After 1915

Steamboat Building in Elizabeth, PA

A Journal of daily activities at the Elizabeth Marine Ways 1898 to 1925 

After 1915

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These are pictures of the Elizabeth Marine Ways, after 1915, which is my best estimate. To identify these pictures I compared the buildings in each and then used those that have a very visible roof top sign as the positive identifier.

 To view a larger image click on that particular image, for a brief description of the image place your cursor on the image.

 Many of these pictures are from the collection of the Elizabeth Marine Ways, I will identify these pictures with EMW.

 

Elizabeth Marine Ways  After 1915  1   EMW

Elizabeth Marine Ways  After 1915  2   EMW

 

Photo from collection of Nathan Robb, passed down to him from his g grandfather William ( Bunk) Robb    

The photo above shows five boats on the yard at Elizabeth Marine Ways.  I have used the entry in JW's journal dated December 2, 1917 to December 22, 1917 to help identify the boats that are shown, along with the fact that three of the names are visible.  During the dates given these five boats docked in the following order and are shown in the photo as the first docked being in the highest position; VOYAGER, MONITOR, BERTHA, FALLIE, AND VULCAN.

Starting from the bottom of the yard;

The VULCAN is the key to dating this photo as being December 22/23, 1917 as this boat was in on December 22nd and out on December 23rd.

The FALLIE docked on December 20, 1917, JW does not write the date this boat is back in the water.

BERTHA docked on December 6, and is back to work prior to January 2, 1918 when she is in Fayette City needing additional repair work.

The MONITOR docked on December 3, 1917 needing extensive repairs after sinking.  This boat is back in the water on February 2, 1918.

The VOYAGER docked on December 2, 1917 for a new hull, this work is not completed until August 31, 1918.  The photos below show the VOYAGER still has the upper position during April 1918.

The ice floating in the river, as seen in the photo above, is an indicator of the period from December 1917 into February 1918 which JW describes as the worst winter with the thickest ice he had ever seen. This winter weather had just started when the photo above was taken.

 

From collection of Robert Eberhart       

This photo is labeled as being taken at the Elizabeth Marine Ways in 1918.  The boats lined up from the river bank have two with names showing, the VOYAGER on top and BERTHA in the middle which is a similar order as the description above.  Their is more snow visible in this photo than the photo above which to me means it was not taken on the same day as the photo above but several days later, after one of the storms JW writes about in his journal.

 

Photo from collection of Capt. Robert Eberhart    Photo from collection of Capt. Robert Eberhart

Photo from collection of Capt. Robert Eberhart    Photo from collection of Capt. Robert Eberhart

These four photos, dated April 1918, show the Steamers VOYAGER, KEYSTONE, ROBERT JENKINS, and TRANSIT at the Elizabeth Marine Ways.

JW documents these boats being at EMW during this month with the following entries in his journal:

The VOYAGER docks on December 2, 1917 for a new hull, this boat is back in the river August 31, 1918.

The KEYSTONE docks on February 5, 1918, as the W. C. JUTTE, for extensive repairs.  This boat was owned by the Keystone Sand Company, according to Ways Towboat Directory the name change took place during April 1917, but the photos show the name change taking place with the final piece of the name still not installed during April 1918.  JW lists various repairs on March 24, 1918 with the boat towed away on April 27, 1918.

The ROBERT JENKINS sinks in heavy ice on January 28, 1918 and is not docked for repairs until March 14, 1918.  JW notes that repair work is completed during May 1918.

The TRANSIT is at the Ways on March 20, 1918 with repairs completed on April 27, 1918.

 

The four photos below are dated the same as the four above, April 19, 1918, with the difference being that they are taken from the riverbank looking back at the Elizabeth Marine Ways.  The significance of the date, April 19, 1918, is that a strike was in progress at EMW which had started April 1 and ended April 23.  This explains why their is no work in progress on this Friday the 19th.

  

     

All eight of the above photos are from the collection of Captain Robert Eberhart.

 

From collection of Capt. Robert Eberhart Elizabeth Marine Ways  After 1915  3   from collection of Elizabeth Marine Ways

These two photos showing Barge 326 at the Elizabeth Marine Ways are from two different collections, but obviously taken at the same time and together they form a panoramic view of the Ways on that day.  The paddlewheel on the right of each photo is that of the Steamer Cruiser.

 

Elizabeth Marine Ways  Steamer La Belle  EMW

 

From collection of Historic Elizabeth   

Elizabeth Marine Ways under water of St. Patrick Day flood, March 18, 1936

 

Photo from collection of an unknown Riverbuff    Close up of PITTSBURGH COAL  

The PITTSBURGH COAL at EMW, probably 1937.

 

Steamer Crucible at Elizabeth Marine Ways  1938  

This photo is from the collection of Glenn Meyers

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