Built as steel hulled sternwheeler by Dubuque Boat and Boiler Co for Captain Dennis Trone. Dim. 108 x 22 ft.
The JULIA BELLE SWAIN is one of five vessels shown on a miniature sheet issued by Guine-Bissau in 2009. In between the top two stamps is a photograph of the Julia Belle Swain’s wheelhouse.
The JULIA BELLE SWAIN is a steam-powered sternwheeler currently operating out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA.
Designed and built in 1971 by Capt. Dennis Trone, the JULIA BELLE SWAIN was the last boat built by Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works of Dubuque, Iowa and is one of only 5 authentic steam-powered passenger vessels still in operation on the Mississippi River system. Her steam propulsion system with authentic vintage reciprocating engines was built in 1915 and originally installed in the ferryboat CITY OF BATON ROUGE.. Manufactured by Gillett & Eaton of Lake City, MN, these engines are rated at 200 hp. each. Every 5-foot stroke of the pistons delivers power to the huge 21 ft. paddlewheel by way of original Pitman arms and paddlewheel crank assemblies. These engines have now logged well over one million miles. A licensed steam engineer is on-duty at all times, and is in constant communication with the pilot.
In styling and design, the JULIA BELLE SWAIN is considered the finest example of the Western Rivers sternwheel packets that operated regularly on the Upper Mississippi River over 130 years ago. It has an open main deck in keeping with traditional steamboat design; in the 1800s this area would have been used to transport all manner of bulk cargo, from cotton to lumber, livestock to dry goods. The second deck features an ornately-appointed dining salon serving full sit-down meals and buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other authentic features include an open-air pilothouse with impressive 7 ft. diameter antique teakwood pilotwheel, 2 forward boarding stages, and towering twin (“Mississippi-style”) chimneys.
In addition, it has an operating steam calliope with antique keyboard, plus a hand-carved wooden back bar. Its graceful riverboat sheer and tiered “wedding cake” design, with its abundance of gingerbread trim and fine filigree work, make the Julia Belle Swain a unique vessel with an above-average passenger appeal, popular with steamboat aficionados and the general public alike. It has been featured in several major motion pictures including “Life on the Mississippi,” “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and the IMAX feature “Mark Twain’s America.”
The JULIA BELLE SWAIN was formerly based in Peoria, Illinois, making short excursions on Peoria Lake and two-day round trip cruises to Starved Rock State Park. The late singer-songwriter John Hartford ("Gentle on My Mind") was a frequent guest pilot and often mentioned the JULIA BELLE SWAIN in his songs. Later, the boat ran on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The JULIA BELLE SWAIN, smaller and nimbler than some of its sisters on America's rivers, has entered the Great Steamboat Race twice, in 1975 and 1976. She won in 1976, beating better-known vessels such as the DELTA QUEEN and the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE.
In 2009 the owners of the JULIA BELLE SWAIN cancelled their season because of the slow economy, and have considered putting the steamboat up for sale.
The official JULIA BELLE SWAIN website stated that there were to be no scheduled cruises for the 2010 season.
Sources: Wikipedia; http://www.juliabelle.com/history; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH8qObPiX04 (this appears to be the image used for the stamp) http://www.riverboatdaves.com/riverboats/j-2.html
Guine Bissau 2009 600 fcfa sg?, scott?
Peter Crichton
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