DUBUQUE BOAT AND BOILER WORKS

DUBUQUE BOAT AND BOILER WORKS. In April, 1904 the equipment belonging to the IOWA IRON WORKS was sold to a new company headed by John F. KILLEEN. This firm known as the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works, was planned to construct boilers and transport ships. The company's address was 3rd St. Extension. By 1939 the address was 302 E. 3rd. In 1915 Ira DAVENPORT came to Dubuque as a construction superintendent for the company. He became the General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer the following year.

Check used by the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works. Photo Courtesy: Bob Reding

The demands of WORLD WAR I put increasing demands on the railroad system in the United States. To transport material, large transport ships like the ones manufactured in Dubuque were taken over by the Federal Government. During WORLD WAR II, the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works manufactured an estimated twenty vessels including torpedo boats for the national government.

Following World War II, the company began the manufacture of excursion and passenger boats. One of the most unusual was the "Golden Arrow." A replica of a sternwheeler used for mail and passengers, it was purchased by St. Louis businessmen as a yacht. In the 1950s the company manufactured a semi-custom houseboat called "Voyager." It was usually 42 feet long with a sixteen foot beam. It was boxy compared to the sleek model today and weighed an incredible 20 tons due to its construction using 3/16 inch steel. In 1967 the company launched Dubuque's first local dry dock--a floating U-shaped structure allowing the repair and rebuilding of large river boats. The first vessel to use the dry dock was the "Coal Queen."

A boat ready for the final touches was slid down greased rails into the water and then held from drifting off by workmen with ropes until it could be secured. Photo Courtesy: Bob Reding

The success of the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works had begun to slip by the late 1960s. In 1970 Dennis Trane, a former employee, purchased the company. He had the "Julia Belle Swain" constructed. Looking like a steam paddlewheeler, it was designed to carry 400 passengers on its three decks. The company was in competition to construct a second "Delta Queen" until financial problems forced it out of business.

A public auction on October 7, 1972 was held at the boatyard ending the company.

Boats Constructed by the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works:

