Attention St. Louisians

*That big St. Louis building*
Hi, Jim & Steamboating colleagues:
I looked and looked again 'thinking' that ellusive huge St. Louis building could be the old 'Planters Hotel' but am not certain. Those in St. Louis and others on this site with more familarity could possibly nail it in an instant.

Now the Str. ALTON is another matter. Capt. Fred Way's PACKET DIRECTORY, Pg. 16, entry number 0207 gives the ALTON a big 'blow' with much rich history and detail. This Howard buit boat of 1906 was, as Fred writes, "The pride of the EAGLE PACKET CO." with references to Commodore Henry Leyhe. Her 24's x 8 ft. stroke engines built by The St. Louis Iron & Machine Co. Her 241.1 X 38 X 7.3 foot dimensions prove she was no small boat. Keith Norrington knows a lot more about the Leyhe family and their boats than I do.
My eye was drawn to the expansive canvas deck cover for the passengers to sit and lounge out of the hot summer sun or rain. No doubt white when new, steamboat canvas deck awnings soon became besmirched with all the smoke rolling from her stacks when the dew settled or it sprinkled. For years canvas awnings, tents were often treated with a mixture of parafin and gasoline to make water proof spread on from heated barrels with large brooms. The gasoline would evaporate with the residual parafin being a possible fire hazard subject to sparks recognized and forbidden long ago. Who here remembers the initial canvas awnings installed on the late, great MISSISSIPPI QUEEN in her early days? Well, what do I know?

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

Flamable Canvas

Dale mentioned the flamable canvas used for a time and it reminded me of one of the worst circus disasters of all time due to the flamable waterproofing mixture. The Hartford, CT circus fire of 1944 can be found by simply doing a Google search. An interesting side note, not steamboat related, is that the circus bandleader Merle Evans was said to have been the first to spot the flames, and immediately directed the band to play "The Stars and Stripes Forever", the tune that traditionally signaled distress to all circus personnel. Here is a handy link to the Wikipedia info on the fire. Hartford circus fire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ALTON was constructed here at Jeffersonville in 1906 and operated until lost on January 29, 1918 in the ice gorge at Paducah.

*Flammable canvas/Ringling Circus disaster*
Hi, Ted & Steamboating colleagues:
Yes, Ted, I also thought of the horrible Ringling Circus fire in Hartford, CT 1944 with one of those 'spooky' feelings. Granted not 'pure steamboats' but germain to the discussion. A most gripping full book account appeared some years ago, but for the life of me now I can't recall the author or the full title. With America in World War II there was an army base nearby. Many of the soldiers pitched in to assist with the injured and the rescue. The book also gave insights on the then owning Ringling family. But that's not the full story.

Just last night at Literary Club here in Cincinnati, I sat at dinner opposite one of our veteran members who just happens to be a member of the Ringling family--his mother was Ida Ringling-North. We've discussed the history of the circus many times as Randolph often traveled on the Ringling train with his family from city to city off school in the summer. His uncle was John Ringling-North. Discretion and good manners have kept me from directly questoning him on the disastrous fire. "Nobody has ever done a definitive history in jprint of the Ringling family and the circus. You should think about that," Randolph mentioned earlier on. Initially the name 'Ringling' was pronounced in German either 'Rungling' or 'Wrungling.' I'm no German speaker. Several years back Randy asked if I could recall the name of the Ringling private rail car attached to the end of the circus train. I'd seen it, been aboard it as a kid when my grandfather had a food supply contract with the circus. It was as I recall all sleek in Art Deco style with stainless steel and a rear observation plaform. And down jumped John Ringling-North sporting jodpurs, high riding boots and jaunty hat handing me a piece of candy. "Ummm, was it Shenandoah?" I mumbled. "No, it was JOMAR named after John and Mary Ringling." I remember very well when Ringling still had the massive canvas tents. What a wonder seeing the 'rousters' driving the tent stakes, elephants hitched with big harnesses to walk in unision pulling up the tent. We kids got free circus tickets to help with me being shown by the tent canvas master how to pull out, lay the ropes for tightening in a precise way. Later they modernized with engine powered stake drivers. The 'rousters' prior would stand in a circle with sledges to drive the pegs deep in a near hypnotic 'round' in perfect timing singing, chanting. Those were the days. Interesting what pops up on Steamboats.org.

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

Pierce Building

The building that you are seeking the name of is the Pierce Building. And, yes (sort of), it is still standing. In the 1980s, an addition was added on to the east side and it became the Adams Mark Hotel, now Hyatt Regency. Here are some links about the building: Built St. Louis | Historic Downtown. And, this: St Louis Patina | The Arch and the Mysterious Pierce Building, 1967

One of my favorite (now gone) buildings is actually where the eastern addition of the Pierce is now. It is the Merchants Exchange Building. It was a grand, ornate building. But, back in the 1950s, it was "old and out of date". So, they tore it down and moved to a new, but hideously ugly building away from downtown. The replacement was torn down in the 1980s. Here's an interesting article: A Look Back

Sorry for the delay in answering your question. But, better late than never.