Topic starter
13/05/2010 12:10 pm
Since receiving Judy's call on Tuesday night with the sad news that the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN was making her final journey, I've been reflecting upon the life of the boat, digging out files and MQ mementos. It just doesn't seem "real" that a vessel I watched in all phases of her construction from pieces of gray steel to a living, breathing steamboat, has come to the end of her career and is being scrapped.
In the early summer of 1976, I was aboard the MQ for one of her first shakedown cruises in the Louisville harbor. Capt. Ernie Wagner was master with Capt. Harry Louden as pilot. John Hartford was aboard and I have a slide of him fiddling next to the "swimming pool", as it was touted in those early days. It was indeed an awesome experience to ride upon the pristine and HUGE new steamboat.
Herewith are a few images from over three decades ago. Thus far, 2010 has brought the demise of more "M" named steamboats - said to be bad luck due to it being the 13th letter of the alphabet; the MISSISSIPPI (Becky Thatcher) in February, the MAMIE BARRETT rapidly deteriorates in a Louisiana bayou -- and now the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN. Ironically, all three of these boats have their origins in Jeffersonville.
Farewell to yet another grand lady of the river.
Photos:
(1 & 2) MQ Launching at Jeffboat - November 30, 1974
(3) MQ Christening - April 30, 1975 - with DELTA QUEEN, BELLE OF LOUISVILLE and JULIA BELLE SWAIN faced up to bow. Of the four steamboats in the photo, only the BELLE, the oldest of them all, continues in operation. It was a cold. gray, rainy day, but quite festive, with lots of bells, whistles, calliope music and hoopla.
Topic starter
13/05/2010 12:15 pm
More MQ Memories & Memorabilia . . .
1 & 2) Two snapshots I took from the DQ, of the MQ being towed back over to Jeffboat by the M/V DAVID LEMAY, after the christening ceremonies which preceded the Great Steamboat Race on April 30, 1975.
(3) MQ undergoing completion at Jeffboat - on the site of the famed Howard Shipyards (1834-1941) where hundreds of fabled steamboats were built. I took this distant view from the second floor window of the Howard Steamboat Museum - January 18, 1976. Next time you visit the museum, be sure to see the excellent large model we have of the MQ on exhibit.
13/05/2010 1:28 pm
thanks for those pics Keith they are priceless.
13/05/2010 3:21 pm
Christening
She was christened just 17 days after the NATCHEZ... It is interesting that she was christened while still under construction, whereas the NATCHEZ was christened one day and made her first public harbor cruise the next day.
Even though those of us who had seen the MQ in her deteriorated state at Perry St. knew this was going to be the disposition, its still hard to believe... as Keith and Travis said, this is a boat we've seen from beginning to end, which makes it more remarkable or unthinkable, I guess.
13/05/2010 4:47 pm
Wish I could unearth Fred Way's article in the Reflector on the launching of the MQ. It is quite amusing, and we need to be amused. I have a video of the christening, but that is buried somewhere, too. What a collection of steamboats and steamboaters that day provided!
Topic starter
13/05/2010 5:15 pm
One of the items that surfaced in my excavations of MQ memorabilia was a large photo, taken at the reception after the 1974 launching of the boat. Of the nearly 40 or so people in the photograph, the sole survivors are Capt. Doc Hawley and Capt. Don Sanders. It was a real slap in the face to realize how many dear river friends have passed on to the great steamboat in the sky.
13/05/2010 10:02 pm
Keith, unless we are thinking of two different pictures, wasn't Capt. Jim Blum in that pic, too? I THINK he's still kicking...
13/05/2010 10:37 pm
Yep, probably to the dismay of some he IS still kicking as of 1737, 13 May 1010:)
13/05/2010 10:49 pm
Let me be among the first to say how relieved I am that rumors of your death are greatly exaggerated, Capt!
Topic starter
14/05/2010 11:46 am
OOPS! I was hastily digging through file folders at 4:45 AM, looking for the launching photos of the MQ, to bring to the office for scanning and posting. I hadn't had my morning quota of coffee yet, so my OLD eyes (which turned 56 yesterday!) overlooked Capt. Jim Blum in that photo of river luminaries. My sincere apologies to you Jim, and I, too, am glad you are still very much "on deck"! It's always good to have you and Annie visit the museum and your loyal support is much appreciated!
14/05/2010 12:06 pm
Contributions to .org
Considering how many contributions of photos and information you provide on .org, you are allowed an 'oops' now and then. Hopefully as time goes on, other posters will share more photos on .org - especially for those of us who aren't Facebook fans. We certainly have a varied base of river experience and knowledge in our number, which is what makes .org such a marvelous source of information and discussion. Post on, just wipe the frosting off your fingers before touching the keyboard.
14/05/2010 8:46 pm
The MQ was Deb's and my first, a virgin kinda thing. The picture below, a multi-picture composite, was literally T-minus 0 in our steamboat experience. Our stateroom ended up being the one under the port searchlight, stateroom 402, the Mark Twain suite. Us getting that stateroom, as we had originally booked 302, was a very interesting story most of you have heard. Capt Buddy was master, my first realization that I liked banjo, a lot, was courtesy of Mike Gentry, and I asked the calliope player, very embarrassed I was, to play Louie, Louie, he did, and our deep friendship with Phil Westbrook started. We met Barb Hameister and her description of her love for the river was EXACTLY what our new found feelings were. Cincy to Cincy, summer 2000, a four nighter, our 25th wedding annerversary. And, yes, we had picked out our NEXT DQSC cruise before this one was done...
(my apologies for the sideways picture, my Mac is being cranky...)
God Speed Mississippi Queen....
15/05/2010 12:46 am
Prized possession
I found a SPECIAL SALUTE TO THE MISSISSIPPI QUEEN FOR A SUCCESSFUL VOYAGE publication in a book store in Biloxi several years ago.
It was produced by the waterways journal as a way for all of the vendors who supplied material to the MQ to promote their work. It contains every detail of design and construction. Why were colors chosen! Where did the name come from?! Who made the engines! Who made the calliope! Etc
An example is the paddle wheel was built from 20 foot oak beams obtained from a West Virginia strip mine.
It is autographed by Capt John Davitt
15/05/2010 4:13 am
Dan,
That is one publication I have heard of many times...but, never seen. I'll bet there are alot of pictures of her as a brand bew boat that would be great to preserve. Be sure to scan it when you get a chance!
Travis
15/05/2010 2:00 pm
MQ at Rising Sun
On the 16th and 17th of April 2004, almost exactly six years ago, the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN landed at Rising Sun, Indiana due to nearly flood conditions that made it impossible for the MQ to get under the Roebling Suspension Bridge at Cincinnati. Cap'n Gabe and I worked together to make the Rising Sun visitation a 'happening', and it turned out to be a day that all who were there, both aboard and ashore, will always remember.
See: (Please click on the pictures for narration.)
Willie and Buster's Whirlwind Tour of the World - MQ At Rising Sun
Also:
Willie and Buster's Whirlwind Tour of the World - MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
16/05/2010 4:10 pm
A sight that will sadly never be seen again....