[wedjones]

I would like to hear from some of you historians about the attached painting.

I bought it at a flea market! It is oil, approx. 2x3 feet in size, and is in perfect condition. It is a fine piece of work in my estimation. It is un-named, and was painted by Bill Corins. Does anyone know of him and his artwork?

The picture appears to be of Cincinnati (or Covington?) There are four sidewheelers in the painting. The "Martha" is the featured boat and the only one named. There is a sidewheeler, nearer the bridge, also with an "M" on her stack spreader. Almost all of the freight is in barrels. Does anyone know anything about this "Martha" or the "M" line?

The only "Martha" I found in Ways directory was a sidewheeler that burned in the great St. Louis fire in 1849. The Roebling bridge at Cincy wasn't complete until the late 1860s. Was there a later "Martha" that called at Cincinnati? I wonder what led this artist to paint her and place her there? Or, was this just a fanciful anachronism?

Thanks for any and all replies.

Save the Queen!

Ed Jones