Sunday, August 31, 2008

History Under The Bridge

The Bridging The Gap photo challenge hosted by Alice officially ended yesterday but I found this wonderful blue bridge and a sternwheeler that I wanted to share. These were taken the same day as yesterday's post. They were taken at a Sternwheelers Museum in Marietta, Ohio. Some people thought the flatboat (wooden barge) in yesterday's post was an old building. In my mind it reminded me of a wooden ark. The museum sits on the Ohio River. You can see the big 'M' on the bridge for Marietta.
The W. P. Snyder Jr., is the last steam- powered, stern-wheeled towboat in the United States.
The boat was built for the Carnegie Steel Company and she was launched in 1918 as the W.H. CLINGERMAN. During the boat's working life, she primarily pushed barges loaded with coal on the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. She was retired in 1954 and, as was the fate of her kind, she would have probably been scrapped. In 1955, however, the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen and the Ohio Historical Society concluded that one example of a steam towboat should be preserved. The boat was donated to the society.
Care to walk the gangplank my friends? You can. There are tours during the summer months.
As you visually walk across the gangplank do you see that little door to your left? You do. Good. This week Jientje is hosting a photo challenge called "Opening Doors." It begins tomorrow and runs through Saturday. Check out her blog for all the details.
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Marietta, Ohio
April 2008
Sunday Blessings Everyone

16 comments:

Raven said...

What a nice post! I love the pictures and the old paddle wheel steam boats. Must have been wonderful to ride them down the river. Nice church towers too against that blue, blue sky.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post, Carletta. I am pleased you did another day of bridges. I am about to do the same!

Janice Thomson said...

I love those old sternwheelers - they remind me of "Cruising Down The River On A Sunday Afternoon" :) - well that kind of dated me LOL.
Excellent photos Carletta!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the 'Bonus Bridge' post, Carletta. This is a great post. I love the blue and red in the first photo, nice big bridge. Good thing that the stern wheeler was saved from distruction and put into this museum. Did you notice that the gangplank is also a bridge? It is BRIDGING THE GAP between the land and the boat, haha. And, ahhh, yes, the door.... lol.

dot said...

Enjoyed this post! I love the old boat and that wonderful blue bridge.

Pappy said...

Glad you didn't quit before the paddle wheeler was posted. Have a great Sunday. Pappy

Debbie said...

I just browsed through all the posts I've missed. Carletta, I'll say it again. Do you know how talented you are? Geesh...

Also, I seriously want to live in your world. Absolutely beautiful up there. How do you find all this just wandering around? I think it's finding you so you can make us smile :) ((hugs))

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carletta: Why that is a beautiful boat.
I confess, I thought it was a building.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't it be neat to just float down the river-that'd be the life!

juliana said...

this is another great find and a perfect post to bridge the gap between two memes :)

i'm not sure i'll join jintje's meme as i'll be leaving in a few days... finally vacation time for me. may post a couple of doors before i disappear, though ;)

Bazza said...

Nice boat, always nice to see a bit of history.

Linda said...

Some nice history information along with neat pictures.

Shelly said...

I looove boats, all of 'em...this one is fabulous, cool gangplank ...I'm with Alice - looks like a bridge to me ;)
Thanks for the heads-up on the doors project, I might be able to play along with that one.

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

the 1st picture is amazing!!

Rose said...

Oh, Carletta, that music "Reflections' played for me...it is so beautiful. It is one of those that just grab me every now and then and I totally love it. I am so glad you shared it with us.

And I love the post itself!

George Townboy said...

Another wow!! The church photo is stunning!