Mississippi River Flooding, memories and thoughts.
Posted 06-22-2008 at 03:04 PM by Travis Vasconcelos
Hello All!
As I read about and hear more and more about the horrific Upper Mississippi River flooding, along with the flooding we have had on the Ohio and Lower Mississippi Rivers this spring and early summer I am reflecting back to 1993.
The summer started much the same, hot humid, and extremely wet in the Missouri and Upper Mississippi River valleys...flooding came just as the passenger carrying boats were coming out of winter lay up and this event wreaked havoc with their ability to make money, if at all the entire season.
Back at home in Louisville, KY we were blessed with an entire summer season of continous landings of the DELTA QUEEN and MISSISSIPPI QUEEN. The entire Ohio River valley made new friends with the crew and passengers of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company boats as they came in frequently and we were ready to help them enjoy the bounties of the valley.
In the offices of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE a new idea was hatching...to get a smaller, more economical, and air conditioned boat to help the larger BELLE OF LOUISVILLE support herself.
Ad after ad came out in the Waterways Journal and Boats and Harbours advertising different boats for sale from the Upper Mississippi River area and the prices were as cheap as any of us had seen in years.
Two ads that summer in the Waterways Journal caught the eyes of the BELLE Operating board and they looked these and several other vessels over a two year period.
To this day I personally believe the biggest mistake made was the passing by of the possible purchase of the JULIA BELLE SWAIN for Louisville. Just the idea of two steamboats in one place sounds like the perfect compliment to the idea originally hatched by Marlow Cooke with the purchase of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE in 1962.
As County Judge Executive, Harvey Sloane had one time proposed the purchase of the (then) Str. PRESIDENT from Streckfus Steamers as a running mate to the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE. Her much larger size, air conditioning, and elevator were his reasonings.
Because of this idea, later attempts were made at looking into the BORDER STAR when she was for sale in 1978.
The sale of the JULIA BELLE SWAIN and TWILIGHT were two that seemed to start the interest in this idea again.
As fate would have it...the Belle of Louisville Operating Board ended up buying a Dubuque built boat, the HUCK FINN.
One has to wonder what would have happened if they had the foresight to buy the JULIA BELLE.
The future of the Great Steamboat Race would not be in question today.
However, what COULD have happened? Could she have been more popular than the current boat? Would the mere fact there were 2 of the 5 functioning steamboats left on the Mississippi River System have been a drawing card to make the money to preserve the BELLE? Would the JULIA BELLE and her smaller cabin have handled the business the SPIRIT has brought to Louisville? Would the beautiful wedding cake perfect silouette of the JULIA BELLE have won the hearts of the public in a way she would be the proverbial goose who laid the golden egg for the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE?
We will never know what the outcome could have been.
Out of the adversity of flooding on the Upper Mississippi River of 1993 came many changes to the passenger boating business. Many operators sold out, new operators sprang up, and casino gaming had their first taste of the flippancy of Old Man River in a way even their bean counters couldn't have planned.
Nature is a funny thing...try and control it and it shows you who is boss. Try and change it and it will come back and change you. Rivers are a powerful and beautiful resource with a purpose and they won't rest until they fulfill their purpose.
As we embark on another season of record flooding on the Upper Mississippi River, we have to wonder what the realities of this event will be.
Let us all keep the residents of the valley in our prayers. For soon all will return to normal and we will be cruising the normally placid waters of the Upper Mississippi River enjoying the Museum at Dubuque, visits at Lock and Dam 15 with Judy, landings at Hannibal with all the trimmings of a Mark Twain Hometown visit, visits to La Crosse and the JULIA BELLE, Red Wing and the St. James Hotel, cruises across Lake Pepin, the successor to the JULIUS C WILKIE in Winona, and of course the Twin Cities and the boats of the Padelford Packet Boat Company.
When all returns to normal...don't forget our friends up north...they will be waiting for you to come by and visit!
~Travis~
As I read about and hear more and more about the horrific Upper Mississippi River flooding, along with the flooding we have had on the Ohio and Lower Mississippi Rivers this spring and early summer I am reflecting back to 1993.
