Harris Underwoods Log...1963

Yeah, I think those 50-year-old logs would make interesting reading. Thanks for posting that.

Capt. Harris was certainly a unique man and had the distinction of being a "double ender", having both Pilot and Chief Engineer's license. I remember at least one occasion when he served in the Belle's engine room due to an emergency. I was always in awe of him and his piloting skill. Although he was NOT a fan of the calliope, we got along well and it was a privilege to have known him. Capt. Harris and Mabel Underwood lived at Chattanooga and for many years we kept in touch and always exchanged Christmas cards.

Jim Reising;32500 wrote: I don't know if anyone is interested but in the summer of 1963 Harris Underwood kept a log of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE activities. His first entry was Sunday July 21......

Public Cruise..743 pas...2:15 departed 4th St., 4:00 turned head of 12 mile isl., docked 4th st. 5:40.
Took reflector out of searchlight to have it remirrored
Charter cruise...242 pas...8:40 departed 4th st., turned head of 12 mile Is., back to 4th st. 12 midnight

Monday, July 22...see bout height of boat from waterline up. Harris' notes;
30'10 waterline to roof
14'2" hurricane rood to hinge
12' 10" hinge to top of stack
58 ft total height

Interesting stuff! I wonder after these 50 years of additional weight and new sponsons being added if her height is still 58 feet?

Some more:
Wednesday, July 24...Departed 4th st. for Sinclair Oil Dock at 8:40 AM, arrived Sinclair 9:00, departed oil dock 10:00, arrived 4th St. 10:20 (Paul Underwood would take on fuel until the bow drew 5 ft.)
12:00 held fire and boat drill
Trial Run departed 4th St. at 1:07 back to 4th St. at 2:45 (I have no idea what this trial run was about.)
Charter Cruise...American Filter Assoc....522 passengers, 5:45 departed 4th St., turned above 12 Mile Isl. 7:30 PM, arrived 4th St. 9:10.

Thursday, July 25...Public cruise...685 pass....2:15 PM departed 4th St., turned second pumping station above 12 Mile Isl., back to 4th St 5:40 PM.

Charter Cruise..Fraternal Order of Police (teen cruise)...1022 pass....8:35 PM departed 4th St, turned 12 Mile Island Light 10:15, back at 4th St. 11:40 PM.

Those famous teen cruises were actually chartered trips by the Fraternal Order of Police. No matter how many teens rode, the boat only go the charter rate of $600. The Fraternal Order of Police used these cruises as money makers for their organization. At that time there were two rock and roll radio stations in Louisville and they traded off each week supplying a DJ and the live band.
The smell on the dance floor coming from a thousand dancing sweating teens was not to be forgotten...sweat, perfume and chewing gum.

Keep 'em coming, Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To continue:
Friday, July 26...charter cruise (Steve Click)...departed 4th St. 4:35 PM, arrived Louisville Boat Club 5:15, departed boat club 9:30PM, 426 passengers, back to boat club 12:40 AM, departed boat club 01:30, arrived 4th St. 02:10AM.
(I remember this trip, Steve Click was a member of the BELLE's operating board and owner of a local sand co. There was a towboat named STEVE CLICK. We took the BELLE up to the boat club and tied off at the upper end of their boat docks, it was quite a landing to make., it took us 3 tries..they would NEVER do that today).

Saturday, July 27....public cruise....520 passengers...2:20 PM departed 4th st., 2:45 lock 41, departed lock 3:00, turned at 3:50 PM, arrived lock 41 5:00, departed lock 5:20, arrived 4th St. 6:10...waited on Penn RR bridge 1/2 hour.

Charter trip, Valintins (Mrs. Hale), colored, 971 passengers, Departed 4th St. 10:20 PM, returned 4th St. 01:45AM.

Some Thoughts From One Week Of Logs

Back in 1963 the world was a much different place than it is today and so was the operation of the BELLE. There was only one Captain, one pilot, one mate, three engineers, two strikers, two fireman, two shifts of deckhands,and two office personnel, a manager and secretary, on the payroll; therefore, the overhead was much lower than it is today. On public trips the fare was$1.50 for adults and $.75 for children.
A total of 5,131 people rode the boat that week, probably more than ride the boat in a month today. There were 8 passenger carrying cruises, 3 public and 5 charter.
A rough calculation gives a gross revenue from passenger fares and charter income of approximately $40,400 in todays dollars, so the boat made a nice profit that week.

OK, Jim, now you've done it! My curiosity has been piqued. I'm assuming Capt. Harris was the pilot and his brother Paul captain, so whom were the engineers and mate?

