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Save the Delta Queen! 
Support our campaign to save the historic steamboat Delta Queen. YOUR action is needed. Please read about the details at the Save the Delta Queen Campaign's website and sign our > online petition. |
|
Save the Delta Queen!
Support our campaign to save the historic steamboat Delta Queen. YOUR action is needed. Please read about the details at the Save the Delta Queen Campaign's website and sign our > online petition. |
Str DELTA QUEEN
Str. DELTA QUEEN 29, October 2005. Photo by Author.
Vessel built 1925- 1927, Calliope built ?; All facts lead to after 1915.
The
Str. Delta Queen was built as a Packet boat on the Sacramento River.
She did not feature a steam calliope in this guise, for it was
unnecessary to advertise in this fashion for the type of operation she
was involved with.
When Capt. Tom R. Greene purchased the
DELTA QUEEN in 1946 she was moved to the Ohio and Mississippi River
systems and operated as a tourist boat, carrying no freight.
A
calliope was first considered for the boat in 1958 when the Simonton
and Greene families banded together to continue the operations of the
boat. The new Chairman of the Board of Greene Line Steamers, Commander
Edwin J. Quinby proposed the calliope to a very reluctant Mrs. Letha C.
Greene, President of Greene Line Steamers and the widow of Capt. Tom R.
Greene. She felt the calliope would keep the crew awake and be a
detriment to the public conception of the boat. Cmdr. E.J. Quinby and
Richard Simonton (majority stockholder of Greene Line Steamers)
persisted for the calliope.
Simonton had (with the
assistance of Quinby and many others) started the American Theatre
Organ Society (ATOS) in 1958 and with the lack of space to put one of
these instruments aboard their DELTA QUEEN, felt the calliope would
become a more proper river-type of ballyhoo instrument for the boat.
Finding
the instrument in 1958 was tough for the pair, as no one was building
new calliopes at the time. They set out on several leads and most
failed them.
Steamboats.org recommends ...For bookings on Majestic America Line and Riverbarge cruises, please contact our favorite travel agent, Phyllis Dale. She is a specialized expert for river travel. www.phyllisdale.com phyllisdaletravel @cfl.rr.com Note: Phyllis does not book day excursions. |