The summer started much the same, hot humid, and extremely wet in the Missouri and Upper Mississippi River valleys...flooding came just as the passenger carrying boats were coming out of winter lay up and this event wreaked havoc with their ability to make money, if at all the entire season.
Back at home in Louisville, KY we were blessed with an entire summer season of continous landings of the DELTA QUEEN and MISSISSIPPI QUEEN. The entire Ohio River valley made new friends with the crew and passengers of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company boats as they came in frequently and we were ready to help them enjoy the bounties of the valley.
In the offices of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE a new idea was hatching...to get a smaller, more economical, and air conditioned boat to help the larger BELLE OF LOUISVILLE support herself.
Ad after ad came out in the Waterways Journal and Boats and Harbours advertising different boats for sale from the Upper Mississippi River area and the prices were as cheap as any of us had seen in years.
Two ads that summer in the Waterways Journal caught the eyes of the BELLE Operating board and they looked these and several other vessels over a two year period.
To this day I personally believe the biggest mistake made was the passing by of the possible purchase of the JULIA BELLE SWAIN for Louisville. Just the idea of two steamboats in one place sounds like the perfect compliment to the idea originally hatched by Marlow Cooke with the purchase of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE in 1962.
As County Judge Executive, Harvey Sloane had one time proposed the purchase of the (then) Str. PRESIDENT from Streckfus Steamers as a running mate to the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE. Her much larger size, air conditioning, and elevator were his reasonings.
Because of this idea, later attempts were made at looking into the BORDER STAR when she was for sale in 1978.
The sale of the JULIA BELLE SWAIN and TWILIGHT were two that seemed to start the interest in this idea again.
As fate would have it...the Belle of Louisville Operating Board ended up buying a Dubuque built boat, the HUCK FINN.
One has to wonder what would have happened if they had the foresight to buy the JULIA BELLE.
The future of the Great Steamboat Race would not be in question today.
However, what COULD have happened? Could she have been more popular than the current boat? Would the mere fact there were 2 of the 5 functioning steamboats left on the Mississippi River System have been a drawing card to make the money to preserve the BELLE? Would the JULIA BELLE and her smaller cabin have handled the business the SPIRIT has brought to Louisville? Would the beautiful wedding cake perfect silouette of the JULIA BELLE have won the hearts of the public in a way she would be the proverbial goose who laid the golden egg for the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE?
We will never know what the outcome could have been.
Out of the adversity of flooding on the Upper Mississippi River of 1993 came many changes to the passenger boating business. Many operators sold out, new operators sprang up, and casino gaming had their first taste of the flippancy of Old Man River in a way even their bean counters couldn't have planned.
Nature is a funny thing...try and control it and it shows you who is boss. Try and change it and it will come back and change you. Rivers are a powerful and beautiful resource with a purpose and they won't rest until they fulfill their purpose.
As we embark on another season of record flooding on the Upper Mississippi River, we have to wonder what the realities of this event will be.
Let us all keep the residents of the valley in our prayers. For soon all will return to normal and we will be cruising the normally placid waters of the Upper Mississippi River enjoying the Museum at Dubuque, visits at Lock and Dam 15 with Judy, landings at Hannibal with all the trimmings of a Mark Twain Hometown visit, visits to La Crosse and the JULIA BELLE, Red Wing and the St. James Hotel, cruises across Lake Pepin, the successor to the JULIUS C WILKIE in Winona, and of course the Twin Cities and the boats of the Padelford Packet Boat Company.
When all returns to normal...don't forget our friends up north...they will be waiting for you to come by and visit!
~Travis~
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Recent Blog Entries by Travis Vasconcelos
- Dubuque-Built Diesel Excursion boats (01-02-2011)
- Ever wonder what could have been? (06-26-2008)
- Mississippi River Flooding, memories and thoughts. (06-22-2008)
- How it all began....OR.....How I found my way to the river. (06-17-2008)
- Lifted information from the Steamboatin' Times (06-13-2008)
