Bye, bye Becky: Showboat escorted out of Marietta, bound for its new home in Pittsburgh
By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.comArticle Photos
Fact Box
Key dates about the Becky Thatcher
1926 - Built as the Mississippi 999, an inspection boat, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
1961 - Retired from service, decommissioned.
1964 - Towed to Hannibal, Mo., to serve as a restaurant and museum; renamed Becky Thatcher.
1975 - Purchased by a group of Marietta citizens as a United States bicentennial project; towed 1,080 miles to Marietta and later taken over by the nonprofit Ohio Showboat Drama Inc.
1976 - The Becky served as a life-size stage for the musical "Showboat," with additional barges for the orchestra and staging. Thousands of spectators sat on the grassy riverbank.
1977 - Lower deck remodeled as a theater.
October 1983 - Restaurant on second level opened; boat named to National Register of Historic Places.
March 1984 - The showboat sank after its steel hull was punctured by a pile of concrete and steel debris underneath it. The Becky had been moved to the west shore of the Muskingum River after the service barge tied to the boat sank a few weeks earlier. It took nearly 10 weeks to raise the showboat out of the muddy Muskingum, and the vessel did not return to its original location until December.
1980s and '90s - Operated as a summer showboat for melodramas, popular with tourists. Restaurant open under various owners over the years.
September 2003 - Restaurant operated by owners of Austyn's closes.
August 2004 - Jeffrey Levin, a private investor from Florida, purchased the boat for about $60,000 and began an extensive remodeling project.
December 2004 - Restaurant reopened as 1926.
January 2006 - 1926 closed; boat placed for sale on eBay.
November 2007 - A lawsuit over ownership of the showboat was decided, with Levin determined the sole owner.
December 2008 - Marietta City Council tabled legislation authorizing bids for a lease on the city property where the Becky is moored after an effort to purchase it from Levin stalled.
April - City Council gave final approval to start eviction proceedings against the Becky.
Wednesday - The Becky Thatcher leaves Marietta.
Source: Times research.
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» More photos on CUHundreds of curious onlookers lined the shores of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers early Wednesday to witness the departure of the Showboat Becky Thatcher.
The Becky, which has called Marietta home since 1975, is expected to arrive late today in Pittsburgh, where it will rest, at least temporarily, according to its owner.
Marietta City Council began eviction proceedings against the 83-year-old, 220-foot sternwheeler earlier this year, citing concerns about the lack of payment for use of city land and the continued decline of the boat, which has sat empty for the past four years.
Boat owner Jeffrey Levin, of Nashville, Tenn., was seen aboard the Becky as it was prepped for transport, but he could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Marietta City Law Director Roland Riggs III said the city's suit against Levin, which seeks nearly $70,000 in back rent, is still pending.
City Council's lands, buildings and parks committee discussed the suit in executive session Wednesday night. Committee Chairman Jon Grimm, R-3rd Ward, said no decision was made.
At first it didn't appear as if the boat would be leaving. It took a crew of about 12 people more than an hour to get the Historic Harmar Bridge to swing open, allowing towboats access to push the boat into the Ohio River. There was also concern the Becky could be stuck in mud, but the boat appeared to drift from shore with minimal effort.
As for the bridge, Brooks Harper, with the Historic Harmar Bridge Company, the nonprofit organization that owns the bridge, said he anticipated some trouble.
"It had been sitting there for five years without moving," said Brooks Harper. "What's the old saying? A body in motion tends to stay in motion and one that sits tends to stand still? Well, it wanted to stand still."
The bridge was opened using a large crank. Two men stood at each of the four arms to rotate the crank, which then turned gears to swing the bridge open.
After nearly an hour of wrenching and prying at the old steel span, the bridge finally broke free, but in the opposite direction. That would have been fine, but the span caught some trees on shore and couldn't swing past them.
"We started that direction, but we really wanted to go the other direction," Harper said. "I knew that tree was there, I just forgot about it. Plus, if you go that way, you end up with the walkway on the wrong side and it narrows the path for the boats to get through. So we ended up giving it another shot back the way we first intended."
With crowds cheering, the span cleared and turned a full 180-degrees to allow access to the Becky.
Around 10:30 a.m., two tugboats, the Amber Brittany and Sarah E. Neale, pulled nose-first into the side of the Becky, tied on and began to pull her out into the middle of the Muskingum River.
The Sarah Neale then pushed the Becky backward through the open swing bridge and into the Ohio River.
