[Jerry Hay]

I just returned from a trip on the Illinois Waterway from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River and came across two boats of interest to many of you. Just above Kampsville on the Illinois River the Goldenrod is moored and the owner happened to be there showing the vessel to prospective investers. I talked to owner, John Schwarz and he still has hopes to restore and put the showboat back into service. The Goldenrod looks pretty bad but he left me with some glimmer of hope that the boat may be saved. I'm not all that convinced that it will happen but there is a chance. At the Kampsville Landing I was surprised to see the towboat America. I have seen the historic boat many times moored on the upper Mississippi rusting away. I think it sat there for 11 years. It has been purchased and moved to Kampsville and is being converted to a resaurant/bar and B&B. They are also developing an RV camp at the site and will have a fuel barge for pleasure craft. The boat looks beautiful. I am happy to see that it is being restored for a useful purpose. The sister boat the United States is moored at Greenville, MS with an uncertain future. Photos are of the two vessels.