Towing company "junk" fleets

Good old junk fleets, what better place to spend hours, exploring and thinking of days gone bye. When I was just a kid they were called boat "graveyards or boneyards". I used to drive, as a teenager, to Pittsburgh to explore the greatest of these, the infamous Zubik fleet. On my first trip I talked to "old man" Zubik and explained my love of boats, any boats old , new or junk. I guess he felt sorry for a boat crazed kid and gave me the run of the place. I made trips up for many years till the idiots at Pittsburgh ran Zubik out so they could build the new stadiums. What a loss!!

Now Capt. Bob refers to the Alton fleet, well let me tell you what a find. I was attending a industry conference near St. Louis Airport and someone said I should see the new bridge at Alton, so over I went. The heck with the bridge when I saw American boat fleet. I drove into the lot, introduced myself, signed a waiver and wandered to my hearts content. My wife sat in car and knitted and I was as happy as a sheep eating thistles. Forty years since Zubik and I felt like a kid again. I love "junk fleets".

Seems that a long ago issue of the S&D REFLECTOR contained a photo spread on the Zubik "Junk Fleet" and Capt. Fred mentioned all the great "steamboat stuff" like whistles, bells, lanterns, etc., lying about everywhere. The late Dorothea Frye told me that in 1966 (when she ran the gift shop on the DQ) she and Roddy Hammett, who then was assistant purser, explored the Zubik menagerie, sometimes crawling over fantails and through former pitman holes to get to the next boat! Dorothea was fascinated by the fact that there were some shantyboaters back amongst the "dead boats" and she even recalled the aroma of what they were cooking!

What about the Bob Bosworth collection near Point Pleasant? Is it still afloat? When I was "Assistant to the Art Director" for the TV special, CENTENNIAL, the Art Direstor and I rummaged through that fleet and came-near buying the DUNCAN BRUCE for the production that I would receive after the filming. However, fate interveined and the AD was fired for "spending too much money" and both my Hollywood career and ownership of the Drunken Duncan slid down the tube.

There are countless small boat fleets all over the rivers that I enjoy, too. Adams Boatyard above Madison, IN at Brooksburg has a fine collection of mouldering houseboats, and the USCG Tender SYCAMORE also reposes in the Adams yard.

The Zachary Taylor II is also at Adams Marina. His junkyard leans more toward classic wooden hull cruisers and old houseboats, but not so many steel workboats. My dad was looking for some aluminum houseboat railings for his sternwheel houseboat retirement project. He looked at a few of Adams junk houseboats and offered to pay top dollar for railings, but we found that Adams won't part with any of their junk.

I discovered a similar thing when I tried to buy used spud pipe from Bennett's Marina (just down the road from Adams Marina). He wouldn't part with any of his junk either, even for cash. He said he "might need that spud pipe", even though he is in the process of closing his river terminal. Maybe I stopped by on a "bad day"..

Adams Boneyard Pics

Heres's a link to some Adams boatyard pictures.

Willie and Buster's Whirlwind Tour of the World - Shipyard Shots

*RE: 'Junk fleets & river ghosts.'*
Hi, Bill & steamboatong colleagues:
Great topic for sure and you got me to 'digging' here. I've some dandy B/W photos of Zubic's 'junk fleet' showing a number of wrecks--or nearly so. I'm dumb as mud about posting photos directly to the web site but will attempt to again. I've uncovered some most interesting photos.

I'm sure, Bill, you recall seeing the hulk of the 1939 Howard built Wm. B. BROKAMP, diesel sternwheel: 44 X 14 X 3.8 ft. when she was junked up on the bank just east of CONEY ISLAND/RIVERS DOWNS here near the foot of Eight Mile Rd. [Or thereabouts]. She was a cute thing and caught my fancy as a kid, but as time passed--and I moved on to other things--I never knew what became of her. I dreamed in misty clouds of youth what it would have been like to restore her bright and pristine to run again.

Well, what do I know?

Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.

Another one that I had forgotten was Capt. John Beatty's fleet at Warsaw, KY. Not so much in the way of junk boats, but he sure did have some treasures out on the bank. I know Shipyard Sam has looked through that collection more than once.

Cap'n John Beatty had his share of stuff ashore, floating on the water, and resting on the bottom beneath the waves. Instead of fooling with a barge, he would sink it and raise it when he needed it. There may still be sinkers underwater around Yankee Landing. I'd be careful getting in too close.

