Topic starter
29/12/2013 1:56 am
I am relatively unfamiliar with the Historic Sternwheeler Preservation Association and their former towboat the Loretta Howard (later on the D.W. Wisherd). I have found on their website that they are attempting to cosmetically restore the old towboat, but then discovered that this organization is no more?! What happened to the Loretta Howard? The Barbara H, too? I saw on her website that she was sold in 2012? Being that I'm surrounded by corn fields in landlocked Illinois, I rarely hear of the goings-on of the rivers. Thanks!
W.R. Dancey
29/12/2013 3:26 pm
Greetings, Back in 2000 I acquired the 1923 sternwheel towboat DONALD B (originally named STANDARD) which we renamed BARBARA H and setup a non-profit for its continued operation and maintenance. It had been added to the National Historic Landmarks list in 1989, at the same time the DQ, BELLE OF LOUISVILLE and many others were added to the NHL's new "Vessels" category. But by 2000 the DONALD B was languishing, and needed attention, so we took on the project of restoring her.
As the BARBARA H we had many memorable events over the next 12 years. In 2002 we acquired the mostly dismantled steam sternwheel towboat LORETTA HOWARD, which was languishing as a marina headboat. We did a partial refurbishment of it, restoring engineroom cabin walls, transom windows, etc. The main purpose for acquiring the HOWARD was to provide good moorings for the BARBARA H.
By 2012 I was ready for a break from keeping the fleet out of harm's way (extreme floods, 2 tornado near-misses, etc). So the boats sold in March 2012. The BARBARA H went upriver to the Wheeling area, and is in good hands. She has been returned to her original 1923-1940 name "STANDARD".
The LORETTA HOWARD/D.W. WISHERD was towed to Mobile, AL in April 2012. I only just recently located her position in an inlet at Mobile, where she provides mooring for a towboat.
Our non-profit "Historic Sternwheeler Preservation Society" is in the process of being dissolved, as we no longer possess the vessels. The web site is still up only because dissolving a non-profit is a long process. When that is complete, the web site will be removed. Attached are some photos: The Loretta Howard at Mobile, taken in April 2013 (looks like she needs some TLC now). The Barbara H and Loretta Howard at our landing in '09, and another view from '08.
Thanks for the interest..
04/01/2014 4:49 pm
I'm sure this discussion has come up before, but what happened to the steam equipment from the Loretta Howard?
04/01/2014 6:30 pm
Engines were scrapped in 1952 by Capt. John Beatty when he partly dismantled the boat to become his floating office at Fernbank, below Cincinnati. John was a whistle collector, and I've always wondered what became of the D.W.Wisherd's whistles, over the years. They were not amongst the collection that Dan Webster auctioned-off about 7 years ago at Warsaw, KY.