Virginia

Virginia* Below Lock 26, Ohio River, December 20, 1911. It hit a suspended wire, knocking down the smokestacks.

Virginia In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., 1910.

Virginia Ferry Wenona in background.

Virginia* Sunk, Wellsville, Oh., April, 1909.

Virginia In a cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., April of 1910. St. Mary's, W. Va. delegation arrived on the Jewel, Easter Sunday, 1910.

Virginia* Cincinnati, Oh., 1895. Engine room: electric light plant installed by General Electric Co., operated by a Fisher steam engine. Operated 600 16 candlepower lights.

Virginia* Marietta, Oh., 1905. From an old record entitled the "Two Black Crows" issued back in the early 30s and featuring Moran and Mack, the beginning conversation remains clear and nostalgic in the memory of this writer. "Toot, Toot, (imitating a steamboat whistle) "Boy, look at dat black smoke coming out of them chimneys, Ah'll bet that fireman's buzyee. Seems like every time an excursion comes to town, Ah'm broke." And so it was in the good old Steam Packetboat Days, the melodious steamboat whistle down around the bend and in the distance announced the arrival of the Excursion or the Packetboat. In land-locked Marietta, life, news and excitement as well as travel and commerce was centered down on the river banks and levee.

Now the Virginia appeared on the scene just before the turn of the century. It was built in 1895 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was 235 feet long, 40 feet wide and 7 feet deep. The engines were 15s X 30s with 7 foot stroke. It was built for the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati trade, hence it stopped at Marietta regularly. Virginia led a charmed life with a number of "firsts" to its credit. It was exceptionally quiet for a riverboat. It was finished in elegant style and was the first in the upper Ohio with a carbon-arc searchlight. Due to it's large paddlewheel and staggered buckets, Virginia was an unusually fast boat. It had 60 deluxe staterooms furnished in the most elegant manner of the day. It also got into more trouble than any other boat of it's period and still survived. In 1904, it hit a submerged pier at Steubenville and tore a 12 foot hole in its side. Prompt assistance kept it afloat that time. In April 1909, it struck another snag at Wellsville, Ohio where it promptly sank. Later, it sank again at Vanceburg, Ky. due to the machinery failing to back.

The celebrated event of Virginia's career took place when on March 6, 1910 it ambled down the Ohio on a flood. The pilot got lost in the area known as Willow Grove (where the Kaiser Aluminum Plant is now located below Ravenswood, W. Va.)--and suddenly felt a sickening groan and Virginia came to a dead halt. The searchlight revealed that Virginia had wandered far afield from the river and was now in the center of a huge cornfield. As the waters receded, the word flashed up and down the river that Virginia was in a cornfield. It became a famous and newsworthly event. The B&O Railroad began running excursions as well as boats on the river, cashing in on Virginia's unfortunate but rather ludicrous position, high and dry and warped to fit the contour of the land. Now, a Pittsburgh concern was hired to get Virginia back in the river which was quite an undertaking.

Things were going along in good shape and Virginia was pretty close to the shore line. Along came another flood and the Ohio took Virginia back into it's bosom. Well, there was differences of opinion who got the boat back and a law suit resulted. The farmer who couldn't plant his corn received $500 from a river steamboat occupying his farm land. Later Virginia was sold and renamed the Steel City. Sold again and again and renamed again and again, the Virginia was finally dismantled in 1927. For a Packetboat that lasted 32 years on the Ohio River (with a wood hull) it certainly established a record. Virginia in the cornfield is certainly one of the most celebrated river navigational events that ever occurred in West Virginia and the Ohio River. Capt. Fred Way, Jr., well known river authority and author, is writing a book entitled "Virginia In The Cornfield". How could it be otherwise?

Virginia* Upper Ohio, 1910. Inside pilothouse, Captain W.L. Anderson on watch; this was the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati packet Virginia.

Virginia* Pittsburgh, Pa., 1896. Cabin, looking forward.

Virginia Cabin crew, aft end of the Texas Deck, 1902. On a trip between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

Virginia* Upper Ohio River, 1896. Virginia Pittsburgh-Cincinnati packet--new. Captain Thomas Calhoon (l.); purser Robert Kerr, pilot Harry Ollum, and clerk.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., March, 1910.

