Howard Steamboat Museum Chautauqua

Chautauqua weekend

And of course the crew gathers at Kingfish for dinner afterwards. We don't have a large out of town contingent, but there are usually quite a few locals who attend. Last year's food hit on the grounds was the local ice cream, whose name escapes me. And of course this will be a chance to see the construction work in the mansion and out at Keith's future base of operations...

Good Times at Chautauqua

I am looking forward to another fun weekend at the Howard Steamboat Museum. Meeting old friends (that is, friends that I have known for a long time) and swapping lies. I hope the Ohio drops low enough that I will not have to swim across to get there.

Ted,

The forecast for this Friday is 13.0' on the upper and 12.7 Sat....pool on Sunday (12.5). So you should be fine by the Chautauqua and not have to swim a lick.

Of course, this is good Lord willing and the crick don't rise forecasting....so be prepared!

We will keep you updated if the rains come back.

Travis

Having been over at the Howard Museum today on a sultry spring afternoon, I can report sightings of several river Buff's and Buffettes. Here are a few pictures of the attendees! Wish I could be with you there tomorrow folks...but, family issues dictate I may not.

1. Judy Patsch and Matt Dow in heated steamboat discussion

2. Judy Patsch, Matt Dow, and Keith Norrington pose for the camera

3. Judy Patsch, Keith Norrington, and yours truly ham it up for the camera

I worked the back gate in the afternoon. I can attest to the fact there was a good turn out. But there is still time to attend. Day Two tomorrow. Come one, come all. There is something for everyone!

Saturday at the Howard

The clicker showed 544 people toured the mansion today, and the count out in the yard would be higher, so it was a nice turnout. As I sat on the steps eating lunch, looking over the scene while listening to the lilting sounds from Goode Ted Guillaum's musical instrument, it struck me what a perfect spring setting this was. If you're in the area, do stop by. The mansion itself is so interesting and add the steamboat artifacts to it...

1) Goode Ted arrives to the greeting of Howard Museum Director Yvonne Knight.
2) Marine Person of the Year Jim Reising, Capt. Pete O'Connell and Curator Keith
3) Travis, Matt and Keith pose in front of the Robt. E. Lee display - that's a cabin arch on the wall.

Just heard the wonderful sound of the BELLE's departure whistle as she leaves on a charter full of bikers...

I'm getting jealous of seeing all these pictures (especially with the fellow Matt! haha just kidding) at an event founded by my hometown! When are you going to come visit me and experience the real Chautauqua!

THANKS Y'ALL!

The 19th annual spring festival is now history and it was a good one! Thanks to Judy for all her help with crowd control on the second deck of the mansion and to Jo Ann for being a ticket seller at the back gate both days. Much appreciation to Organ Grinder Ted, who again delighted the multitudes with lilting melodies from his street organ. Jim Reising gave two great presentations in the mansion library on the Howard family photos and we were honored to have Loretta Howard's granddaughter in attendance. It takes a LOT of WORK and people to put on this shindig each spring and everybody's help and participation, great and small, are MUCH appreciated! THANK YOU!

Now, y'all stay tuned for upcoming museum events later this summer and fall. Meanwhile, I'm going to bed and not getting up until Tuesday!!!

"Curator Keith"

After the Ball is Over

Although the gate admission numbers were down a bit from last year, the museum still made a little money and everybody seemed to have a good time. We had over 900 visitors through the mansion, but many local folks come just for the vendors and don't come into the house.

The museum staff has lunched on croissants, chicken salad, grapes and cups of Graeter's mint chocolate chip ice cream - leftovers from the HSM food booth that gotta be consumed. YUM!!!

Had some really nice visitors today from Louisiana, two Cajun couples on their way to the Indy 500. They were retired teachers and one of them had long ago worked on the river. The men were lifelong friends who had gone to Indy over 40 years and vowed to return someday. These folks were truly a delight to show through the museum.

Work is rapidly progressing on the Collections Management Facility -- roof shingles going on, walls being insulated, etc. Also a new sidewalk is being installed from the mansion to the carriage and laundry houses, courtesy of Duke Energy, loyal supporters of the museum.

Stay tuned for more fun steamboating events comin' round the bend!!!!

Thanks to the Howard Museum

The Howard Museum Chautauqua was a fun event once again. My thanks to Keith, Judy Patsch, Yvonne Knight and the dozens of great volunteers at the museum. What a great group of HARD working folks. Maybe next year we will be able to add a new event to the musuem calendar with a Carousel Organ Association Organ Rally. Many were excited about the idea and I think it could happen.