Topic starter
10/02/2012 6:47 pm
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the disastrous 1937 flood on the Ohio River. To mark this observance, the Howard Steamboat Museum will host a program entitled "SEND A BOAT!" on Sunday, February 26th at 2:00 PM. The guest speaker will be Mr. Rick Bell, author of The Great Flood of 1937 - Rising Waters - Soaring Spirits. This presentation is made possible through the Rivers Institute of Hanover College. Following Mr. Bell's talk, members of the audience will be invited to share their remembrances of the flood. Strips of yellow ribbon have been strategically placed throughout the first floor of the mansion to illustrate the 7 foot, 1 inch depth of the floodwater at the time of the crest.
The program is free but, DUE TO LIMITED SEATING, RESERVATIONS ARE NECESSARY. Please call the museum at 812.283.3728.
An exhibition of images taken during the 1913 flood, made from recently discovered negatives in the Clyde Howard Collection, is on display in the back hallway on the first floor of the museum. This exhibit was created by longtime volunteer Jim Reising and contains some fascinating photographs around the shipyard and mansion.
"Curator Keith"
Image: Howard Mansion - January, 1937
Topic starter
10/02/2012 11:24 pm
P.S.
We are limiting the seating to 40 persons for this power point presentation, which will be in the parlor and library. At recent talks given by Mr. Bell, the program had to be moved from the Filson Historical Society to a church across the street when several hundred people showed up -- and there was also a standing room only crowd at the Jeffersonville Public Library, to the point that they had to turn people away.
We regret that we don't have more space, but until we restore our carriage house and it has HEAT, we will just have to do the best we can!
Thanks!
11/02/2012 6:04 am
Keith
If my memory has not failed me. one or all of the Missouri River dredges were sent to help in the flood relief. I am reasonably the Capt Meriwether Louis went to the Ohio. She is now a museum in Brownville, Nebraska, the Capt William Clark and the Black and Mitchel may also have been involved. For the most part they stayed in the main rivers and served as a base of operation for small boats picking up people in the hinder lands. These boats could house a crew of 58 men. had the kitchens to feed them and those rescued. They were side wheelers with two 1200 hp Marietta compound condensing engines.
11/02/2012 3:40 pm
My favorite comment about the '37 flood was made by Alan Bates several years ago. He said "the '37 flood gets worse every year".
Capt Tommy Udder a relief pilot on the DQ back when I was on her in '67 said he was doing reflief work on a small steam towboat during the flood and the river around Evansville was about 50 miles wide at the crest. He said they would take the boat and head out across what would normally be corn fields and roads. They would follow the telephone poles and pray there were no metal sign posts sticking up just below the rivers surface.
12/02/2012 9:49 am
A friend who was a student at Marietta College at the time of the flood said that the water came just above the railroad tracks, by Greene St. so the trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad were making wakes in the Ohio.
Topic starter
17/02/2012 3:12 pm
Seating is still available for "SEND A BOAT!" on Sunday, February 26th. Call the museum at 812.283.3728 to make reservations.