it through the flooding in her usual honorable fashion. Be sure to let us know when things get better and we will all be waiting so hang in there. Carole Matthews Pompano Beach Fla You guys are doing a great job.Keep up the good work.
03/08/2015 12:43 pm
Goldenrod Showboat Update
Please see Jacob Medfords message for 8 3 2015. Can anybody help give advice for this urgent dilemma? Carole Matthews Pompano Beach Fla 33064 What can they do????
05/08/2015 7:19 pm
Goldenrod Showboat being scrapped
Sad news indeed to hear the Goldenrod Showboat to be scrapped as of Aug 5 2015. Please everyone stand up an applaud the group of volunteers Hugh Mcpheeter Wayne White Jacob Medford and the others who tried so hard for so long to save this iconic piece of history Rest in peace Goldenrod Carole Matthews Pompano Beach Fla 33064
Topic starter
06/08/2015 2:02 am
Yes sadly this is true. Sunday after a number of us surveyed the damage i left brokenhearted and couldn't say anything until after the emergency board meeting and the press release. I'm very proud of the organization and especially our caretaker team. We prolonged the Goldenrod's life by a few years and enabled many to tour her and experience the showboat. The Goldenrod will live on with select pieces eventually being put on display. I feel a lot more positive about things this evening after spending the afternoon aboard the boat. All things come to and end sooner or later and if we had been able to secure the finances the Goldenrod would have been saved as a whole. But unfortunately it wasn't to be so we will make the best out of the situation. Thank you one and all who helped us along the way we can not express that enough.
Sincerely
Wayne White
Lead Caretaker for the Goldenrod Showboat
06/08/2015 2:31 pm
*We applaud your legion efforts*
Morning, Steamboating colleagues,
Just catching up with .org postings here in the far north of Michigan for the summer. Recent destructive storms, wind knocked out power/Internet service for some days. Wayne, it was indeed sad to hear the final decision you all had to make RE: the GOLDENROD but nobody can doubt the hard work, efforts you and the rest of the gang expended. These projects on land and afloat often a pure labor of love. This scenario all too common where maritime preservation is concerned today nationally and abroad. Yet, there comes the time to see the evidence, step back, look at the bottom line figures, feasibility, think and regroup or move on. In the end this could have well embroiled you all in increasing financial, legal, personal involvements. Been there, done that. One real 'rub' is that many misread thinking that certain 'trusts,' foundations etc. have available funds for maritime restoration, maintenance which isn't always the case.
Please continue to keep us posted on your final decisions and plans. Cheers to you all! I'll be heading back to Cincinnati on Aug. 15th leading to my first eye surgery on the 20th; then the next surgery on Sept. 20th for these dismal cataracts.
R. Dale Flick
Summer on the north shores or mighty Lake Michigan.
08/08/2015 2:02 pm
Goldenrod Showboat Update Aug 8 2015
After an emergency meeting Tuesday by Board of Directors an from engineering consultant sadly the old showboat will be scrapped/ However they have decided to remove interior artifacts as much as possible in hopes of using them in a riverboat museum they hope to build or use on land. GREAT IDEA. I applaud your entire organization and its volunteers. Wayne keep us posted with updates. Carole Matthews Pompano Beach Fla Goldenrod was 106 years old
10/08/2015 2:06 pm
Goldenrod Showboat Update August 10 2015
Please check out Goldenrod on Facebook.Help needed packing boxes etc volunteers donations they are moving whatever they can before it is scrapped.Read it an help if you can.They are hoping to make a riverboat museum in the near future. Give these guys a hand they deserve it. Don't wait they need help now. Please help if you can an thanks. don't wait they need help now Carole Matthews Pompano Beach Fla. Anyone living in the area they can use volunteers now. Thanks again.See one last photo of the grand old showboat before it is scrapped.Thanks for reading. August 10 2015 10 AM
14/08/2015 1:59 pm
Goldenrod Showboat Update Aug 14 20
Check out the Goldenrod Facebook site. A lot of good data there. A photographer is taking orders for photos an they start at $10. The proceeds are being donated to help their museum fund. Good cause. PS Someone had a neat idea at least I thought I sounded neat. Take the theater part an put in the museum on smaller scale using some of the saved items from the original theater. What do you all think? Excuse spelling. So lets give this group and the HRPA some help here now. Thanks Carole Matthews Pompano Beach Fla.Total of 36 photos so you have a lot of choices. Back with more updates as available.
