Lady Grace
From PLCHC Wiki
| Boat Information | |
| Name: | Lady Grace |
| Origin: | ? |
| Years Active: | ? |
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
On June 20, 1963 the new U.S. Mail Packetboat Lady Grace will leave Wheeling that evening to re-enact a historic but commonplace event which occurred 100 years ago when West Virginia became the 35th state. A formal contract has been entered into between the U.S. Post Office Dept. and Walter McCoy, President of the newly organized Wheeling, Sistersville & Charleston Packetboat Co., of Sistersville, W. Va. to carry U.S. Mail between Wheeling and Charleston by way of the various cities along the West Virginia shore of the Ohio River. The Lady Grace is owned and operated by Capt. F. Way, Jr. who is well known in Marietta and who is the famous river pilot, author, historian as well as "Mr. Ohio River". The Lady Grace is an authentic miniature replica of the old-time 1863 sternwheel packetboat which operated on the inland rivers a century ago. Capt. Way will be assisted by Capt. Walter McCoy of Sistersville and President of the newly organized Packetboat company. Bob Henderson, Postmaster of Sistersville will act as "Route Agent" for the U.S. Post Office Dept.
The new packetboat company has prepared an attractive cover to be used on this trip and the cachet will combine the West Virginia statehood theme with the river packetboat motif. In addition to the printed cachet each cover carried will be endorsed with a rubber stamp indicating it was carried by riverboat. The postage on all covers will be paid by using the West Virginia Statehood U.S. Postage stamp and the mail taken on at Wheeling will bear the "First Day" of issue cancellation. The Lady Grace will stay at Wheeling all day to receive mail and will leave late evening on Thursday, June 20, 1963 and will make stops at Moundsville, New Martinsville, Paden City and Sistersville on Thursday, June 21st. On Friday, June 22nd stops will be made at St. Marys, Williamstown and Parkersburg. On June 23rd stops will be made at Ravenswood and Pt. Pleasant and the final destination of Charleston up the Kanawha River will be reached June 24th. All mail picked up at the ten post offices on this route will be "back stamped" at Charleston upon arrival and will then be forwarded to the proper destination. For "First Day Cover" collectors and philatelists this event should be unique and of unusual interest. The last "packetboat" mail issue was provided in October 1929 during the celebration of the complete canalization of the Ohio River. People interested can purchase First Day Covers at .50 and the complete set of ten Covers including Wheeling at $3.50. This is what is known as a Full Service package offer.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
Insert comments here.
* From the Way Collection