At the confluence of the two rivers, the Sarah Neale cut free from the Becky and allowed her to briefly drift free. The Sarah E. Neale, which picked up two barges, then came alongside the Becky and latched its barges to the boat. After the lines were secured and another barge coming downstream had passed, the boat began its 175-mile trek toward Pittsburgh. The trip was expected to take about 30 hours. The boats cleared the Williamstown Bridge at approximately 12:10 p.m.
Mindi Ford, 41, of Williamstown, said she worked aboard the Becky for four years.
"I'm really sad to see it go," Ford said. "We're a river town, and this is a really historic riverboat."
Levin said earlier this month he had no definite plans for the boat in Pittsburgh, only that the area would offer better opportunities for the boat.
Levin said he is still hoping to sell the boat, which he has listed at $239,000. He bought the boat in 2004 for $64,000 from Ohio Showboat Drama Inc., but has said he spent nearly $300,000 on renovations.
In a previous interview, Levin said he always planned to keep the boat in Marietta.
"I know the Becky will be worth a lot more in Pittsburgh than in Marietta," he said. "Although I wanted to keep it in Marietta, the future is brighter in Pittsburgh. It wasn't bought to move or I would have moved it years ago."
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Steamboater
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10-17-09 9:08 PM
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Pt. Pleasant is a stone's throw away and look at that city. They have secured over $6 million in grants and private donations even through the economic crisis. Ravenswood's plant is failing and yet they still have managed to turn their museum and riverfront into state of the art facilities that nothing around here can rival. A 1/2mile mural on the city's flood wall detailing the history of their area and city complete with sound system and more to give it an even greater theme, adding to the riverfront amphitheater. The museum is even receiving huge amounts of money including a recent $137K grant for a virtual pilot house as an attraction. If Pt. Pleasant can get these things done, hurting the same, if not more than Marietta, then what is your excuse exactly? Don't believe me, talk to museum director Jack Fowler and their Econ. Dev. Charles Humphreys, and then go down there and see what a city in hard times can look like!
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Parrothead
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10-17-09 8:13 PM
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Steamboater - you would be surprised if you actually knew the organizations and activities that I have been active in throughout my years in Marietta. I have not been and am not one who “sit idly by waiting for someone to make the move.” Problem is that no matter how hard you work in this town if you are trying to be progressive you will get beat down every time. Enough of that and one does tend to become cynical. And you are in town once a week – WOW! What an accomplishment. Now try being here every day of every week!
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Steamboater
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10-17-09 7:30 PM
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Why do you always insist on living in Marietta to everyone who posts on here. I am in Marietta at least once a week, as I have done for over twenty years. There is nothing in that town that you have seen that I haven't. Its not as bad as you make it out to be. You're just one of those sorry individuals who, as I said earlier, sit idly by waiting for someone to make the move so you can make the criticism. You're no more productive than the people you criticize. Congratulations!
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Parrothead
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10-17-09 4:42 PM
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Steamboater - as I said if Marietta is so great - move here and live in her instead of posting on her paper from out of town. NO ONE REALLY CARES WHAT YOU OUT OF TOWNERS THINK ANYWAY!
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Steamboater
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10-17-09 2:14 PM
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Suffer? Come on..really. You do this to yourself, and wine on here like a baby. Crying all the time...have an issue, here's a tissue! Do something about it besides posting on here birdbrain...When the DQ and other steamboats stopped there, those people treasured the city. Did you fight for her, I doubt it. Probably another eye sore that hurt your ears or interrupted your sleep every time she blew her whistle. The great swami has all of the answers, why do we even post on here?? Can I get a copy of that giant book of answers that you hold in front of your face daily???
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Parrothead
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10-16-09 12:30 PM
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I noticed that you have chosen to just visit and that the Great Marietta does not warrant you residency. I say this not to be antagonistic, but to make the point that many who post on this board and think Marietta should save all our buildings, put in bike paths and the like are not willing to live here. Seems like they just want us that do to make sure they have a nice place to visit while the area has nothing to make them want to live here. Many times I have been told, “If you do not like it here – move.” Well I say, “If you love Marietta so much – move here and suffer like the rest of us.”
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Bluestocking
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10-16-09 10:33 AM
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BTW- though he was raised in Marietta, we both had military careers and are now visitors as well.
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Bluestocking
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10-16-09 9:33 AM
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In 1996, my husband and I were married at the Unitarian Church, had our guests stayed at the Lafayette and had our reception at the Becky Thatcher. We had 75 guests, more than half were from out of town. They're STILL talking about the wonderful time they had- some have even returned. Sadly though, the flood of five years ago REALLY took a lot out of the heart of town.
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Indian
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10-16-09 9:29 AM
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Well said; thank you brat.
