Care to add to a Ways Addendum?

2410A GRACEFUL GHOST stw ex, runs on Caddo Lake near Uncertain, TX, owned and operated by Capt. Lexie Palmore
2644A HILL CITY stw p, ran on Coosa River; single stack
2948A JAMES T. STAPLES stw p, ran on Alabama River; this was a somewhat large packet steamer with fancy ornamentation
3076A JOHN J. SEAY stw p, ran on Coosa River
3455A LIBERTY BELLE stw ex, hull length 113 feet, 4 foot draft, 150 tons; formerly the RICHARD F. IRVINE (4747A, see below); operated by Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL; refurbished and renamed in 1996; all but the hull and machinery were removed and an aluminum-vinyl superstructure was constructed; taken out of service September 2005 for maintenance and returned to service a year later
3702A MAGNOLIA stw p, U.S. Mail steamer, port of Rome, GA; ran on Coosa River; very short Texas cabin surrounding the lower pilothouse
3761A MARK TWAIN stw ex, hull length 105 feet, 1.5 foot draft, 150 tons; diesel burners, machinery includes condenser; built 1954, entered service July 13, 1955 operated by Disneyland USA, Anaheim, CA; decks built onsite at Disneyland and hull constructed at Todd Shipyards in San Pedro, CA; as with other Disney-operated boats, she travels along an I-beam guide rail. The pilot does not steer but only communicates engine speed and direction to the engineer; extensive deckwork and boiler replaced in spring of 1995; hull repairs in 2004
4248A NUGGET stw p, formerly AD HINE (0052/T0036); ran on the Missouri River
4747A RICHARD F. IRVINE stw ex, built at Walt Disney World's Metal Shop, entered service May 20, 1973; construction took about 6 months; named for a Disney Executive and operated at WDW, Orlando FL; had a single smokestack; in 1996, refurbished and renamed LIBERTY BELLE (3455A, see above)

4969A SAINTE GENEVIEVE stw dredge, owned by USE; last ran 1984 before sinking; snak a total of three times at Cape Girardeau, still sunk there as of 1995; stacks were removed for dismantling
5441A TRANSPORTER stw p, at one time hauled 5,433 bales of cotton; this does not appear to be any of the TRANSPORTERs listed in the directory
5820A WILLIAM M. BLACK SW dredge, owned by USE; currently property of National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, IA, where the boat is permanently moored and operated as a "boat and breakfast;" the starboard paddlewheel has been removed and serves as a motorized monument at the river museum's entrance
5844A WILLIE C. WAGNON stw p, ran on Coosa River; short boilder deck cabin ended before the engine room bulkheads

T0501A COOSA stw p, owned by USE; ran on the Coosa River; this may be T0502, listed in Way's as COOSADA, but nameboards in a photograph clearly identify this boat as the COOSA
T1916A NEVEDA stw tb, ran on upper Mississippi, port of La Crosse, WI; pushed an excursion barge

Jon,
I agree, it would be nice to see a revised edition of Way's directories with added history for some boats, and a few that were not listed. I suspect he would not list Disney's LIBERTY BELLE (Richard F. Irvine) as it does not operate on Western Rivers (but I wish it did!). The Way's Packet and Towboat directories here at my office are also chocked full of notes scribbled into the margins!

As you say, Way did an incredible job compiling these directories.

Although it may seem like heresy to some, Way's Directories are not complete or absolutely accurate. This does not diminish Frad Way or the value of the books. Rather they provide a start for those who choose to pursue the subjects further. If any person uses his information it is wise, if possible, to seek further information. In doing so, her or his respect will only grow. Fred Way approved of this and encouraged it.

RE: 'Fred Way's writings/research.'
Steamboating colleagues:
Alan is on the money RE: Capt. Fred Way's classic PACKET & TOWBOAT DIRECTORIES, these separate from his many other books in addition to founding/editing the S&D REFLECTOR. Fred admitted to missing much leaving the door open to others to follow in his steps adding to the history. The PACKET DIRECTORY only focused on steamboats from the beginning of river photography in 1848. Many correspondents didn't realize this with continual appeals to Fred for other earlier boats. Readers/researchers will also note the absence of any listings for boats on many southern rivers. Fred was no slouch as a fill-in editor for the newspaper in Sewickley, Pa. To him the feel of news print and the pungent fragrange of press ink was a delight.

