[Judy Patsch]

I mentioned in another thread about the absence of the white ring which was originally on the circumference of the NATCHEZ' paddlewheel. Here is a picture of a picture of the wheel on the dock at Buck Kreihs during the 1989 layup.
Standing in front of the wheel are Capts. Steve Nicoulin and Roddy Hammett.
You can see at this point the white rim was still attached.
For those who didn't see the other posting: they were rolling the wheel to fix the white rim, and it 'got away'. They were able to stop its flight before it moved any serious distance, but that convinced them it would be easier and smarter to just remove the rim. I can remember how shockingly different it looked the first time I saw it rimless, as that was a striking characteristic of her wheel which none of her contemporaries shared. Now, however, I don't even think of the old look when I see the wheel.
The second pix, taken in summer 1984, and the third, taken in summer 1994, show the two wheel looks - rimmed and rimless. Also notice the lack of canopies in 1984 and the canopies in 1994. And yes, that is Doc playing the calliope in the '94 picture. I was on the Canal St. ferry and the NATCHEZ was making her landing approach. The calliope is played from the turn at Julia St. until Canal St., conditions permitting.