His twin minesweepers were always interesting to root 'round on. Full of fascinating sights to ponder inside the cavernous hulks, and with tons of stuff tossed around on-deck that would excite anyone interested in things mechanical. John didn't toss too much stuff over the side- only a few tons ever so often.

The USCE Steam Tug, the GORHAM, (is that name right, Cap'n Bill?) was fun to explore when he had it in the fleet. There was also the steam crane, BIG JOHN, and the diesel-electric crane AJAX. The towboat BEN FRANKLIN usually assisted his flagship CLARE E. BEATTY (SEMET); both interesting places of exploration on their own. I was aboard the SEMET when he towed the little CLARE somewhere up around Ashland to become a sand & gravel towboat.

When my brothers and I were swimming in the Licking River every summer day of our youth, we anticipated the passing of the CLEM BEATTY, a small, but powerful towboat, we called the "Mighty Mouse". It threw huge waves as it plowed the Licking, and generated great thrills for small boys frolicking in the artificial surf.

Hey Shipyard, the steam tug was the Gorman. It in now at the marina just under the Bromley, Ky. BP oil dock. The little CLARE E. BEATTY went to the Epling Gravel Co. at Gallipolis, Oh. Still very active towing on the Kanawha under the name DREW SCOTT. The mighty CLEM BEATTY, all of 300 h.p. was probably passing you boys going to or from Ashland-Latonia. Possibly I was between the sticks. She went to Wooten's as the ELINOR W. That boat is like the Energizer bunny, our good friend Capt. David Smith is completely re-building her like new at Cattletsburg, Ky.

Yeah when you started this thread Robert I was a bit puzzled that you didnt mention Beattys Navy. That was the first one I thought of.

Who else on here, besides YT, worked for Captain Beatty? The Good Lord has a special place reserved in Steamboat Heaven for those who did.

New Orleans to Baton Rouge

Greetings From New Orleans !
Capt. Bob , what a GREAT posting ! In my humble opinion , almost the entire route between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is literally litered with partially sunken boats , barges and other non-descript " vessels " that have been deposited on the river side of the leve over the past many years ! What truly amazes me is the fact that evidently neither the Coast Guard , nor the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or for that matter any other law enforcement marine agency has taken the initive to remove these hazards that threaten either marine navigation or the public welfare . Go Figure ??
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Bob Reynolds;15936 wrote: Rather than add to Ted's posts about the LUNGA POINT, I decided to start a new thread about junky fleets up and down the river. The Banta family has at Plaquemine, LA a number of old vessels that are seemingly beyond repair, and in fact even when running had the reputation for being "junk". "Peanut" Hollinger also had/has a fleet at Alton, IL (known as American Boat Co.), that has a large collection of derelict towboats and a COE steam dredge. While the vessels at Bisso Towboat Co. at Six Mile Point in New Orleans are operational and in better shape than the aforementioned fleets, it is locally known as "Bisso's Junkyard" or facetiously as "Bisso's Yacht Club". There have been others, one at Madison Indiana owned by Bennett's, and one in McKellar Lake at Memphis owned by Henry Ellis. Anyone care to add to the list?

Well I sure did and so did my neighbor across the river from me, Richard Stewart. Also I believe several lurkers on here can qualify. Question, being Beatty was all diesel where is our spot to tie up when the trip is over??? Knowing John as well as I did and his escapades I'm almost afraid of your answer.

Old Casino Boat Heaven

What about the places in McKellar Lake and on the Yazoo, where the PREZ, DIAMOND LADY, and others have lingered? Are those basically towboat junkyards, if so owned by whom?

Judy, the fleet at Vicksburg is owned by Ergon, Inc. and the one at Memphis is Cummins Marine. Neither of those has the reputation for being "junk" fleets; I suspect that the casino boats you mentioned were tied up there was first due to proximity (Vicksburg) then cheaper cost (Memphis). The fleet at Memphis has the added attraction of being in slack water, so it is easier to care for. There is a junk fleet at V'burg,m though -- Yazoo River towing, and one of the LADY casino bpoats sat there for some time before being moved. They also had the MISSISSIPPI V before it was "stuffed and mounted" on the bank at V'burg.

Four Letter Word-Junk

Having spent eleven years in the scrap biz, I'm surprised those derelicts weren't scrapped, last year, when the price of recycled steel was at unbelievably record-high prices.

Oh, for the sad demise of my beloved DIAMOND LADY.... tragic. There are two boats that always gave me a certain comfortable feeling (that warm and fuzzy glow) as soon as I stepped aboard them, and that's the DELTA QUEEN and the D'LADY. Both sweethearts deserved better fates.

