Steamers of the Kentucky River

Hi, Melissa:
Saw your appeal for help in Kentucky River steamboats and decided to jump in. First, you need to consult the definitive 'WAY'S PACKET DIRECTORY, 1848-1983' for Capt. Fred Way's entries on packet boats. He also produced WAY'S STEAM TOWBOAT DIRECTORY later in tandem with his son-in-law, Woody Rutter. You may find both volumes in your local library. Your list of boats can be confusing, as you know, with many boats named the same over a period of years. In requesting photos you'd need to know the name, date and 'trades' on Kentucky Rivers.

There may be boat photos of such in the big library in Frankfort, Ky. or other cities on the Ohio River in Kentucky. Another excellent source would be 'Murphy Library University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.' Cincinnati's main library on Vine St. here has undergone massive reogranization of late and many are learning the ropes here now as to where such and such once was and is now. Their 'Rare Books/Inland Rivers Collection' houses much in steamboat/river history with photos. I'm not sure at present what the name of the new department is--could be 'Cincinnati History.' You may type both in and hit 'GO' for access for addresses, department, phone, collection description. etc. Costs for photo reproductions vary, so be prepared $$ as it's more and more expensive for such work with each passing day. Many archives/libraries have eliminated 'in house' photo labs with such work being farmed out to a local photo shop or lab.

Regarding your list of boats:
FALLS CITY: There were five so named with three on Kentucky rivers, 1867 - 1890 - 1898.
KENTUCKY: Possibly No. II of that name, 1851.
ROYAL: 1904.
BLUE WING: 1882.
RESCUE: Vague entry in records as a possible 'tow' and 'packet boat.'
RICHARD ROE: 1915.
SYLPH: Listings here do not show she was on any Kentcky river but who knows?
SONOMA: 1881.

There are far keener memories on this web or those with more detailed files and collections who could assist you. Good luck in your project. Well, what do I know?

Cheers,
R. Dale Flick

Get ahold of Bill Grier, formerly of the Kentucky River Authority...

A super nice guy and full of information on the Kentucky River...

Also look here: http://finance.ky.gov/ourcabinet/attached+agencies/kra.htm

Str. Falls City

Here's one of my favortie pictures of the Str. FALLS CITY. My grandparents took a trip from Louisville to High Bridge on the FALLS CITY in 1905.

Both the BETSY ANN and the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE made the four mile jaunt up to Lock 1 on the Kentucky River several times. The last steamboat chief engineer to answer a bell on the Kentucky River would have been my father when the BELLE last headed up that way.

R. Dale Flick;9505 wrote: Hi, Melissa:
Saw your appeal for help in Kentucky River steamboats and decided to jump in. First, you need to consult the definitive 'WAY'S PACKET DIRECTORY, 1848-1983' for Capt. Fred Way's entries on packet boats. He also produced WAY'S STEAM TOWBOAT DIRECTORY later in tandem with his son-in-law, Woody Rutter. You may find both volumes in your local library. Your list of boats can be confusing, as you know, with many boats named the same over a period of years. In requesting photos you'd need to know the name, date and 'trades' on Kentucky Rivers.

There may be boat photos of such in the big library in Frankfort, Ky. or other cities on the Ohio River in Kentucky. Another excellent source would be 'Murphy Library University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.' Cincinnati's main library on Vine St. here has undergone massive reogranization of late and many are learning the ropes here now as to where such and such once was and is now. Their 'Rare Books/Inland Rivers Collection' houses much in steamboat/river history with photos. I'm not sure at present what the name of the new department is--could be 'Cincinnati History.' You may type both in and hit 'GO' for access for addresses, department, phone, collection description. etc. Costs for photo reproductions vary, so be prepared $$ as it's more and more expensive for such work with each passing day. Many archives/libraries have eliminated 'in house' photo labs with such work being farmed out to a local photo shop or lab.

Regarding your list of boats:
FALLS CITY: There were five so named with three on Kentucky rivers, 1867 - 1890 - 1898.
KENTUCKY: Possibly No. II of that name, 1851.
ROYAL: 1904.
BLUE WING: 1882.
RESCUE: Vague entry in records as a possible 'tow' and 'packet boat.'
RICHARD ROE: 1915.
SYLPH: Listings here do not show she was on any Kentcky river but who knows?
SONOMA: 1881.