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armybrat
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10-16-09 8:55 AM
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Unions are like any other organization, there are good unions and bad unions. My family was raised with a union job and when there was a layoff, the union jumped in to help the families until they got back on their feet. That can't be said for non-union jobs. The union also protected the worker from losing their jobs without a good cause. Knock the unions if you want, but most of the older retired plant workers around here, raised families and bought homes while working union. Now back to the Becky.
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asknot
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10-15-09 5:36 PM
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so 181 million spent isn;t enough to support what? 181 million isn't enough to pretty up downtown, restore a building, create a bike path, etc. How much would it take to make those projects worthwhile?
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MariettaCollegeGrad89
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10-15-09 4:40 PM
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The Unions, without question, has ruined the auto industry, our schools, and continues to bring our entire way of life to a standstill. How many retired auto workers are getting overpaid retirements because of the unions? There are more retirees than actual workers...lots of money going to people who put out no work whatsoever. And lets not even go into the failing schools...
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Parrothead
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10-15-09 4:22 PM
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I still wonder how many of those who are so sad to see the Becky go actually spent any money there. And if they did was it enough to support those with businesses on it or just a once in a great while go in and drop a buck or two? If the hundred or so who turned out to see her leave had supported her on a regular basis she would not only still be in Marietta, but also be open for business.
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Parrothead
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10-15-09 4:21 PM
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I NEVER said tourism was bad! I only said that it is not and will not be Mariettas saving grace. It is just icing on top of the cake and that Maietta had better start taking care of the cake or there will be no need for any icing.
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freedom101
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10-15-09 4:15 PM
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Ting...its not bitterness it is reality. Sorry for your callousness but that is not surprising as a supporter. And just as you are proving the union does "free work" like the bridge for publicity, the rest of us do volunteer work because it is the right thing to do. Sad to see the becky go. That's all from me.
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clickhere
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10-15-09 4:07 PM
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Well, the City of Marietta can kiss the $70,000 due for rent..and hopefully the Neale's received payment up front!
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asknot
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10-15-09 3:53 PM
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Way to keep on topic, you people sho hey look at the pretty tree!
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Harleyrider
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10-15-09 3:53 PM
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Parrothead, while I agree it takes local dollars to take things profitable, you can't tell me that ourism does not bring in huge money to our area. Sternwheel alone brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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asknot
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10-15-09 3:52 PM
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It shows that in 2007 in Washington County, visitors spent $42.7 million on shopping, 36 percent of their total dollars spent. Food and lodging was second, at $31.1 million (26 percent), and lodging was third, at $20.7 million (18 percent). The total $118 million in direct spending means an overall $181 million in tourism economic impact in the county, up from $170 million in 2006 and $173 million in 2005. "Visitors spent $118 million on direct things, like hotels," said Blazosky. "And then there are the indirect things, like the fact that the hotel has buying power after that." -Marietta times. Just saying, maybe tourism isn't such a bad thing!
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Helena
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10-15-09 3:42 PM
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Parrothead..I was in a union for years, my whole family has worked union, and not being a union employee now, I can compare what I paid for and what I received. And Ting..it's more of a clarity than bitterness. I appreciate anything anyone does on any level no matter what their affiliation. Just not for me.
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tingette
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10-15-09 3:24 PM
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Helena you would not be able to cross the bridge without the unions. They fixed it free, remember. I was not one of them, but I remember them and appreciate it. Sorry freedom for your bitterness. Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. Peter F. Drucker Hope things worked out well for you and them.
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Parrothead
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10-15-09 3:18 PM
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Helena – Your comments on unions only shows your ignorance of what they do and what they are.
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Parrothead
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10-15-09 3:17 PM
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Tourism is just that – tourism and it does NOT bring in enough money to Marietta to support what we look at as tourist draws. Ask any business owner downtown and you will hear that same thing and that being that tourism does bring in a segment of their profits but that they could NEVER survive on just tourist dollars. Fact is that the money from tourist is a very small part of their overall business. It takes LOCALS and LOCAL MONEY to keep our tourist industry afloat. Lose all of our good paying jobs and you lose the ability of local residence to keep our town afloat. Tourism is great but take it away and Marietta can still survive, but take the residence and their ability to support Marietta and no matter how many tourists you have Marietta will die! I wonder how many of those who are so sad to see the Becky go actually spent any money there. And if they did was it enough to support those with businesses on it or just a once in a great while go in and drop a buck or two?
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Helena
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10-15-09 3:06 PM
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Unions had their necessary time and place. Now they are nothing more than a racket to secure positions. I spent alot of time in Marietta and I can't imagine walking across the bridge to Harmar and not seeing the Becky. Times change.
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DeputyDawg
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10-15-09 3:02 PM
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What does the Becky have to do with unions???
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