Today in History Capt. Fred Way Jr.

Oh my...green...GREEN...hard to imagine what I'd give up...

In one of Capt Way's books he describes the station in life of the top piece of bread on a stack of bread at the table [on a steamboat of course]: As close as I can remember it reads something like "the top piece of bread is bait for the flies and such" to this day I never take the top piece of bread from a stack placed in front of me...in memory of meeting the man who 'wrote the book' and I who had the honor of knowing him.

Capt. Fred was often referred to as "The Pope of Steamboating" and his home at 121 River Avenue in Sewickley, Pennsylvania was known as "The Vatican"! Indeed, his numerous books, articles, boat models and paintings are a wonderful legacy of this unique, kind, fascinating and generous man that so many of us revered and were privileged to know. Even those who never had the opportunity to meet him know he was special through his writings of past times on the river - which he never portrayed as glitzy and glamorous - just the true facts!

Capt. Fred began publishing the S&D REFLECTOR in 1964, beginning with an 8 page magazine that eventually evolved into some issues with 56 pages, laden with articles, photos, timely news of river books, museums, boats, people and all sorts of interesting tidbits that had steamboat fanatics anxiously waiting by the mailbox each March, June, September and December! In those days before word processing, Capt. Fred typed each issue of the magazine TWICE, inserting xxx's to fill out the lines of text. Then, he RE-typed the entire magazine again, putting in the necessary spaces to justify the margins. He continued this practice, even with gnarled, arthritic hands, until shortly before his death on October 3, 1992. To say he published the REFLECTOR as a labor of love is an understatement! For many years, Capt. Fred also compiled and edited the INLAND RIVER RECORD (an annual listing of passenger and towing vessels, etc.) until it was acquired by The Waterways Journal.

Each time I visit Natchez, Mississippi, I go to the courtyard behind Stanton Hall where the roof bell of Capt. Fred's beloved steamer BETSY ANN reposes. In loving memory of Capt. Fred I give it three taps, a practice begun by Capt. Don Sanders (then a resident of Natchez) at the time of Capt. Fred's passing.

A long whistle salute to you Capt. Fred, on your 108th birthday! Oh, how we MISS you!

Photos herewith: (1.) Capt. Fred on the forecastle of the Str. GORDON C. GREENE at Cape Girardeau, May, 1944 - photo by Capt. C.W. Stoll. (2). At Marietta with the Str. W.P. SNYDER, JR., 1975. (3.) Downbound on the DQ below Louisville, October, 1984 - photo by yours truly.

I had the privilage of meeting Capt. Fred Way on the DQ back in the late
1980s ,,.. Heres a Happy Birthday on the CaLLiope,,,..

For those newer steamboat buffs and buffettes who might not be familiar with Capt. Fred's books, here are some titles for your MUST READ list!

Pilotin' Comes Natural
The Log of the Betsy Ann
The Saga of the Delta Queen
The Allegheny
Mississippi Sternwheelers
Oldest Pilothouse (history booklet re: Str. TELL CITY pilothouse)
Ways Packet Directory
Ways Steam Towboat Directory
Inland River Record

Most, if not all, of these are available at various prices from sources such as BOOKFINDER.COM and Ebay.

Photo: Capt. Fred and Keith just before a very memorable dinner party aboard the Str. BECKY THATCHER at Marietta - September, 1991. Photo by Capt. Roddy Hammett.

Owing to a genetic trait Captain Fred was bald. He refused to wear a wig, claiming that, "Wigs are deceitful." He had no deceit within him.

In the fall of 1987, a group of nine friends & family gathered to enjoy the "Ohio River Odyssey" exhibition at the Huntington Museum of History and Art. The temporary and excellent exhibit included paintings, boat models, art, photographs and all manner of artifacts (borrowed from museums and private collections all over the USA) relating to the Ohio River.

At breakfast on Sunday morning, Capt. Fred cracked us up laughing when he said, "I've had such a wonderful time this weekend, I never got a chance to wash my hair!"

