Topic starter
16/10/2010 12:09 pm
Last Sunday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a nice article on Arthur Denkmann, who still manages the river gage at St. Louis and posts river stages on the bulletin board at the city front. As the article states, this is the "old way" of doing things, but still appreciated. Read the article here:
Devotee takes measure of Mississippi River
16/10/2010 2:48 pm
The Gage Man
Looks like he's still carrying a full head of steam on that pipe.
16/10/2010 3:36 pm
Thanks very much, Bob, for posting that great article on Art Denkmann, Jr. His late father, Capt. Art Denkmann, Sr., was a good friend of mine for many years and generously shared much of his river memorabilia with me, including two big cobblestones from the St. Louis levee that are part of my garden landscaping! A former towboat captain, Capt. Art later operated the small excursion boat MISSISSIPPI BELLE (originally the LAKE QUEEN here at Louisville) in the St. Louis harbor until he sold her to Frank Pierson, who owned the GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT and Str. BECKY THATCHER. Later the boat was purchased by Streckfus Steamers and burned one night while tied to the stern of the Streckfus wharfboat.
Whenever I visited Capt. Art and Miss Emmy, they requested that I play "Old Man River" on the Hammond Organ in their living room. In the 1990's Miss Emmy was still driving a 1965 Mustang (in pristine shape) and received offers on it everytime she went to the grocery store!
Anyway, that article brought back fond memories of dear people and it's good to know that Art, Jr., is still "reading the river" at St. Louis!