FOUND! The Gordon C. Greene!

(by Capt. Mike, January 12, 2003)

This morning here at St. Louis, my brother Tom and I walked upon the remnants of the main deck of the Gordon C. Greene, exposed by extreme low water on the Upper Miss. We have taken digital photos which I hope to post soon on this site, and can also report that we have carefully cut out about 20 feet of the original cypress deck timbers, which are now neatly stacked at my brothers house. We hope to make some of the timbers into neat reminders of this grand old boat.
I am proud to report that on this fridgid morning, once again, footsteps echoed across the deck and amongst the bones of the grand old Gordon C. Greene!


Well since the name ‘s the same , I figured I better add a bit. First, I wasnt named after the boat and it wasnt named after me. Both were after my Grand Father. Fact is the Cape Girardeau was purchased by my Dad in June 1935, and the name was changed to the GCG about then. I came along in Aug 1935 so the Gordon predated me. As a matter of interest , I have copies of the corporate papers resolving the decision to buy the boat etc — she was bought for $50 K — actually more than the DQ in 1946 — so she was something of a “big ticket ” item !
Any way I had some photos of the sunken remains but havent located them lately. Also there was some litigation over the sinking. I believe the insurance people werent anxious to pay for the loss since the boat sank very suddenly under less than explanable circumstances. I had some business with one of the lawyers from St Louis who had been involved in that litigation. Elmer Goldstein I believe. The case was finally rsolved.
I believe the GCG was abandoned after she sank with no attempt at salvage. And that is where she sits until unearthed just now. WOW. The Mississippi finally gave her up in part after probably 30 years. But still has her.Lots of my formative life on that boat. The river seems to keep us all in one way or another!

Cheers
Gordon C. Greene


Gordon, the hull of the GCG has been regularly coming “out for air” over the years since her 1967 sinking and, on several oocasions, has been pictured in national AP news photos. I have several folders of news clippings and photos about the sinking — and there were numeorus problems between the owners of the boat and the city of St. Louis about the removal of the wreck. The superstructure (or what was left of it) was torn up by a large crane with a wrecking ball. Much of the wreckage floated away during high water. There was always talk that the hull should be removed as well, but it never happened — much to the delight of steamboat enthusiasts who make pilgrimages to the St. Louis levee to pay homage to the revered steamboat. Capt. C.W. Stoll gave me several transom windows from the boat which he dug out of the mud on the wharf. The smokestacks were lying there too, but he said they wouldn’t fit into his car trunk!

Keith Norrington


the GORDON C. GREENE was at Bradenton for a time, but did not do at all well there as a tourist attraction. Her next stop was New Orleans, then to Hannibal, Missouri about 1961 (actually she was across the river from Hannibal in Illinois at the end of the bridge)where she remained until 1964 when she was moved to St. Louis. The former Army Corps of Engineers steamer MISSISSIPPI took her place at Hannibal, remaining there until 1966 when she, too, went to St. Louis and was renamed BECKY THATCHER, used as a restaurant, riverboat museum, gift shop and bar until 1975 when she was sold and moved to Marietta, Ohio, where she remains today. Looking forward to more steamboat videos from you Jim! Bill Warrick has excellent footage of some of the last operating steamboats and I do hope those are made available to river nuts like us!

Keith Norrington


Not only was the GORDON C. GREENE featured in GONE WITH THE WIND, but is also prominently shown in BAND OF ANGELS (starring Clark Gable) and in THE KENTUCKIAN (starring Burt Lancaster).

Keith Norrington


Did I tell ya that Gordon C. Greene was in two movies not mentioned yet? I mean Gordon C. Greene, my brother. He was in Shawshank redemption and in Little Man Tate. Teeny bit parts. In Little Man, he plays a doctor and says “It is”, I think. In Shawshank, he plays an intimidating lawyer who says to Morgan Freeman, “Do you think you’ve been rehabilitated yet?” and a few more words which I can”t remember. And where ya been Gordie? Grossed out by the G. C. Greene carnage pix as we all were? Just don’t look!And tell me legally sometime why the a——s in St. Louis had the boats docked DOWN river?

Jane Greene


Well Jane is partly right– two movies but a few more words. Just got a residuals check for about 1.50 for Little Man Tate! Party! Shawshank does much better, though I have decided not to quit my day job. Still interested ,very , in theater anywhere, but sometimes you have to settle to be between engagments! If I ultimately decide to leave this vale of tears in the law practice, I may go lookiing for my fortune in LA. It’s been done before. Doubt the steamboats in the movies thread included my credits!! I dont remember holding Jane over the rail on the Gordon but it sounds like a good idea. May have some trouble now. But I am doing a lot of weight work in the gym so you never know. The photos of the Gordon in extreemis were very interesting if not a rather sad. Lots of memories.

Cheers GCG

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