Topic starter
14/10/2009 11:22 am
Today's scheduled move of the Str. BECKY THATCHER from Marietta to Pittsburgh brought to mind these photos of over four decades ago when the boat, then the MISSISSIPPI, was moved from Hannibal, Missouri to St. Louis. She had been sold to Frank C. Pierson, owner of the GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT, to become the BECKY THATCHER, replacing a smaller restaurant boat of the same name that was destroyed in the 1965 flood after being caught out on the levee. Her steel hull, originally the 1879 snagboat C.B. REESE and later the towboat WOOD RIVER and I.A. O'SHAUGNESSY, was raised to become the landing pavilion for the second BECKY. It sank at Marietta in 1984 and was eventually scrapped.
These images, taken in March, 1966 by Bob Graul, show the MISSISSIPPI moving through Lock #26 at Alton, Illinois, en route to St. Louis, in tow of the M.V PIASA of Norman Brothers, Inc.
Topic starter
14/10/2009 11:22 am
MORE -- Moving the MISSISSIPPI - 1966 ...
14/10/2009 1:53 pm
Alton
I sure don't have any of those pix in my collection, and have never seen them before, very interesting. In the last one, the Alton US 67 bridge, the railroad swing span, and the lock are visible. All 3 are now gone. There is a new highway bridge, and of course the Melvin Price Locks are downstream a couple of miles, but there is no replacement bridge for the railroad. That setup always reminded me of here, with the Centennial Highway Bridge, the Government Bridge swingspan over the entrance to the double locks, and the main and small auxiliary locks. The Alton auxiliary was 300 x 110, while ours at 15 is 360 x 110. Hopefully the BECKY/MISSISSIPPI won't be joining the other missing elements in the picture.
Topic starter
14/10/2009 3:37 pm
Another move for the BECKY, 25 Years Ago: Herewith are three photos, taken on December 28, 1984, as the BECKY returned to Marietta from South Point, after receiving hull repairs from her sinking that spring. The towboats are the POWHATAN POINT II and DIANE NEALE. After getting settled back at her old mooring, an intensive restoration took place, with much community enthusiasm and volunteer assistance, enabling the boat to reopen in the summer of 1985.
