Looking ENE (upstream) from Roebling Suspension Bridge.
Mike Fink floating restaurant.
Small towboat "Shirley B" with crane barge.
In distance (starting with nearest to camera):
Newport and Cincinnati Highway Bridge, aka Central Highway Bridge (US Highway 27; completed 1891; demolished 1992).
L&N Railroad and Kentucky State Highway Bridge (originally completed 1872; rebuilt 1897; converted to pedestrian bridge 2003).
Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, with yellow arch (I-471; completed 1977).
Ohio River mile 470
Covington, Kentucky
November 1987
File # 87k048
.
This single screw towboat (doc. # 278241, 60x14, Cat diesel, repowered 1959, 300 hp.) was built in 1940 by Burger Boat Co., Manitowoc, Wis.
Originally named "Lucien S. Johnson", the boat was in the Cincinnati Corps of Engineers fleet until 1947, when it was transferred to the Louisville district.
In 1956, it was sold to Portsmouth (Ohio) Docking Co., and in 1970 renamed "Donald H".
In 1976, it was sold to Standard Slag Co., Wheelersburg, Ohio, and in 1977 renamed "Stanmat".
In 1981, the boat was sold to BB Riverboats, Covington, Ky., and renamed "Shirley B".
As of 2016, the boat was named "Uncle Otis", owned by River Marine Enterprises of Paducah, Kentucky
.
The restaurant was originally a steam towboat (T1444 in Way's Steam Towboat Directory), built in 1936 by Dravo Corp. and owned by Campbell Transportation Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.
It was named "John W. Hubbard" after a Pittsburgh millionaire who was financially connected to the Campbell Line.
In 1947, the boat was sold to the Ohio River Co., and in 1950, it was renamed "Charles Dorrance" (T0379).
In 1957, the boat was decommissioned and used as a harborboat for several years.
At some point in the 1960s, the boat was sold to Capt. John Beatty, who converted it to the floating restaurant Mike Fink, named for the semi-legendary late 18th/early 19th century riverboater.
The restaurant operated at Covington from 1968 until 2008, when it closed. It was moved to Newport, Kentucky, in early 2014 and, as far as I know, never reopened.
__________________________
35 mm Kodachrome.
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i and Silverfast 8.
Picture Window 6.
JPEG quality 95.
Tags: river Ohio River Covington Kentucky towboat towboats Shirley B Mike Fink floating restaurant USA United States
Looking NE from Roebling Suspension Bridge.
Small towboat "Shirley B" with crane barge alongside floating docks at floating restaurant Mike Fink.
At left, part of Riverfront Stadium (demolished 2002).
At center, Riverfront Coliseum (now U.S. Bank Arena).
Ohio River mile 470
Covington, Kentucky
November 1987
File # 87k049
.
This single screw towboat (doc. # 278241, 60x14, Cat diesel, repowered 1959, 300 hp.) was built in 1940 by Burger Boat Co., Manitowoc, Wis.
Originally named "Lucien S. Johnson", the boat was in the Cincinnati Corps of Engineers fleet until 1947, when it was transferred to the Louisville district.
In 1956, it was sold to Portsmouth (Ohio) Docking Co., and in 1970 renamed "Donald H".
In 1976, it was sold to Standard Slag Co., Wheelersburg, Ohio, and in 1977 renamed "Stanmat".
In 1981, the boat was sold to BB Riverboats, Covington, Ky., and renamed "Shirley B".
As of 2016, the boat was named "Uncle Otis", owned by River Marine Enterprises of Paducah, Kentucky
_______________________________
35 mm Kodachrome.
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i and Silverfast 8.
Picture Window 6.
JPEG quality 95.
Tags: river Ohio River Covington Kentucky towboat towboats shirleyb crane barge floating dock USA United States
Looking N from Roebling Suspension Bridge.
Towboat "Francis R. Keegan" (doc. # 568544) downbound.
Riverfront Stadium on Cincinnati bank.
Ohio River mile 470.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Nov. 1987.
File # 87k062.
.
"Francis R. Keegan" was built in 1975 by Mississippi Marine Towboat Corp., Greenville, Miss.
It was owned by Midland Enterprises, Cincinnati, Ohio, and operated by R&W Marine, Paducah, Ky.
In 2002, the boat was sold to Ingram Barge Co., Nashville, Tenn.
(see photo in Ingram colors)
.
.
35 mm Kodachrome.
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i and Silverfast 8.
Picture Window 6.
JPEG quality 95.
Tags: river Ohio River towboat towboats cincinnati francisrkeegan ohio USA United States
Looking NW from Newport levee.
Crockett's River Cafe at left.
Riverfront Stadium (demolished 2002) and Riverfront Coliseum (now U.S. Bank Arena) can be seen across Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio
Docked at Cincinnati Public Landing is "Showboat Majestic".
Newport and Cincinnati Highway Bridge, aka Central Highway Bridge (US Highway 27; completed 1891; demolished 1992; replacement bridge completed 1995), at right.
.
Just below center is the floating studio of WNOP radio 740 AM.
"[About 1972,] the Jazz Ark, the new studio's nickname, was constructed out of three oil tanks welded together, each 12 feet in diameter and 20 feet long. Together, they held five rooms on two floors with interconnecting doors and stairs. The ark was built at Tucker Marine. Each tank was equipped with 20,000 pounds of ballast, and the facility was placed in the Ohio River to become a floating studio. It was anchored at the Stadium Marina, just east of the mouth of the Licking River. Windows made to look like large portholes gave the studio a view of the Cincinnati skyline. Above the studio were the large red neon letters WNOP; they produced an amazing sight at night, glimmering on the river. From there, Carolyn Rose, wife of Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose, broadcast her show on WNOP. The Jazz Ark, also known as 'Radio Free Newport,' continued until 1989, when the station decided to move from its tiny offices to a larger space in Cincinnati."
[excerpted from the 2008 article "WNOP has seen it all"]
Ohio River mile 470.
Newport, Kentucky.
Nov. 1987.
File # 87k074.
.
35 mm Kodachrome.
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i and Silverfast 8.
Picture Window 6.
JPEG quality 95.
Tags: river Ohio River newport kentucky cincinnati ohio WNOP Jazz Ark Crockett's River Cafe USA United States Kodachrome
Looking N from Newport levee.
Splash floating bar and Islands floating restaurant (at right).
Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (I-471; completed 1977).
Ohio River mile 470.
Newport, Kentucky.
Nov. 1987.
File # 87k078.
.
35 mm Kodachrome.
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i and Silverfast 8.
Picture Window 6.
JPEG quality 95.
Tags: river Ohio River kentucky newport Splash floating bar Daniel Carter Beard Bridge USA United States