Topic starter
14/03/2011 5:10 pm
Attached are several sad photos, taken March 12th, showing the former Str. ADMIRAL being dismantled on the St. Louis riverfront. Looks almost as if they are using a "can opener" on the once proud excursion vessel! These images came to me from Capt. Bob Reynolds and are posted through the courtesy of his brother-in-law, Capt. Dan Shrake, pilot on the M/V CORAL DAWN. Thanks!
16/03/2011 5:09 am
Keith,
Thanks for posting the pictures of the Admiral. I don't know if I'm the only one, but I cannot get these photos to expand so I can get a good look at them. I will be in St. Louis in a week and a half and plan to check the progress on the Admiral for myself. In the meantime, I was looking forward to seeing the photos you posted, but can't for some reason.
John
16/03/2011 2:17 pm
I have the same problem
I cant expand the pictures either. It seems that other than local lovers, no one cares about this. I wonder if they plan to add some of her to museums as the history of the boat is part of the area as it grew. It would be ashame to see it all just be thrown away.
16/03/2011 2:30 pm
same problem here
But when Keith forwarded them via email, they expanded. The middle one still has the pilothouse and this was taken a week prior to the others, I believe. The pilothouse is totally gone in the other two shots. I'm wondering how much of the dismantling will be done at the dock before they tow her up to Alton. They had said they would remove the pilothouse in order to clear a bridge, but if they keep fooling around and let the rising spring river go, they'll need to remove more than that to clear the bridge!
Topic starter
16/03/2011 2:54 pm
Sorry for the problems, but I transferred the photos, with Bob's permission, from an e-mail. It took several attempts and I have no idea what the technical problem is, as I am NON-technical! Perhaps Capt. John can send some additional and updated images soon.
Other than the pitmans, "Wimpy" and "Popeye" at the Museum of Transport and a few other items, I don't know of much in the way of artifacts" from the ADMIRAL other than in the Capt. Bill Carroll Collection at the Mercantile Library. I do have a small balsa wood life float, stencilled S.S. ADMIRAL, but other than that the extent of my memorabilia is pennants, gift shop trinkets, photos, post cards, slides and a number of issues of Streckus Steamers Magazine.
Images:
(1) Pitmans from Str. ADMIRAL - Museum of Transport, St. Louis - July, 1995.
(2) Keith's first encounter with the ADMIRAL - June 24, 1968 - Age 14.
16/03/2011 6:07 pm
ADMIRAL relics
Remember Gary Frommelt used to have a capstan in his yard, but I believe it was stolen for scrap value... I too have nothing but souvenir trinkets, photos, and SS mags of the ADMIRAL, nothing of her structure.
16/03/2011 6:29 pm
Hi Judy, Keith, and other steamboat friends,
Judy your story of Gary's capstan reminds me of my attempts not so long ago to get a kevel off the BECKY THATCHER when they were reducing her to dust. No such luck as the owner wanted the price of gold for anything. I would imagine the same holds true for anything on the ADMIRAL. Sad that these pieces could be saved, even at a small profit to the people doing the demo work but probably will be melted down into tomorrow's pop can.
Sad!
Aaron
Topic starter
16/03/2011 6:40 pm
Gary had a kevel from the RIVER QUEEN (ex GORDON C. GREENE / CAPE GIRARDEAU) and he suspected that the scrap man, who made regular visits up and down the alley, "retrieved" it!
Aaron, did you visit Pittsburgh when the BECKY was being scrapped? I understand that they scooped her up and the remains were dumped in a landfill. I had a phone conversation with the man in charge of the scrapping and he hoped the Howard Museum might purchase the large electric sign that hung on the boat because it was "antique". When I told him that I personally recalled seeing it installed in 1969 at St. Louis and that it was not antique, the conversation ceased! Such a senseless loss of that boat!
Although there wasn't much left aboard the BECKY, things like doors, brass door knobs, transom windows, and a few other artifacts would have been interesting to river collectors.
17/03/2011 1:39 am
Hey Keith,
Would have likd to had an opportunity to go to Pittsburgh and pick up some pieces but after my phone conversation with the owner I was convinced that #1 I couldn't get even close to what was left of her and second that a small fortune would be required to obtain a piece of her history. A similar request for a kevel off the WAKEROBIN was declined after the hull was raised and turned into a landing barge for The BB fleet. From the stories about all Capt. Gary's yard decorations being swipped I guess even the heavy bitts and pieces should be kept under lock and key.
Aaron