Topic starter
14/02/2012 4:42 pm
Hey all,
This past Sunday afternoon a large group assembled at the Point Pleasant River Museum to celebrate the life of Capt. O. Nelson Jones and to dedicate a new addition to the museum in his honor. The new Pilothouse Simulator is a wonderful addition to the museum, opening up many new opportunities for the museum to attract guests for varied reasons. Naming it after Capt. Jones was the icing on the cake, as he would be so happy they are using the museum to educate the next generation of river people!
There were well over 200 people in attendance at the event. What touched me the most was every person there was a friend of Capt. Nelson. What brought us all together was the energy Nelson had for the rivers and the love we all shared for them with him. Even in his absence, his spirit drives people to the river. What a beautiful day it was...even as cold as it was!
Ingram Towing brought the M/V O. NELSON JONES to the landing and had it open for tours. They are currently leasing the boat from Amhearst/Madison. It was touching for them to do this to add to the event. There were many people from the river industry there as well as the Mayor of Point Pleasant, and the President of the Huntington Waterways District. Capt. Charles Jones spoke about his son, telling wonderful ancedotes about some of his early business ventures before joining the family business. Mrs. Robyn Strickland Jones spoke and read a very touching poem she had written several years ago entitled "The Captain is off Watch".
After the speakers were done the Pilothouse Simulator was open to the public. As well, there was a spread of food that would make a midnite buffet on the DELTA QUEEN blush!
Attached are a few pictures from the event along with a news paper article from the Point Pleasant Daily Register. For those of you who weren't, there, enjoy!
Point Pleasant (WV) Register - Captain Jones is off watch but remembered
1). Capt. Charles Jones speaking about his son, Capt. Nelson Jones
2). The M/V O. NELSON JONES at the landing in Point Pleasant
3). The Point Pleasant River Museum on Main Street in Point Pleasant, WV.
Travis
Topic starter
14/02/2012 4:49 pm
Here are a few more pictures from the Museum and the dedication.
1). Capt. Robyn Strickland Jones speaking at the museum (sorry about the graininess of the picture, I was at the very back of the room almost 50 feet from her when I shot this)
2). The Paddlewheel from the Str. WEBER W. SEABALD on the Museum grounds
3). Another shot of the SEABALD wheel
14/02/2012 7:16 pm
Thanks for the great photos and report. I fully intended to attend the festivities and respresent the Howard Steamboat Museum with Travis, James Hall, Kenny Howe and Jimmy Reising, but a bout with the flu bug last week derailed those plans.
A big congratulations and THANKS to ALL who brought the pilothouse simulator project to fruition. I know that Nelson would be greatly pleased and very modest about it being named in his honor. He was the epitome of kindness, fairness and goodness -- and he enriched the lives of all of us who were privileged to know him.
14/02/2012 7:23 pm
Thanks for the great photos and report. I fully intended to attend the festivities and represent the Howard Steamboat Museum with the contingent of Travis, James Hall, Kenny Howe and Jimmy Reising, but a bout with the flu bug last week derailed those plans and I regret that I couldn't join in the fun.
A hearty congratulations and THANKS to ALL who brought the pilothouse simulator project to fruition. I know that Nelson would be greatly pleased ---and very modest --- about it being named in his honor. He truly was the epitome of kindness, fairness and goodness -- and he enriched the lives of all of us who were privileged to know him.
P.S. Speaking of modest, Travis neglected to mention that he provided the "prelude" music for the ceremony, valiantly performing on an air calliope in the back of a pickup truck outside the museum. Despite the frigid temperatures, he retained his reputation as "the wizard of the whistles"!