Virginia* 1895. Main cabin, looking aft.

Virginia* 1905. Ladies' cabin, looking aft.

Virginia* 1895. Ladies' cabin. P&C Packet Line.

Virginia* 1895. Ladies' room, at the rear end of the cabin. Only such photo known to exist.

Virginia* Sunk. Wellsville, Oh., April, 13, 1909. It was later raised.

Virginia* In ice, Cincinnati, Oh., February, 1905. Rees Lee is on the right. This was a severe ice situation; Virginia was damaged when shoved ashore.

Virginia* Upper Ohio, 1900. In Pittsburgh-Cincinnati packet trade.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., April, 1910. No identification of workmen known.

Virginia Virginia (center) at Cincinnati Marine Ways, 1900. Mount Clare (l.) Harvester (r.) with stacks lowered.

Virginia In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., 1910.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., March, 1910. Captain Hughes took this from the pilothouse of the Tacoma which ran an excursion up to the scene.

Virginia* Pittsburgh, Pa., 1904. Virginia was the first boat to pass under the completed Wabash railroad bridge, February, 1904. Bound for Cincinnati.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., April, 1910. St. Mary's, W. Va., delegation arrived on the Jewel, Easter Sunday, 1910.

Virginia With Island Queen No. 1 at Cincinnati.

Virginia* Sewickley, Pa., 1896. Taken during first season of operation when whistle was still on the pilothouse.

Virginia* Kanawha River, 1860. Captain W.F. Gregory sent original to C.C. Bowyer who had this copy made.

Virginia* Evansville, In., 1914. Originally the I.C. Woodward.

Virginia* Nitro, W. Va., 1918. On Kanawha River. Ex-I.C. Woodward.

Virginia* Evansville, In., 1914. Originally the I.C. Woodward.

Virginia* Near Louisville, Ky., 1917. Sugar Grove was a park below Louisville at that time.

Virginia* Ohio River, 1945. Built by Dravo, 1923. Still operating in 1965.

Virginia* Cincinnati, Oh., 1895. At Cincinnati Marine Rail Way Co.

Virginia* Near Letart, W. Va., 1897.

Virginia* Sistersville, W. Va., 1905.

Virginia* Office, in cabin, 1895.

Virginia In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., 1910.

Virginia* Wheeling, W. Va., January, 1896. Upbound on maiden trip in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati trade.

Virginia* Upper Ohio, 1895. This appeared in a special souvenir booklet issued soon after the boat came out new.

Virginia* Empire, Oh., 1910. Loading "tile" (as sewerpipe was called).

Virginia* Kitchen; stove came from John Van Range Co., Cincinnati. P&C Packet Line.

Virginia In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., 1910.

Virginia In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., 1910.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., March, 1910. Taken very shortly after accident.

Virginia In cornfield, near Ravenswood, W. Va., March 10, 1910.

Virginia In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., 1910.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., March, 1910.

Virginia* Cincinnati, Oh., 1895. Deckroom and engine room looking forward, during construction.

Virginia* Cincinnati, Oh., 1895. Ready for launching. Work on setting up the stacks just completed.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., March, 1910. Steamer Greenwood lying below.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., July, 1910.

Virginia* Upper Ohio, 1900. Original from Steamship Historical Society.

Virginia* Near Letart, W. Va., 1896.

Virginia* In cornfield, during salvage operations, Willow Grove, W. Va., 1910.

Virginia* Cincinnati, Oh., 1910. Laid up for low water.

Virginia* Upper Ohio, 1903.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., March, 1910. Eisenbarth-Henderson showboat passing.

Virginia* In cornfield, Willow Grove, W. Va., March, 1910. Willow Grove general store shows at extreme right.

Virginia* Sunk, opposite Vanceburg, Ky., unknown date. It was later raised.

Virginia* Marietta, Oh., 1906. Rounding to above the wharfboat.

Virginia At Huntington, W. Va. Note the Ferry Wharf at left.

Virginia* Cincinnati, Oh., 1900. Pilothouse.