[Keith Norrington]

As Jim Reising reported recently, the Howard Steamboat Museum these days is a virtual beehive of activity. Our new Collections Management Facility, currently under construction, is growing by leaps and bounds. The walls are UP and they expect to start on the "second deck" next week! The annual "Spring Into Art" exhibition was hung in the carriage house this week and opens tomorrow. Inside the "big house", the HVAC workmen toil at running ductwork and installing the new geothermal system which will soon heat and cool the 22 room mansion. No matter how much we try, the dust abounds and exhibits are moved hither and yon, but our visitors all seem to enjoy witnessing the chaos!

Today, Kenny Howe, Jim and I were sleuthing on the third floor. A circular, lidded wooden box that once contained a wheel of cheese was brought out of a closet. It contained MANY celluloid negatives that were not in the best of condition, but when held to light revealed some most intriguing images. Scenes of steamboats under construction, engine room interiors, family photos and other treasures abounded. One scene was immediately recognized as Capt. Edmonds J. Howard standing on the steps of the shipyard office. Several old envelopes in the box were dated 1899. Jimmy, our resident photo expert, recently completed the task of scanning all of the glass plate negatives of the Howard Collection and will now undertake the cleaning and scanning of these negatives. Needless to say we all were "giddy" with excitement and can hardly wait to see what is contained in this fabulous find!

Herewith are two images of damaged prints which were found in the box:
(1) Howard Mansion Parlor - Apparently decorated for a wedding -- perhaps that of Clyde Howard and Julia Thomson.
(2) Str. J.H. MENGE, built at the Howard Shipyard in 1910 for the Southern trade. Later the M.A. BURKE and JOHN W. HUBBARD.

Every new day is an exciting and and fun adventure at the Howard Steamboat Museum, which Judy Patsch has dubbed as "the little museum that CAN and DOES!" Y'all come see us!

"Curator Keith"