Fred's work was primarily a 'compilation' of facts and statistics. Ah, but the rub is that Fred 'fleshed out' what would have been been a rather mundane listing in a tangible form of expression and originality. All of this done in the age before computers using a well-worn typewriter, pen and tons of index cards. Fred awoke each morning fresh and eager with coffee mug to begin working in his study. "I can't wait for each new day," he said. No question why over the years Fred was tapped as a consultant by GREENE LINE STEAMERS, DELTA QUEEN CO. etc. for his knowledge and insights. More than once he fielded phone calls from the Smithsonian Institution, Walt Disney and others seeking data. Fred recognized the world he lived and set out to say something about it as it was quickly disappearing before his eyes.

By all means those far and wide feel free to add information and findings now to enrich the history. If this reads like a kind of 'fan club' posting then you're right.
Well, what do I know?

Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.

Having local knowledge about an area's steamboats can cough up information. Research continues, and I could add a thing or two to some of the Way's listings that he would not have had the time or resources to ferret out. Fortunately, those who spend hours ruining their eyesight from toiling over old records and microfilm, will let the rest of us know what they have found. They are a dedicated bunch. There are some very good researchers around here. Some are professionals and others do it for the fun of it.

I could likely add a few. The corps dredge Capt Meriwether Lewis sets on a cradle by the Missouri River in Brownville, Nebraska. her sister the Captain William Clark the last I know was made into a cutter head dredge and was pumping in the Houston, Texas area. My Missouri river files might yield a few more.

I have info in my database on quite a few Red River (South) boats that are not in Ways. Many of them predate his arbitrary beginning year of 1848, and a few from the end of the steam era. Way too many to list in one posting. Also additional data on some of the Way listed boats that ran on the Red. Even more that I have only a name and or date on and am still searching for confirming data.

Now We're Talkin'

It seems to me , as a new member, that this forum "Riverboats and History " is the right place to discuss old boats. On a related point I submit that one has to consider if there is any real value of adding to Capt. Ways book those same boats that are in a real sense only modern reproductions of actual operating steamboats. As Mr. Huffman noted above Capt. Way did not choose to add this type of "steamboat" to his books. I am very encouraged by several comments above ( Ms Palmore, Mr. Bloomer and Mr. Jones and others ) that seem to agree that we all can and should contribute in some way in this forum, to the enjoyment of the interest many share, that is, old steamboats and history. Many of us have learned a little about some aspect of boating and here is the place to share that knowledge, no matter how obscure, to add to the sum of knowledge so masterfully begun by the Good Captain.

Here are a few boats from my database that are not in Ways (at least not that I have been able to find or correlate).

ADMIRAL; blt 1843, Cincinnati, Ohio, SW packet, 242 tons, running St. Louis-New Orleans, Jan 1844, Capt. Young, master in 1844. In collision at Clarksville, Ark. 28 Dec 1847 or sunk on Ouachita R., Grandview, La., 1847.

AID: blt 1869, Pittsburgh, Penn., Sternwheel catamaran snagboat, 136’x54’?x5.6’, blt. as a wrecking boat and converted for use as a snagboat on the Red, may have been a bootjack type. Arrived Shreveport 10 Jan 1873, used in removal of Red River Raft. A number of photos of her exist. Masters Thomas Rogers thru Jun ’73, T. B. Hiserman after June. Grounded, worn out at Shreveport, Mar 1878, dismantled 1879, machinery shipped to St. Louis. (Don’t know which boat, if any, it went to.)

ALAMO: blt. 1849 or 50, Paducah, Ky, SW packet, 66 tons, operating on the Red in 1850, then in the Mobile trade under Capt. Stevens in ’51. Advertised as drawing 10 inches light. Foundered, Mobile, Ala., 1 Sep 1856.

ALPHA: blt. 1880 or 83, Jefferson, Tx. by Capt. Ben Bonham who owned and operated her. Sternwheel packet, 125 tons, 450 bale capacity. Ran Shreveport-Caddo Lake-Jefferson, ca. 1883 through at least Mar. 1888.