Marietta Manufacturing Question

Some or all of the old MMC facility at Henderson is owned and in use by Madison Coal & Supply for fleet maintenance. A good portion of historical photos from the old MMC office were donated by Madison Coal to East Carolina University, in eastern North Carolina. There are a few MMC boats still operating, such as the STANDARD (now BARBARA H) and MARIETTA (now MISS STERLING). The BARBARA H being the one that has been modified the least since it was built at MMC in 1923.

You may notice that the BARBARA H is curiously absent from the MMC book (even in the 2nd Edition). This is because they plum forgot about the STANDARD. I've been told this was because they had no photographs of the boat on file. I have since sent old photos to the Point Pleasant River Museum, and if there ever is a 3rd Edition of the book, the STANDARD/Donald B/Barbara H should then appear in the book...

Marietta Mfg.

To follow up on Steve Huffman's post. The Henderson, WV yard, at mile 1.0 Kanawha River, had nothing to do with MMC. All the MMC property was located in the "Heights" area of Pt. Pleasant, WV and faced on the Ohio River. Last time I was "snooping" all the facility was just setting there empty. It is a large site with several very large buildings. The mold shop alone was over 300 ft. long by 50 plus wide with fine maple hardwood floor to lay out full scale drawings. The foundry building was also quite large. It was impressive when it was operating and is impressive even now in its throes of death.

As to pre-World War II boats, three are operating now, the two that Steve mentioned plus the Trojan. A lot of the post World War II are still quite busy. Twelve that I know of, maybe more. The last MMC towboat was built in 1961 and still carries its original name as the Oliver C. Shearer. I was at its launching 47 years ago. Hard to believe.

Amherst ( Madison Coal) opened the yard back up in 1972 as Pt. Pleasant Marine but labor troubles shut iit down for good in 1984.

Wandering around in that yard is enough " to make grown man cry".

MMC justs joins the ghosts of Dravo, St. Louis Ship, Nashville Bridge and others.

Bill, thanks for clarifying that. I guess I was under the impression (from talking with Jack Fowler) that the Henderson facility was the same place. I have attached a photo of MMC's office building. Wish they had survived!

I'm really enjoying this thread. The buildings along the river are so interesting to me, remembering that they are such a vital part of the reason the river is so important.

One of the saddest sights for me is the old Coke bottling plant in Helena, AR. The last time I saw it, it had deteriorated to the point where it was very easy to see inside. There was the office and the reception desk and the thoughts of workers going in everyday, greeting the receptionist, salesmen calling on the company and waiting in that alcove, all of it just springs to mind.

Of course, in Helena there is still the handbasket company...........

Paul

There are two Marietta Mfg built dustpan dredges that are now museums, the Capt Meriwether Lewis in Brownville, Nebraska and the William Black in Dubuque, Iowa. The Mitchell Was the last I knew some where on the Ohio nearly a wreck. The Capt William Clark was sold to a private dredging company and converted to a cutter head and is generally seen in the Houston area.

Carl Jones

Hopefully the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN will come out again some day, and once more Marietta Piston-Poppet Valve Engines can be seen operating. The MQ's machinery was built by the Pine Tree Manufacturing Company in Maine. The plans for her Marietta machinery were supplied by the Jones family of Madison Coal and Coke, and Amherst fame.

Thanks!

I loved the posts. I visited on board the Barbara H at Tall Stacks. What a great experience.

Bill, great description of the old site. So sad to see such a proud company be just a ghost.

Keep the comments coming.

Fred Young