I met Capt. Way once in the late 70's. I was Mate on one of the Steel boats, Ohio Barge Line and we were waiting below Emsworth lock with about 20 other boats. Someone weeks earlier earlier had hit the gates , sunk a barge, damaged the gates and scared the cook. There were replacing the gates and we had been there for days. John Reynolds of Point Pleasant was Captain. John knew of my interest in steamboats and had often shared many stories of his youth on the showboat Majestic. One evening he came to my room and said that Capt Fred Way was downriver visiting an Ohio River Company boat and did I want to run him over in the yawl to visit and meet the old gentleman ? For a small framed man Capt. Fred's handshake was surprisingly strong. I had hair to my shoulders and as he shook my hand he said " You've got a lot more hair than I and more than any mate I have ever seen " , as I smiled back he said " Well , it worked for Sampson ! "
I sat in the pilot house there for a couple hours and listened to these guys sharing old stories. I don't remember a lot of what was said but will always remember the twinkle in that grand old fellow's eyes as they spoke of old boats and boatmen. I will always too, be grateful for John's kindness that day.

That one of Fred Way at the stern of the DQ is a real keeper. The DQ can upstage just about anyone or anything, but in this case, she's met her equal. And have you noticed how many guys these days have acquired the "bald" look?

Thank You...

It is with great pleasure and hunger for information/history about Capt Way that I read the post on here. Funny thing is I was never really a big history buff, until I purchased a boat almost 5 years ago now that was built by Capt Ed Bull as a tribute to the original Betsy Ann. Ed and Capt Way were friends growing up and in 1989 (at the age of 75) Ed built what is now my Betsy Ann. She is an incredible vessel and I am constantly searching for articles and information on the original Betsy Ann and Capt Fred Way Jr. I use it all on our tours! Riverboat | Cruises | Paddle Boat | BestyAnn | Panama City | Beach | Family Fun | Comedy Zone | Dinner

*RE: Capt. Fred Way, Jr./His writings.*
Steamboating colleagues. Many thanks for the memories of Capt. Fred Way on this thread. Fred deservedly has received many postings on this site over the years. Judy, Keith and all of you have hit the nail squarely. As Keith mentions, Fred's dedication to the sage REFLECTOR was a labor of love. In writing/preparing his text for the REFLECTOR he used the old time-tested technology then of mounting his material on the cut-and-paste 'story boards' before computers and present desk top publishing. Fred refused the gift of a computer as his hands were crippled with arthritis. "I may hit the wrong key and POOF! there it all goes." More than once Fred served as the interim editor for the SEWICKLEY TIMES.

Fred was slated for engineering at the University of Cincinnati. As a friend of the Greene family, he spent time at the foot of Main street on the wharfboat or on the riiver. "I'd had my fill of engineering, chucked my books in the river and went on the boats." Fred could be steely and tough. He related in later years the ways crews were handled on the BESTY ANN that would be considered 'politically incorrect' today. That's the way it was then. I asked Fred once a question concerning certain 'incidents' on the boats. He looked over his glasses, smiled, "Some day when we're sitting in the shade of an apple tree across the river I'll tell you all about that." In the early years of the REFLECTOR he knew he had to be careful in writing as, "Some of the people involved still living and I'd be in deep trouble."

Again, thanks for the memories.

From northern Lake Michigan,
R. Dale Flick

Captain Way was especially kind to young, newly-licensed marine officers, and though he knew we were still as green as the moss on the paddlewheel, he made each of us feel welcome into that very exclusive club of which he was a Grand Master.

21 century edition of the venerable publication landed in our mailbox Monday 06July09. Well cared for inn transit by the Post Office. Determined that the grass had to be cut, renting sheep frowned upon by the neighbors, but I had to scan it at least before cutting the grass. That was difficult, except for the motivation of the waiting porch swing a cold libation and the Reflector waiting to be perused in detail upon completion.