There are far keener memories on this web or those with more detailed files and collections who could assist you. Good luck in your project. Well, what do I know?

Cheers,
R. Dale Flick

I guess I should have been more specific.... Sorry. I was referring to the Falls City that was on the Ky from 1898-1908 then went to work on the Mississippi River. The Park City took the place of the Falls City on the Ky River in late 1908 only to sink in late 1909.

They both ran between Louisville and Valley View.

I'll check with the Cincy Library whenever I'm in the area to see if they have anything. Thanks so much!

Jim Reising;9507 wrote: Here's one of my favortie pictures of the Str. FALLS CITY. My grandparents took a trip from Louisville to High Bridge on the FALLS CITY in 1905.

What a beautiful photo! Thanks so much!!

Would you mind emailing me so I can get your info for proper photo credit? [email protected] Too, is there any way I could get this at 300 dpi or higher? My pubilsher has pretty strict standards.

Thanks again - I really appreciate the help. High Bridge is going to be prominently featured in my book and this photo will be perfect.

Melissa

Melissa: Chuck Parrish, historian for the Louisville district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has written wonderful articles and done lots of research on Kentucky Rivers. He is a member of our board of directors at the Howard Steamboat Museum and you can contact him through the website at www.steamboatmuseum.org if you wish.

Good luck with your project!

Frank,

Gee, does that make me the last calliope player to perform on a steam pianny on an authentic steamboat up those waters? That is a scary thing to ponder!

~Travis~

Travis Vasconcelos;9522 wrote: Frank,

Gee, does that make me the last calliope player to perform on a steam pianny on an authentic steamboat up those waters? That is a scary thing to ponder!

~Travis~

You may very well be! Unfortunatley we don't have anything like the Belle in our area. Years ago I remember they had "the Star of Lexington" but it closed before I got to take a ride on it.

Seems to me, Travis, that you may be the last calliope player on any excursion boat above High Bridge. I remember going up to Ft. Boonesboro on the STAR OF LEXINGTON with you one fine summers day. But if you are going to claim bragging rights, I'd stick with playing the calliope on the BELLE!

Frank,

Yes I played the calliope (Tangley Calliaphone) on both of the "Stars" of Lexington. As a matter of fact, the player tapes they used when i was not there were all of me playing on both of them.

Wow, the last calliope player on the last excursion boat AND the last steamboat! I need a bigger hat!

~Travis~

Melissa,

I remember those boats well. They were landed at Clays Ferry on the Kentucky River below lock 8 if I recall correctly. They both (there were 2 boats with the same name at the same location over a 2 year period) had player calliopes which worked off a cassette player. I recorded their selections at the beginning of the season each year and made a few infrequent appearances on the boats over the years they were there.

We ran upstream mostly...to Ft. Boonesborough and then back to Clays Ferry landing. The highlight of the trip was passing the old BROOKLYN, a sunken old diesel sternwheeler which used to move barges on the Kentucky in days of yore.

The last excursion boat I know of to go above lock 1 at Worthville is the SPIRIT OF CINCINNATI which was at the kentucky Folk Life festival in Frankfort in 2003. The diesel sternwheel towboat BARBARA H was also there at the same time. In 1996 there was a singular appearance of a vessel of the name DOGWOOD (a 1940's vintage US Coast Guard vessel which had just been refitted as a luxury overnight toursit vessel for 12 guests), which is currently for sale in Louisiana. She was the last overnight tourist boat I know of up that way. She made it to Frankfort as well.

Which reminds me, Jim Reising, if you are listening...what is the proposal for the "Jims Dream" cruise this coming year? I believe you lead the last flotilla type cruise on those waters with the BARBARA H about 3 years ago.

~Travis~

Here's another one of the Falls City, taken in 1905. Contact the Kentucky Historical Society if you are interested in using this one.

Steve Huffman;9553 wrote: Here's another one of the Falls City, taken in 1905. Contact the Kentucky Historical Society if you are interested in using this one.

Thanks... I have one very similar to that, actually that came from the KHS too. Seeing these boats on our river sure would have been something to see back in their heyday.