Topic starter
15/08/2015 9:11 pm
Sorry for the lack of updates but between whats going on with the boat and work and family just not enough hours in the day lately. Last Sunday we removed many items from the boat to be held in storage until it is decided exactly what we will be doing. It was a sad day last Sunday when we started taking things apart. Just doesn't feel right to be doing it but if we don't someone else will try to.I will try to update more often as things become clearer as to how the Goldenrod Showboat will live on!
It has been a great pleasure to work as a caretaker and then lead caretaker for the Goldenrod and i will continue to do whatever it takes to make sure the Goldenrod lives on in some form or fashion. I dearly love this boat and it saddens me to no end on how this has came to this point. I have been flooded with many questions and inquiries but unfortunately a lot of the questions i have been asked i don't have answers for at this time.
Thanks Carole And Dale for your comments!
And thanks again to one and all who supported our efforts it was and is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely Wayne
Lead Caretaker for the Goldenrod Showboat
Topic starter
25/08/2015 8:57 pm
Just stopped by to give another update. We had another work day at the boat this past Sunday the 23rd. We got quite a bit accomplished and continue to remove and secure items from the boat. This is a sad duty but we had great help Sunday and had many photographers aboard the boat taking pictures. We removed the double doors that had stained glass on each side, the crystal chandelier from the buffet room and the huge mirror from the lobby and buffet area. We have much more work to do but we will get it accomplished. I will hold out hope on saving the entire boat until they cut the hull up for scrap. I had a nice lady contact me yesterday from a foundation in St Louis that may have an interest in saving the boat. So who knows we have had some people come forward lately that are just finding out about what has happened to the Goldenrod. Realistically i doubt very much this will be successful but who knows.
If we were able to restore the boat as we so wanted to do we would have had to remove these items any way. So i continue to stay positive even though i pretty well know what the outcome will be in the end. I got a nice email from a gentlemen today that did brightened my day about the efforts our group have undertaken to make sure that the Goldenrod lives on one way or the other. I will post a few pictures from our work day!
As always thanks one and all who have supported our efforts and continue to support them we appreciate it very much! 1st picture, we had the Spirit of Peoria cruise by one her way south. 2nd picture is the chandelier in the buffet room with the crystals removed. 3rd picture is the double doors and trim removed from the doorway and getting ready to removed the stained glass panels that were on each side of the doorway.
Sincerely Wayne White
Lead Caretaker for the Goldenrod Showboat
Topic starter
14/09/2015 2:50 pm
Hi everyone just a small update. Yesterday was my last day as the Lead Caretaker for the Goldenrod Showboat. But i hope those who have supported the effort will continue to. It has been great working on this project for the last 5 years or so. But after a major difference of opinion yesterday evening it became clear to me that it was time to move on to something else. I dearly love the Goldenrod but sometimes enough is enough and yesterday i reached that point. Please direct any further inquiries concerning the boat to Jake Medford and the HRPA.
Sincerely
Wayne
Topic starter
23/10/2015 7:39 pm
Heading to the quarter auction tonight thats being held in Dow Illinois to try to win some items from the Goldenrod Showboat. They have a lot of props and other stuff they are auctioning off. Going to go and try to win something just for a keepsake for my time working on the Goldenrod Showboat.Wish me luck and i will post whatever i end up coming home with! I want to thank each and everyone of you again who supported the efforts to save the Goldenrod. And although I'm no longer associated with the boat or the HRPA in any way i wish them luck on their efforts in getting a river museum going in St Louis.
Everyone have a great day!