SS ADMIRAL photos – Page 3 – Steamboats & History

Judy Patsch · 2006-11-22T21:01:52Z

I'm starting a new thread, for fear some people might be missing out on this topic. We've been having an interesting discussion about the ADMIRAL under the "Picture of the Week" title. Capt. Jim and Annie Blum, both longtime Streckfus and ADMIRAL crew members, have been enlightening us about her history, and several of us have been sharing our remembrances of this late great steamboat. Here are some pix of her under construction. The first one shows the old Streckfus double-decker machine shed/wharfboat?Jim???. The second one shows the steel panels which Jim has pointed out (and I mistakenly thought were of aluminum), and the third picture, taken by Joy Manthey's uncle is really interesting: its the end of one era and the beginning of the next. On the left is the WASHINGTON as she is being dismantled, then the ADMIRAL under construction. If you look below the Eads bridge, you can see the PRESIDENT and two other boats below her. The one next to the PREZ must surely be a Streckfus, but I'm not sure which one.

Keith Norrington

Joined: 21 years ago

Posts: 2100

24/04/2012 6:59 pm

They were "On Deck"!

While many of us on this site rode the ADMIRAL (as both a steamboat and after her dieselization) we are very fortunate to have the expertise of Capt. Jim Blum, who was her pilot and his wife, Annie, who was a longtime crew member of the boat and who now is much involved with the Pott Waterways Library (at the Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis) where a fabulous Streckfus Steamers Collection resides. Thank you Jim and Annie! We appreciate your "on deck" FIRST HAND information!

ReplyQuote

Stephen McMullen

Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 44

25/04/2012 4:24 pm

James Blum was the Pilot?

James, do you still live in the St. Louis area? I did not know anyone else was around with that wealth of knowledge. There used to be a Monsignor who taught Latin at Kenrick seminary that had gobs of memorabilia and a wealth of history but he died in 2010.

ReplyQuote

Stephen McMullen

Joined: 16 years ago

Posts: 44

02/05/2012 4:10 pm

......I guess not.....

.....walking away with shoulders slumped.......defeated......(funny)

ReplyQuote