Baby Belle and Belle of Louisville, Sat Oct 3, 09 also included some Belle history and some family heritage.

In the few hours we spent on the River that day (in the previous blog), this is what Nick saw from the window. Can you see the vessel on the boat ramp? An older retired gentleman has outfitted his pontoon boat to resemble a miniature steamboat - smokestacks and all and has named it the "Baby Belle."

Here he sits patiently in the river at the bottom of the ramp waiting for his passengers (not for hire - friends). Usually there is so much traffic coming and going at the ramp you cannot wait on the ramp there but must go over to the dock and board your passengers. The docks are located just beyond the parked cars in the first picture.

The Baby Belle passengers arrived and they were playfully motoring around, when the Belle of Louisville appeared down stream heading up river toward us. She was on one of her afternoon excursions. The Baby Belle went out to meet her. I bet that was a thrill for the gentleman's passenger friends.

Here the Baby Belle swings along side the Belle of Louisville and excorts her up river for awhile.

In case you are wondering the buildings in the background to the right of the picture are the Louisville Waterworks - The Louisville Water Tower and Pumping Station, 1860.

Located on the Ohio River just east of downtown Louisville, Kentucky is the Louisville Water Tower. It is the oldest ornamental water tower in the world, having been built before the more famous Chicago Water Tower. Both the actual water tower and its pumping station are on the National Register of Historic Places. Louisville Water Company first pumped water in October of 1860. The original system had 26 miles of water main and 512 customers.

Opps... I sorta got off track here. With my history. I just love history. I must tell you the story of the water tower some other time.

The Baby Belle is heading back to the ramp and docking area and Belle of Louisville heads on upstream. I believe she turns around at the head of 12 mile island.

Baby Belle back on the ramp. Notice one of the loading docks on the bank to the left of the picture. Passengers have come ashore. The Captain is left to put his "Steamer" on the trailer and take her home.

Nick enjoyed this little show and was ready to go back home for rest in his own bed.

About the Belle of Louisville

The present day Belle of Louisville

(1914 – 1947 Idlewild / 1947 – 1962 Avalon ) is a steamboat owned and operated by the city of Louisville, Kentucky and moored at its downtown wharf next to the Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere.

She was originally named the Idlewild, and operated in 1914 as a passenger ferry on the mighty

Mississippi River between Memphis, TN and West Memphis, AR.

She came to Louisville (above pic) in 1931 and was one of several steamboats that ran excursion trips from Fountaine Ferry Amusement Park to Rose Island Resort, about 14 miles upriver from Louisville.

If I remember my stories correctly - My parents recall church-group day trips on Sunday afternoons. Families would take picnic lunches and eat on the grounds of the resort. They would pass the time by walking around the grounds and gardens till the boat whistle blew signaling time to board to go back to the city. Children would hike over a swinging bridge that crossed 14 mile Creek. Some would climb a steep hill called the Devil's Backbone. I believe there was even a small petting zoo?

During the late 1930’s she did double duty (War in Europe you know). She pushed oil barges by day and was a floating moonlight dance club for passengers at night. That is where my parents first met.

My Mother went on the "boat ride" with a girl friend of hers, Jeri. It was a company outing. My Dad went with a friend of his who worked for the same company. He had invited my Dad to come along. I have a picture of them in the crowd on the boat that night. It just happened to be in the newspaper. The newspaper covered the event because of the company outing. I think the company was Bell South telephone company.

Somewhere in a family album is another picture of Mother and Dad taken on the Idlewild at another time by a photographer. Mother has on a sailor hat.

After the war, in 1947, the boat’s name was changed to the Avalon. The Avalon left Louisville and became a "tramp" steamer. She visited ports all along the Mississippi.

By 1962, the she had fallen into disrepair. Jefferson County Judge Marlow Cook bought her at auction for $34,000. She came to Louisville as a permanent port and was re-christened the Belle of Louisville.

Today the Belle is now recognized as the oldest river steamboat (steam-powered, sternwheel-propelled) still in operation. She was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. She celebrates her 95th birthday this year, 2009.

Belle with fireworks overhead.

With the playing of her calliope, the Belle, now in her 95th year, continues to beckon one and all to join her on a journey back to the time when she carried passengers and goods to ports all along the beautiful Ohio River. below is live link to Belle of Louisville calliope---- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKGQgTaFhf8&feature=related