See: BOAT BUILDING

Name- Purchaser- Type of Boat- Year

Albatross Louisiana & Mississippi Valley Transfer Co Rail Transfer 1907

Fort Chartres Corps of Engineers Cutter Dredge 1908

Fort Gage Corps of Engineers Cutter Dredge 1908

Ruth 1909

B. F. Yoakum Rail Transfer 1910

Henderson Tanker 1912

Iroquois Corps of Engineers Towboat 1912

Scioto Corps of Engineers Towboat 1912

Tollinger Corps of Engineers Towboat 1913

H S Taber Corps of Engineers Cutter Dredge 1914

Robert McGregor Corps of Engineers Cutter Dredge 1914

Comanche Corps of Engineers Towboat 1915

Warioto Corps of Engineers Towboat 1915

Denison Corps of Engineers Snagboat 1915

SC 149 US Navy Sub Chaser 1918

SC 150 US Navy Sub Chaser 1918

Kankakee US Coast Guard Tender 1919

Yocona US Coast Guard Tender 1919

Mississippi (unclassified) 1922

Kiwanis 1923

John C Irwin Corps of Engineers Towboat 1924

425 Tank Barge 1924

C. C. Webber Upper Mississippi Barge Line Towboat 1927

General Ashburn Inland Waterways Corp Towboat 1927

S. S. Thorpe Upper Mississippi Barge Line Towboat 1927

John W. Weeks Upper Mississippi Barge Line Towboat 1928

Willow US Coast Guard Tender 1927

James W. Good Towboat 1930

Patrick J. Hurley 1930

Herbert Hoover 1931

Myrtle US Coast Guard Tender 1932

Todd Corps of Engineers Cutter Dredge 1932

Amos J. Gordon 1933

Del Commune Corps of Engineers Towboat 1937

Goldenrod US Coast Guard Tender 1938

Poplar US Coast Guard Tender 1939

Bluebonnet US Coast Guard Tender 1939

Dogwood US Coast Guard Tender 1941

Sycamore US Coast Guard Tender 1941

Wm. L. Guthrie US Army Dredge 1941

L 73 US Army Dist. Box Boat 1942

L 74 US Army Dist. Box Boat 1942

L 75 US Army Dist. Box Boat 1942

L 76 US Army Dist. Box Boat 1942

L 77 US Army Dist. Box Boat 1942

L 100 US Army Dist. Box Boat 1942

L 101 US Army Dist. Box Boat 1942

ST 47 US Army Tug 1942

ST 48 US Army Tug 1943

ST 49 US Army Tug 1943

Cosmos US Coast Guard Tender 1943

BarberryUS Coast Guard Tender 1943

Rambler US Coast Guard Tender 1943

Brier US Coast Guard Tender 1943

Smilax US Coast Guard Tender 1944

PrimroseUS Coast Guard Tender 1944

Verbena US Coast Guard Tender 1944

FoxgloveUS Coast Guard Tender 1945

Blueberry U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tender 1946

Blackberry U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tender 1946

Chokeberry U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tender 1946

Loganberry U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tender 1946

Dell Queen Wisconsin Ducks Inc Excursion Boat 1949

Commander Dells Boat Tours LLC Excursion Boat 1950

Quiver Havana Dock Enterprises LLC Towboat 1951

Mary Molo Sand & Gravel Towboat 1951

Commodore Dells Boat Tours LLC Excursion Boat 1952

Pathfinder Corps of Engineers Towboat 1954

Tar Heel Star Towing Corporation Towboat 1955

Memphis Queen II Capt. E. B. Langford Excursion Boat 1955

Dorothy A Allgire Tug Boat Co. Towboat 1955

Julie N. Dubuque River Excursions Excursion Boat 1956

Ida P Boh Bros Construction Co LLC Towboat 1957

Ethlyn P. Boh Bros Construction Co LLC Towboat 1957

Cecile H Tennesee Valley Authority Towboat 1958

Lilly Belle R A Hastings Excursion Boat 1958

Bayou Belle Ralph Martin Excursion Boat 1959

Coal Queen Bissell Towing Towboat 1959

Lucy Woodstock EXPLORE Institute Research Vessel 1959

Belle of Hot Springs Belle of Hot Springs Inc Excursion Boat 1960

Julie N Dubuque II John N Bull Excursion Boat 1960

Talisman New Salem State Park Excursion Boat 1961

Commander Ozark Excursions LLC Excursion Boat 1961

Sunliner Wendella Sightseeing Excursion Boat 1961

Slufoot Charles C. Gram Recreational 1961

Lady Joan Excursion Boat 1962

Ole Susannah River Cruises Inc Excursion Boat 1962

Gateway Clipper Gateway Clipper Line Excursion Boat 1962

Luella Belle Cal Harbor Excursions Excursion Boat 1962

Lady M Excursion Boat 1962

Prairie Gal Excursion Boat 1963

Jubilee I Sun Line Cincinnati Excursion Boat 1963

Showboat Rainbow River Tours Excursion Boat 1963

Mark Twain Streckfus Steamers Excursion Boat 1963

Mark Twain Riverboat Excursions Inc. Excursion Boat 1964

Tom Sawyer Loc-Wood Boat & Motors Inc Excursion Boat 1965

Biscayne Belle Grey Line Tours Excursion Boat 1965

Paddlewheel Queen ICW Entertainment Inc Excursion Boat 1965

Showboat II Rainbow River Tours Excursion Boat 1965

Tom Sawyer Streckfus Steamers Excursion Boat 1966

Prairie Gal II Excursion Boat 1966

Harbour Town Ferry Yacht Time at Harbour Towne Excursion Boat 1966

Belle Carol John Halverson Excursion Boat 1967

Capt Clarks Showboat Captain Clark’s Boat Line Excursion Boat 1967

Lady D Excursion Boat 1968

Miss Green River II M E Nash Excursion Boat 1968

Showboat Captain Clark’s Boat Line Excursion Boat 1968

The Sandy Forever/NPC Resorts LLC Excursion Boat 1968

Yacht 1968

Arc L. I. F. E. Tanker 1969

Border Star Missouri River Nav Co Excursion Boat 1969

Jonathan Padelford Padelford Packet Boat Co. Excursion Boat 1970

Lady Mim Excursion Boat 1970

Don Rob T Quarry Creek Land Developers Recreational 1970

Julia Belle Swain Capt Dennis Trone Excursion Boat 1971

City of New Madrid St Jude & New Madrid Harbor Towboat 1971

The 1916-1917 White's Dubuque County Directory listed 550 3rd as the address.

The 1955 to 1968 Dubuque City Directory listed the company as the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company at 302 E. 3rd.

The 1959 Dubuque City Directory listed 304 Third.

The 1970 Dubuque City Directory listed 302 E. Third St.

See: BOAT BUILDING ---

Source:

Kruse, Len. "The Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works," My Old Dubuque. Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa 2000 p. 111-116

Ship Building History. shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/.../dubuque.htm 120+ items –