Riverboat Talisman

Hi Mark,

She became a yard decoration somewhere outside Petersburg. Such a shame as from the pictures I've seen she was a real looker and with pitman drive too.

Aaron

Found her on Google maps, she's south of New Salem park on the right descending bank near a road named Pritchetville Road (sp). I've been meaning to make a trip to see this boat for a long time. I understand the land she's on is owned by a member of the Trone family.

Aaron, I believe this is a link to the place you mention. A reddish, paddlewheel-looking object is visible in the satellite view: 39.969282,-89.82915 - Google Maps

Here's a photo of her at a landing.

Thanks Jon,

Your link is what I believe to be her.

And thanks Keith for that picture which I had not seen before. Man, someone go get that boat out of that back yard and run it. She'd be perfect for the lake by my house although the Park District who leases the lake can't make any money with the 40 person pontoon cruise boat they have now. I actually approached them back when the Graceful Ghost was for sale and they couldn't understand the draw that a real steamboat would be, let alone a sternwheeler. Oh well. I wonder if the members of the Trone family that have the Talisman would part with her. She's small enough that a new hull wouldn't break the bank as long as all the mechanicals were still in decent shape and she's transportable overland.

Aaron

Moving the Talisman

Al,

Dennis built the Talisman and sailed her to Petersburg without the upper deck, pilot house, stacks, etc not installed. He said the boat almost did not survive the trip. He told me there was no way to get her out again. The hull is steel and the entire superstructure is wood. The engine system is hydrolic and pitman arms really turn the wheel. I remember him mentioning that only one armed worked. I was in the Coast Guard for 25 years but I never was involved in Marine Safety and Inspection. I don't know if the Talisman could operate on a river with strong current, it just may not have enough power. The Sangamon River was tame and very easy to navigate in the area Dennis cleared out. He told me that had to dynamite snags every once in a while and the locals would show to collect the fish. If the Talisman were to be moved, it would have to be complete disassembled and put on a new hull and then inspected. She looks like a mini JBS, very pretty boat. I have some pictures from years ago, I will see if I can find them along with some of JBS pictures. Mark

Attached below are three photos which might be of interest. They appeared in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald in the spring/summer of 1961. The first two show the boat on the ways at Dubuque Boat and Boiler Company with Capt. Dennis Trone. The third view shows her leaving the boatyard on her delivery trip to Lincoln's New Salem Park in Petersburg on the Sangamon River. If I recall correctly, Capt. Neal Conklin, who worked with Dennis on the TALISMAN and the JULIA BELLE SWAIN, related to me that Dennis had told him both the boat's stacks and rudder were knocked off during that first wild trip up the Sangamon.

David,

Thanks so much for posting the news articles about the TALISMAN. So from the article I am guessing the delivery trip down the MISIP went off without any hitches, so she had enough power to do that. My interest in seeing the boat in person is growing to see what kind of shape she's in today. True to Trone form she's a nice looking boat and when the valve timing was right I'm guessing she ran pretty well.

Thanks again for sharing this David.

Aaron

Found another view of the TALISMAN, this one of her underway.

Thanks Keith for posting this additional view of the TALISMAN. I just figured it out that she reminds me a lot of the CAMDEN QUEEN, now for sale on the East Coast. Although the TALISMAN has alot more steamboaty styling and of course pitman drive.
Sorry the family and I missed you Saturday afternoon at the museum. We were in town for a ride on the Belle for Mother's Day. The museum looks great by the way.

Aaron

Aaron: So sorry I wasn't at the museum when you and your family visited, but thanks for the kind words. Things will be "jumping" this Saturday and Sunday for our 18th annual spring festival. There's a lot of rain in the forecast throughout the rest of the week, which can make for the museum grounds being very soggy. Thus far, the weekend forecast calls for sun and temps in the 70's.

I was at the museum today and two crews of volunteer workers, one from Duke Power and the other from ACL/Jeffboat, were busily cutting grass, planting flowers, putting down mulch, trimming and power washing the sidewalks and getting the fountain going. The yard is now picture perfect for this weekends big festivities. Tomorrow crews will set up the booths for the over sixty artist and vendors. Weather forecast for Saturday is for a great mid-May day, partly sunny with highs in the upper 70's. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Post fest

Kingfish afterwards, and then maybe over to my suite at Towne Place for some river talk????

Judy,

That sounds great on Sunday...but, I have plans for Saturday and can't make it over to the museum or dinner.

Dad is in a show over at Clarksville Little Theatre (his 76th show in 51 years there) and I have already committed to dinner and the show on Saturday.

Travis