The "Great Thatcher" aka Mike Fletcher certainly qualifies. He's been holed-up in the mouth of Gunpowder Creek hiding from the ice and big waves over winter! Like the groundhog, he should be surfacing any time now when the weather moderates. Cap'n Walnut

More " Ship Wrecks " !

Greetings From New Orleans !
Just a few of the many " Ship Wrecks " between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that to this day still pose a number of hazards to not only the marine industry but to the general population as well . I think that most agree the most famous ship wreck in our day had to be the remains of the Str. Spraque after her fire and was left abandoned on the banks of the Yazoo River .
These " SHip Wrecks " are just one more item we has professional navigators have to deal with on the Lower Mississippi River especially when the river comes up and either fully or partially conceals these remains .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted

Ted Davisson;15993 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans !
Capt. Bob , what a GREAT posting ! In my humble opinion , almost the entire route between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is literally litered with partially sunken boats , barges and other non-descript " vessels " that have been deposited on the river side of the leve over the past many years ! What truly amazes me is the fact that evidently neither the Coast Guard , nor the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or for that matter any other law enforcement marine agency has taken the initive to remove these hazards that threaten either marine navigation or the public welfare . Go Figure ??
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

What was that last wreck? Looks like a sailing vessel.
I've tried to find some of the fleets that have been mentioned here on Google Earth; either my screen resolution isn't good enough, I'm looking in the wrong places (its a long river), or I don't know what I'm seeing. The only one I could identify was just under the point at Plaquemine.

Question for Ted or Bob Reynolds, the two towboats in Ted's photos, anybody know their names ? They appear to be Nashville Bridge Co. built boats, which we considered the Cadillac of towboats. If so, a sad end to fine vessels.

Bill, I would almost bet the one in that second picture is the old NELSON M. BROADFOOT. That boat is no longer listed in the Inland River Record, but to kind of bring this full-circle, the last I knew of it it was owned by Cummins Marine in Memphis and sat in their junk fleet in McKellar Lake. I'm not sure where down here it is now, but I'll be on the lookout.

Tom Schiffer;16003 wrote: The "Great Thatcher" aka Mike Fletcher certainly qualifies. He's been holed-up in the mouth of Gunpowder Creek hiding from the ice and big waves over winter! Like the groundhog, he should be surfacing any time now when the weather moderates. Cap'n Walnut

Yup I'm still here on the shantyboat just below the bridge on Gunpowder creek. I was froze hard in some thick creek ice last month but it melted gradually & didn't run out. After the thaw there was a moderate run out with some drift coming down the creek at me. My spuds held OK. I just sat tight & eventually the wind took all the drift island away. It ain't over yet though.
I got enough fuel & food on board but the kats (TIMBERHEAD & FUZZY) are getting restless. I go up to the Rabbit Hash general store sometimes to get a heat from the wood stove & talk to folks. Been seeing some Buffleheaded ducks, some white herons, and a Muscovy duck. I may go back to Big Bone creek this summer if things work out. If not I'll probably be at Hamilton light mi. 515.

Shantyboat Mike

Mmmmmmm: Glad to hear you're OK...last time I was to see you the gate was locked. What gives?? Cap'n Walnut.

More " Ship Wrecks "

Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few more " Ship Wrecks " that liter not only the banks of the Mississippi River but unfortunately Lake Ponchetrain as well . In the first picture is the remenants of an old and abandoned tow boat that is partially sunk on the norther shore of Lake Ponchetrain and just a few hundred feet from the mouth of the Tchefuncte River . Needless to say , after Hurricanes Katrina , Gustov and Ike , the number of wrecks that liter the banks of the Mississippi River increased ten fold and fortunately some were salvaged but unfortunately many were not . I've often wondered during the course of my career on the river and as I have traveled up and down the river how many steamboats , towboats and barges lay on the botton of the river and will never again see the light of day . Go figure !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Ted Davisson;16005 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans !
Just a few of the many " Ship Wrecks " between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that to this day still pose a number of hazards to not only the marine industry but to the general population as well . I think that most agree the most famous ship wreck in our day had to be the remains of the Str. Spraque after her fire and was left abandoned on the banks of the Yazoo River .
These " SHip Wrecks " are just one more item we has professional navigators have to deal with on the Lower Mississippi River especially when the river comes up and either fully or partially conceals these remains .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted