BOAT BUILDING

Launching the Herbert Hoover, 1931. Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

Launching the Del Commune, 1937. Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

Launching the Tenaru River, 1943. Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

Launching the Moon River Queen 1962. Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

BOAT BUILDING. One of the primary industries to develop in Dubuque, boat building really began after the CIVIL WAR. Prior to that, boats tended to be small and for local use. Larger boats were constructed along the Ohio River or the lower MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Beginning around 1870, boat building in Dubuque became a booming industry. On August 13, 1920 the "Frisco" became the ninety-ninth steamer constructed in the city.

Most were constructed by the following:

See: JOHNSON AND KALKE

See: DIAMOND JO LINE

See: IOWA IRON WORKS

See: DUBUQUE BOAT AND BOILER WORKS

Some of the boats were constructed by unknown builders. These include the:

Jo Gales--a ferry boat between Dubuque and Dunleith owned and operated by Charles H. Merry.

The Douglas Boardman--a passenger steamer with wooden hull built by W. J. Young

The D. W. Hewitt--freight boat constructed in 1865

The Lansing--ferry from Dubuque to East Dubuque built by J. R. Graves, A. F. Jaeger, and J. Rhomberg

The A. J. Dorchester--a freight boat constructed in 1869 by H. J. Reed

The General Hyde Clark--a tow boat built in 1870

J. A. Rhomberg--Eagle Point ferry built by Fred Schreiner in 1870

Julia--built in 1871 as a passenger steamer with a wooden hull.

The Fire Fly--built in 1875 as a tow boat by Laura E. Smith

The Wineconne--a U. S. boat built in 1875

The James McMurchy--a ferry at Specht's Ferry built by Mrs. Specht in 1876

The Julia--built in 1876 as a tow boat

The Key City--ferry to Dunleith built in 1876

The Delos--a U. S. boat built in 1881

The Fury--a U. S. boat built in 1881

The Wabash--built in 1881 as a passenger steamer

The City of Winona--built in 1882 as a passenger steamer

W. J. Young, Jr.--built in 1882 as a passenger steamer

The George L. Bass--built in 1885 as a passenger steamer for P. Gilmartin and Henry Schroeder

The Glenmont--built in 1885 by J. W. Van Sant

The May Stewart--built in 1885 as a tow boat

The Rose--built in 1886 as a passenger steamer

The Lotus--built in 1886 as a tow boat

The Jeanne Hopkins--built in 1887 by M. H. Moore

The Reindeer---built in 1888 by the Mississippi Towing Company

The Chester--built in 1888

The Jessie B.--built in 1891 by V. A. Bigelow as a passenger steamsr

The Germania--built in 1892 as a passenger steamer

The Lalla--built in 1893 as a passenger steamer

The Quick Step--built by V. A. Bigelow in 1893 as a passenger steamer

The Betsy Ann--built in 1899 as a passenger steamer

The Lillian--built in 1891 as a passenger steamer

The Zalus Davis--built in 1894 as a passenger steamer

The Orian--built in 1894 by the Dillon Bros. as a passenger steamer

The Quincy--built by L. G. Dolson in 1896 as a passenger steamer

The Vulcan--a U. S. boat built in 1897

The Bob--built in 1905 as a tow boat

The Ghost--built in 1903 as a pleasure boat

The Frentress--built in 1903 as a passenger boat

The J. R.--built in 1905 as a passenger boat

The Eclipse--built in 1905

The Potosi--built in 1905 as a passenger steamer

The Twilight--built in 1908 as a passenger boat

See: DIAMOND JO BOATYARD

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Source:

1. "Dubuque, A Boat Building Centre," Telegraph Herald, August 21, 1910, p. 10