UMR bridge @ Winona, MN closed

Another Winona waterfront news item is that the city council voted (5-2) on Monday night to demolish the JULIUS C. WILKIE steamboat replica. The contract has been let and the work, to begin after June 30th, is to be accomplished by July 25th. The concrete base is to remain, possibly for the construction of another steamboat replica to replace the 27 year old replica -- which replaced the original WILKIE, formerly the steam towboat JAMES P. PEARSON, that was destroyed by fire in 1981.

And the boat models and other river memorabilia on display in the WILKIE will go where????

A news article, some months back, stated that the steamboat models and other artifacts had been removed to storage by the Winona County Historical Society. I wonder if any of the items (paddlewheel, stacks, etc.) that were salvaged from the original, authentic WILKIE (and incorporated into the replica) will be saved or will also fall to the wrecker's ball. Maybe the pilothouse will find a new home in somebody's yard!