Topic starter
12/05/2010 7:21 pm
When the D.Q. tied off next to the M.Q. fall of '08, I walked the M.Q.
There was almost nothing left on the boat which had vessel name, or logos.
Due to there condition, I did not get into the Fire room or Engine room.
Many of the crew and passenger rooms had the doors removed and those left had no room number tags.
All rooms had been stripped of all plumbing, fixtures, carpet, etc.
I think someones had already spend a good deal of time stripping the boat of anything of historic, or monetairy value.
I looked over the tiller sticks but there was nothing to note them from any other used on a boat.
After spending about an hour aboard her, breathing became difficult. I had a nasty cough and felt lousy the several days afterword.
Of course knowing I was, maybe, tying off the D.Q. for her final time may have added to the way I felt.
Hopefully whomever "aquired" many of the items of note from the boat, will allow them to end up in a situation which honors the M.Q. and those that worked aboard her.
12/05/2010 8:08 pm
Mermaids
This is why I was asking about her memaids due to they are the only mermaids ever placed on a riverboat. Good or bad they are recognized when you see them.
13/05/2010 5:38 pm
Thanks, Fred, for answering a question that is undoubtedly on many minds. It would be nice to have a few artifacts for the museum, if only some small items such as door plates or signage, e.g. LIFE PRESERVERS, GIFT SHOP, ENGINE ROOM, etc. Sounds like they pretty much stripped the boat of anything and everything. No way to treat a lady!
In the photos of the MQ being towed to oblivion, it appeared that the acorns were still in place on top of the pilothouse -- or was that something else that my old eyes mistook for the acorns ????
13/05/2010 5:47 pm
I just got a little info about what happened to the contents inside the MQ. From what I was just told when they removed all the contents of the MQ during the demo the items were put into shipping containers on the wharf. Shortly after they had "yard sale" as it was told to me.
13/05/2010 6:35 pm
All,
While she was never my favorite steamboat, she was just that, a steamboat and the realization that another will soon be gone doesn't sit well.
Whomever has her whistle and I suspect the calliope whistles too better keep it on the downlow if it was a midnight aquisition. Those items and the roof bell should be in a museum for future generations to enjoy. Sad to think about but whoever does have them's children, unless bitten by the bug, will likely take them to a scrap dealer not knowing their real value and that'll be the end of it; it happens all the time with brass items. Will be interesting to see if the whistle shows up at some of the whistle blows I attend. Not too many 12" Lunkenheimer 3 chimes floating around. If the new "owner" happens to be reading this, do the right thing and make an anonymos donation to a good river museum........or call me. Ha Ha. Just kidding.
Here's hoping at least something of the MQ get's preserved.
Aaron