Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On Saturday, April 19^th at 2pm, a Back Porch Ribbon Cutting kicks off a yearlong celebration: the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Howard Steamboat Museum.

The theme for the Ribbon Cutting and the yearlong celebration is �Opening New Doors�. The �New Doors� were designed by Architect Ron Stiller, AIA, as part of an adaptive restoration of the mansion�s back porch. The restoration has reopened an original entrance along with the integration of an access ramp. The plans and the work by Woodbine Construction, Inc. were funded in part by the Frances Howard Kohlhepp Endowment.

The theme �Opening New Doors� embraces a plan to invite the community into the Museum by showcasing new and old exhibits and offering a broader range of public events. The Bell Stand and Pilot Wheel Exhibit is an example of this. It is a hands-on exhibit of the controls used by a steamboat captain and his crew. A visitor can turn an authentic hundred-year old pilot wheel, just as captains long ago turned it. Even better, a visitor can use the controls on the bell stand to ring bells below the floor, just as captains long ago used bell stands of the same design to communciate with engineers in the engineroom.

This �Hands-On� exhibit was designed by Alan Bates, Riverboat Captain and architect for the Corps of Engineers. The Bell Stand model was crafted by tool & die maker Bruce Babcock, a steam engine enthusiast from Ohio. The installation crew included Pete O�Connell, Bill Ray, Jim Reising, and Kenny Howe. The crew of rivermen hauled, sawed and crawled under the back porch to embed the seven foot wide wheel into the floor of the porch with old, working parts including stopping and backing bells and a gong. The exhibit was funded by a grant from The Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen, J. Mack Gamble Fund.

We also want to honor the following volunteer efforts:

Cherrish Curry, a 13 year-old student at Parkview Junior High School, was given the Gold Acorn Award on April 6th of this year by the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana for her work as a volunteer at the Howard Steamboat Museum.

As an expression of our own appreciation for her volunteer work at the museum, Cherrish has been presented with a framed copy of the Gold Acorn Award at our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

As a volunteer, Cherrish has donated many of her Saturdays to work as a docent, giving visitors guided tours of the Howard Mansion. She has also helped out at social events and has contributed her skills as a photographer.

Recently, Cherrish and Janice Peters Molnar have co-authored a grant proposal which was awarded and is partially funding a play that Cherrish has written for the 2008 Chautauqua Festival.

Volunteers from Duke Energy and Ohio Valley Creative Energy who organized and participated in last year�s Duke Energy Global Service Event- Lawn Beautification Project.

Volunteers from American Commercial Lines who will join forces this year for the Duke Energy Global Service Event scheduled for May 7, 2008.

The installation of a birdbath from Rick and Barb Madden in honor of David Durst

Refurbishing of the original west lawn fountain by the Todd Waldrip Family.

The re-location of the Delta Queen paddlewheel shaft by Padgett Crane Service, Reschar Construction, Ohio Valley Concrete, and L. Thorn Co.

The work performed by Eagle Scout Tommy Harlan for his Outdoor Artifact Identification project.

This event will also include refreshments, stories from the rivermen and participants, and music provided by the Fort Hill String Band.

Caution!