Topic starter
12/01/2007 7:52 pm
We have a collection of river photographs that we are trying to identify here at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. They came to us in 1963 as a donation from Rutgers University with very little information. It is referred to as the “Earl S. Meirs Mississippi River Photo Collection” and contains 69 photos of riverboats and river related scenes from about ca. 1900 to 1920. I was wondering if anyone can remember Mr. Earl S. Miers? His home address was listed as Edison, NJ. Perhaps he was a captain or otherwise connected to the river industry.
The second question concerns one photo showing a landing with a general store and two roustabouts that are rolling barrels down a ramp. There is a sign on the general store identifying the "Whittenburg Post Office". We have not been able to find that name in any resources. Are there any pilots out there that might remember a landing named Whittenburg? Perhaps if the community is gone could there still be a navigation light that retains the name. If so in what state is it located?
This collection has been scanned and can be viewed on our web site in the near future. I will let everyone know when it is ready. Franz has been forwarded a copy of one enticing photo from this collection taken on the main deck of a steamboat showing roustabouts loading cargo. A gritty close up scene that is not often viewed in steamboat photography. Watch for it in future photos of the week. Thanks for your help.
12/01/2007 9:38 pm
Ted: I checked the Corps of Engineer's book OHIO RIVER 1934 index...which, among other things, lists all landings on that river. There is NO listing for Whittenburg at all. If someone has a similar tome for the MISSISSIPPI and/or other tribs., it may have such a listing. The charts since that time seem to have omitted landings.
Topic starter
12/01/2007 9:58 pm
Tom, Thanks for checking. This collection was incorrectly identified when we received it. It claimed to be Mississippi River photos. After close inspection we have found proof that some of the photos are from the Tennessee River. Unfortunately, there is no information on the back of any of the photos to identify or date them. The date range has been made mostly by the clothing of individuals. We have one great pilot house interior showing the pilot standing with his hand on a T shaped lever in front of the pilot wheel. I have speculated that it is a steering lever such as is found on the Belle of Louisville. The Belle has a lever on each side of the wheel while this is a pipe coming up in the center of the wheel with another pipe across the top forming a T. Do you think this could be anything else but a steering lever?
13/01/2007 1:18 am
Ted: sounds like a stearing lever to me...but, as Dale sez, "what do I know?" Was it you who posted about the mussel industry on the Tennessee River a while back? Seems there were some landings identified there, albeit not many. Then, too, we talked about a map there in Nashville showing all the plantations along the lower Mississippi...might be a place to seek the Whittenburg Post Office although the possibilities are staggering as to where it might be other than there! Good luck.
13/01/2007 2:57 am
Ted Guillaum;3198 wrote: We have a collection of river photographs that ... one photo showing a landing with a general store and two roustabouts that are rolling barrels down a ramp. There is a sign on the general store identifying the "Whittenburg Post Office". We have not been able to find that name in any resources. Are there any pilots out there that might remember a landing named Whittenburg? Perhaps if the community is gone could there still be a navigation light that retains the name. If so in what state is it located?
The following is about a town on the Canadian River, which flows into the Arkansas river.
Rancher James A. Whittenburg founded the community of Whittenburg Texas in 1926. Whittenburg acquired a rivalry with Pantex, Texas (which soon was renamed Phillips for the dominant employer.) The Phillips Petroleum Company completed the Alamo Refinery in 1927. It was the first of its kind built in the Panhandle.
The company built a new $77,000 school in 1936 and also provided housing for teachers and student scholarships. In 1938 Whittenburg and Pantex became Phillips, Texas by a vote of the people. Phillips had a population of over 4,000 in 1947 and although the 1936 high school was destroyed by fire in 1950, it was soon rebuilt.
Many of the businesses in Phillips moved to Borger in the 50s and 60s, and the population dropped from 3,600 in 1960 to around 2,500 for the 1980 census. A huge explosion in 1980 obliterated the town. Phillips 66 oil company made everyone move after that big explosion. No one has a hometown to go back to....it's all leveled and you can't even drive in to look at your old school....
Topic starter
14/01/2007 9:18 pm
Thanks Bruce for the information. Maybe this is the town. We did not look for Whittenburg in Texas. It sounds like the community has an interesting background. I am not familiar with the Canadian river. We will check it out.