1848 Cincinnati Riverfront Pictures

*RE: Cincinnati Panorama of 1848*

Hi, Mary & Steamboating colleagues:
Right you are RE: the restored 'Cincinnati Panorama of 1848' housed at the main Cincinnati Public Library complex 800 Vine St. Cincinnati. The Fontayne & Porter daguerreotype is back in the library following an extensive stabilization, cleaning, examination process by the George Eastman House to conserve the plates; yet make them available for study via digital 'touch and discuss' technology. An invitation reception will be held May 21 at 2:00 PM in the library's Joseph S. Stern, Jr. room with special guest Ralph Wiegand, Conservator for the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. Joe Stern, a club colleague of mine, passed away not long ago with an incredible contribution of some $1,000,000 to the library where he served on the board for decades.

Much has been discussed on this site RE: the 1848 Panorama in recent years along with the prior research on the plates by M'issa and Rick Kesterman. The subject is far from being exhausted with the plates known internationally. Several years ago I pulled a large bound volume down from a shelf in the library at St. Petersburg, Russia and there were large repros of the plates under 'Photographien Amerika.' Quite a surprise. I recall as a kid seeing the large frame with those plates simply hanging in a hall of the old, old library before the new construction in the 1950s. For a time the large frame rested against a wall in the storage area between floors during the tenure of the late Yeatman Anderson III as curator in the Rare Books/Inland Rivers Collection

Speaking of history. Many thanks to Keith for his update in detail RE: the incredible restoration/modernization/building at the Howard Steamboat Museum and the discoveries Keith, Jim, Kenny have been making. Loretta Howard would be thrilled if alive today.

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

See Plate 3

On Plate 3 is the "H. Albro & Co. Mahogany Sawmill". My former home in Covington, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, was built by, Harriett, the widow of Henry Albro in 1874. He died about 1864, and the Albro company lasted into the early 20th Century. The Harriett Albro House interior reflects the fine woods and craftsmanship of the family business.

During the 1970's, the house became the way-station for transient steamboaters coming and going between hitches on the Queen sisters. Notable steamboat guests and visitors included: Captain E. E. Wagner, Franklin Miles, Roddy Hammett, C.C. Hawley, Gabe Chengary, John Hartford, Harry Louden, Bela Berty, and many others of all degrees of the steamboat pecking order.

Here is a link to the University of Rochester "Cincinnati Waterfront Panorama Daguerreotype". Magnification is possible to the degree that the bricks on the Albro building can be counted. This link may have originally come from Dale Flick.

Cincinnati Daguerreotype :: University of Rochester

*RE: 'Albro House/Old 'Vulcan Co.'

Hi, Shipyard & Steamboating colleagues:
Thanks Sam for the great photo, history and memories of the 'Albro Saw Mill' in the Cincinnati Panorama of 1848. I'm sure a lot of Albro work went into steamboat construction along with many structures in Cincinnati at that time and in later years. A little known history brought to light by you. I always admired your house inside and out at the time. Mahogany was a prized wood then and now brought in from Central/South America. I'm sure Albro also worked with fine oak, bird's eye maple, walnut--clear vein and burl. Remember Capt. Fred Way extolling the beauty of 'Walton Lincrusta' [At times termed 'Lincrusta Walton' in reverse] on the Str. VIRGINIA?

Another old distinguished Cincinnati business [Not pictured in the Panorama shots] is the 'Vulcan Copper & Supply Co.' located near Broadway/Eastern Ave. on the Public Landing known as 'Strader's Wharf' for years. 'Vulcan' dates to the year 1801 and is STILL in business relocated in Cincinnati dealing in copper materials, supply, ornamental fixtures etc. 'Vulcan' provided a lot of copper and other metals to the steamboat yards and for repairs. 'Vulcan' appears clearly in a fine large B/W photo I have here of the Public Landing taken in 1946 from the O.F. SHEARER showing the last ISLAND QUEEN and GREENE LINE boats docked. The landing, surrounding buildings all demolished when the then new Riverfront Stadium was built. Tons of old pipes, glass, crockery, rusted tools from the old yards was uncovered by 'dozers but police lines prevented any of us from poking around. I often wonder what treasures possibly could have been found. One man did have the luck to find a couple of cast/engraved steamboat engine cylinder heads in excellent condition. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

We are lucky to live in an area so rich in steamboat history! Thanks to both of you for expanding on this wonderful collection of pictures. It really makes history come alive when you hear the personal stories like this!

The Sunday [24MAY11 New York Times ran a nice article on the Cincinnati Public Library 6 panel picture and the Amazing Restoration Results.

*RE: Cincinnati Panorama of 1848*

Hi, Jim & steamboating colleagues:
Thanks for your interest in the 1848 Panorma by Porter and Fontayne dedicated with a ribbon cutting this last Saturday with an audience of nearly 300 at the main Cincinnati Public Library and the Joesph S. Stern room. Much as already been posted on this web in the past. Bill Judd, Darlene Judd and I were invited to represent S&D and the J. Mack Gamble Fund who in part contributed to the work by 'Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film.' Other officers from S&D couldn't attend due to distance, time. Darlene Judd joined the VIPS from 'Eastman,' the library, Columbus, Ohio, Cincinnati City Council, other big contributors for the ribbon cutting. Clapping, cheers, huzzas all around.

The 50 minute dedication program with stage, 'Power Point' by the library and Eastman amazed us with the NASA Space Age technology in preservation, mounting, framing with a new system of light filters, argon gas constantly pumped in and around. The real honored guest now deceased were Louis Daguerre who pioneered the technique in 1839; Porter & Fontayne; Capt. Fred Way & Carl Vitz who studied the plates in the late 1940s producing a fine interpretation and J. Mack Gamble for providing the funds for grants by S&D. There are eight plates in all famed around the world as the first of any major U.S. city or views of steamboats. The new electron microsope amplification gives deatails even Porter & Fontayne, Way and Vitz couldn't see. The new 'touch & tell' digital screens allow you to click and read details of boats, the river, hills, buildings with amplification for close views. I again agree with Sam Shipyard that our favorite boat seen is the CAR OF COMMERCE. Close views show people never seen before along with candid, casual pictures of freed Blacks living in Cincinnati.

The plates were displayed at London, England's 'Crystal Palace' in 1851/'52 mounted by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort. Other recent news articles have appeared here and in England.

'Eastman Labs' are providing me with the detailed report on the work courtesy of Ralph Wiegant who worked on the project. An 'old story' revisited with a new twist. The Literary Club has the full earlier report by Fred Way and Carl Vitz along with photo reproductions locked in my steel vault at the Club. Capt. Tom Greene attended Club for the reading of Way's and Vitz's findings in the late 1940s. Fred Way would have been astounded today. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Cincinnati, Ohio