BELLE CREW 1963

Paul Underwood, Captain, Harris Underwood, Pilot, Mac Stephens, mate first part of the season, Alan L. Bates, mate second part of the season, Dave Crercelius, daytime engineer, Chet Foster, night time engineer, Art Reese, weekend engineer, Kenny Howe, striker, Chet LaHue, striker, Bob Bradford, Fireman, Paul Davis, Fireman, Jim Reising, purser. Then 2 shifts of deckhands..6 members each. Deckhands would work one week days then a week nights. I don't remember all of the deckhands as they would turn over. Some of them I remember were Ed. Texas, Bob Landers, Estin Monroe, Jim Marshall. We also had a gift shop person. The concession stand was leased out to a family named O'Hara, so they weren't officially members of the crew.
That's the way I remember it, but it was 50 yrs. ago, heck I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning.
Some notes on the crew....Mac Stephens was an old, old man from off Green River. His full name was George Washington McClellan Stephens (a veteran of the CHAPERON, BOWLING GREEN,and SOUTHLAND) and he was a great uncle of Don Stephens who was a long time ACBL captain/pilot. Don cubbed under the Underwoods on the DQ in the mid-'50's which I believe made him the first to get a license off the DQ over here.
Ed Texas stayed on the BELLE for over 20 yrs. until a stroke sidelined him.
Kenny Howe is now the longest serving member of the BELLE's crew having been on her (off and on) since she rolled her wheel the first time as the BELLE in April 1963

By Popular Demand: Here's another week;
Sunday, July 28...Public cruise...590 passenger, departed 4th St. 2:20, Returned 4th St. 5:40 Pm.
Private Party...CarjettReis (?), 261 passengers, departed 4th St. 8:20, returned 12 midnight.

Monday, July 29, Idle, no runs, washed boilers

Tuesday, July 30, Private Party, Mrs. Smock, 347 passengers, departed 8:20 pm returned 11:00.

Wednesday, July 31, Public cruise, 1141 passengers, departed 4th St. downstream, 2:20,
lock 41 waiting 2:45 til 3:30, departed lock 41 3:40, upstream lock 41 4:15 til 5:00. arrived 4th St. 5:20PM.
Charter, JC's, 1122 passengers, departed 4th St. 6:20 PM, returned 11:40 PM
(that day the BELLE carried 2,263 people!!!)

Thursday, August 1, went to fuel dock 9:00 AM.
Charter...FOP (teen dance), 1082 passengers, 8:40 departed, returned 11:40 PM.

Friday, August 2, Public Cruise...885 passengers, 12:15 departed 4th St. lock 41 12:15 - 12:40, back to 4th St. 3:40.
Charter....Budd Construction, 421 pass...8:20 departed, returned 11:45

Saturday, August 3...City/County cruise...1184 pass..11:20 am departed 4th st. Arrived at park on head of 12 mile isl. at 1:15, departed the island at 2:35 PM arrived 4th St. at 4:15 pm.
(I remember that trip...omg it was hot...the boat was overloaded, we could only legally hold 1177 people and there were only chairs for about 900, but anyway the county established a park on the head of 12 Mile Island with swings, slides, picnic area, etc. It only last a couple of weeks, vandals destroyed it. Now there is a nice park on the island, built and maintained by the area pleasure boaters.)

I never had the pleasure of going to 12 Mile Island on the Belle but I went there many times on my dad's cruiser. I remember wading a long way out on the sand bar at the north end of the island. We spent the night anchored there several times, all back in the '50's. It was always a nice place for boaters. I guess it still is.

Another time, we went ashore on 18 Mile Island and I got the worst case of poison ivy I've ever had. I mean, I had it everywhere...in my mouth, eyes, all over and the following week or so was no fun.

-Jim Herron

12 Mile Island

Jim that sand bar at the head of the island seemed to stretch forever. Years ago the sand company dredged the bar and it disappeared and has caused the head of the island to wash badly.
A note on the BELLE's trip to the park at the head of the island, the county, when they built the park, did not build a stairway from the beach to the top of the island. Therefore we had almost 1200 people tromping through the sand and as a result they carried tons of fine, dirty river sand back onto the BELLE. It was a mess and we were sweeping up sand for a week afterwards. Thank goodness, we never repeated that trip.
The park which the pleasure boaters created a few years ago is really nice. They cut the horseweeds, planted grass, built stairways to the top of the island,brought prtapot for the ladies......men have to find a tree. Our "Rumble on the River" trip a few back was a picnic to the island.