River Rememberances

Thanks!

Thanks, Tom, for posting the images from yesterday's soiree at "the BIG house"! Glad to have you and Miss Carol with us, as always!

Naming Names? 🙂

Who are these folks on the panel?

Wesley

Image ID's

Left to right: Loretta Ruth Richter Heffern (granddaughter of Capt. Jim and Loretta Howard), Jimmy Reising, Capt. Alan Bates and Kenny Howe. Yours truly is in the second scene giving the welcome to the afternoon program, held in the mansion Library. I also was on the panel, which shared remembrances of the Howards.

In the third scene, Administrator Yvonne Knight, Curator Keith and Ruthie Heffern, who has just been made a LIFE member of the museum -- a very LONG OVERDUE gesture! The day also happened to be the natal day of Yvonne, and Madeline Covi, a former board member and longtime bright light on the "Fall Into Art" committee each year. So, Curator Keith led the "congregation" in singing "Happy Birthday" to the ladies! It was a well attended (50+) and fun Sunday soiree!

Keith: I've got more pix but cannot figure out how to send them without starting a new theread...any suggestions?? I note that the DELTA QUEEN at one time had a "Kiddie Crew" and my two steam launches MISSIE and MISS BLUE had a Kiddie Crew too and they still do. They are the three guys in the second photo above seated on the right! Their hair is prematurely grey for some reason. Two of the other members of the original Kiddie Crew have been members of MISS BLUE's Kiddie Crew too: Captains Sanders and Blum. Cap'n Walnut

Keep posting

Just add the pictures to your reply in the thread - these pictures are probably more valuable than you realize now - what a group!

Sigh! Judy, I wish, I wish~! The ONLY way I can get the "manage attachments" menu to appear is to start a new thread...there is NONE in sight as I write this...none when I clicked on my reply above. And to think that I usta do it with no problem?!!?? The problem is likely pilot error but I can't seem to identify what's wrong. Cap'n Walnut.

Cap'n Walnut: Instead of clicking on the "Quick Reply" button, click on "Go Advanced". Your options then appear below the field for writing a reply.

Bob: That seems to work! Thanks for your help. Cap'n Walnut

By Jove You've GOT it!

BINGO! You did it, Cap'n Walnut! Thanks SO much for taking these photos and sharing them. I managed to take only a few as I was "otherwise engaged" with the panel discussion, hauling chairs, pouring cider and other curatorial duties!

It's POURING rain along the Ohio this morning and the Howard mansion is very QUIET as we begin a new week here at "the BIG house". One of my main tasks this morning is consuming cookies (left over from Sunday's reception) with my coffee! They aren't cookies of the Miz Patsch quality, but they'll do nicely as dunkers! Besides, Judy is way down yonder in Nawlins this week and the NATCHEZ crew is enjoying the fruits of her cookie courtesy!

Keith: You guys done good! Questions: Who is the fellow introduced by Alan as looking like Jim Howard?? John... Miss Carol's question: Did Ms Howard perform all duties as curator of museum at first?? Where did fire start...destroy how much? Are there any kids involved in the museum as you kiddies were? Cap'n Walnut 'n Miss Carol (first mate)

Query the Curator

Cap'n Walnut: In response to your questions above:

I think the man you are referring to is John Meerman, relief engineer on the BELLE of LOUISVILLE.

Yes, when the museum opened in 1958 Mrs. Howard lived on the third floor, was the curator and about everything else. An exceedingly gracious hostess, a visit to the Howard Museum was always much more than just a house tour because Mrs. Howard made visitors feel like guests in her home --and they were! In those days the roof bell from the Jeffersonville-Louisville ferry FROMAN M. COOTS was near the back door. Mrs. Howard always encouraged children to go out and ring it, telling them it would bring good luck on their trip home.

The fire occurred on the night of March 17, 1971 and began in the basement as a result of a stuck safety valve on the boiler of the heating system. Although nearly all of the mansion suffered severe smoke and water damage, the intensity of the fire was concentrated in the area of the grand staircase (only a portion of it survived) as well as the back stairway, burning up through the third floor, attic and roof. There were gaping holes in the floor of the main hallway and the beautiful stained glass window on the second floor landing (copied from the Tiffany Chapel at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, also known as The Columbian Exposition, was destroyed. It was beautifully reproduced as were other stained glass windows in the mansion. The handpainted frescoes on the ceiling of the parlor/music room were also lost.

Sorry to say, we don't have any youngsters who are as devoutly interested as Kenny, Jimmy and I were those many decades ago. I do my best to "light a fire" with some of the kids who visit with families, but too often they are enthralled only with their electronic devices and wander aimlessly about like zombies. SIGH!!!! Nevertheless, I refuse to give up and am working on some ideas to involve kids with our new pilothouse, bringing in some river pilots, musicians, storytellers, etc. Wish I could "consult" with my mentor Ruth Ferris! She certainly had a knack for getting kids fired up about river history by conducting class in the salvaged pilothouse of the Str. GOLDEN EAGLE. Look what it did for John Hartford!

Maybe you could make some sort of connection by sponsoring a Steam Punk event. That should stimulate some conversation.

ONLY if YOU will come oversee it!

I'll furnish the steam launch! We had PLENTY of kids at the Marietta do this past summer. Donno if we set fire to any hearts, but we had plenty of interest from young and old. Cap'n Walnut.

Keith: Can you identify any folks in my last three pix? Cap'n Walnut

Seen at the Soiree

WHOO-HOO! Besides Alan and Yours Truly, we have Mr. Lowell Smith, one of our most devoted volunteers and his wife Doris.

THANKS!

Steam Punk

I'm in! Shall I dress as Marilyn? That would get somebody's attention.

WOW! Talk about Deja Vu! What a "stir" that costume caused when you appeared poolside at a Vicksburg hotel during our 'southern safari' in 1983! I also liked your get up as "Phantom of the Opera" for a pipe organ gig at Marietta during S&D some years ago. Who could forget your Mummy costume for a Halloween party we had on the DQ! And didn't you also have one as Carmen Miranda?

Hmmnnn. Maybe we could sponsor a "Mardi Gras" of sorts!

Lexie: Lessee now, that ought to appeal to the Kiddie Crew I know! All we need now is a date and a venue! Cap'n Walnut

The Carmen costume is still in development. I recently used the Phantom to scare members of a ladies club as they came to a meeting. Other costumes are the Mummy, the Great Nora Desmond, Michael Jackson, a clown, a toy soldier, a pirate, Mark Twain, stc. Mardi Gras is a good idea. Years ago we started a Mardi Gras in Jefferson, Texas, and it is huge. Thousands come from all over. A good way to break up the dreary winter months.

Will the idea die for want of a date and a venue?? Cap'n Walnut.

Wow!

That picture and your night as The Phantom of the Opera in Marietta sure bring back some memories!

Wow!

Seeing your name on this board brings back memories! Welcome, Jim!

Sigh! Yeah, the project looks dead. Any wonder kids are not involved? Motion died for lack of a second? Loretta Howard, where are you? Cap'n Walnut