The big day for installing the pilotwheel on the Howard Museum back porch will be Saturday, March 31, 2007, with finish and touch up on Sunday, April 1. On Saturday all workers are expected to arrive by 8:00 AM expecting to do wrecking, carpentry, installation of bell stand, running of bell wires and bell installation, setting of the pilotwheel and expecting to get dirty and have aching muscles at the end of the day.

Alan Bates will bring the following: power saw, cordless drills and bits, electric drill and hole saws, crowbars, wrecking bar, hand saws, hack saws, extension cords, floodlights and other miscellaneous carpentry tools. He will bring the bells and the hardware for hanging them. He will bring the pull wires. He will fabricate and bring the completed wheel supports and bearings.

Bruce Babcock will bring the shaft bushings and the brake mechanism. He has already delivered the bell stand. He will bring all of the bell cranks and brackets.

Pete O'Connell will bring the tiller line and splicing tools.

Bill Ray and Jim Reising will bring their bodies, brains and expertise.

Yvonne Knight will open the museum at 7:30 AM and be the bouncer to keep the crowds away while we work. She will be the fetch and tote between the museum and the hardware store.

The order of work will be to cut the slot in the floor, remove as much of the box under the floor as necessary to permit us to work and to make the installation. The wheel will be brought downstairs and modified as needed (possibly shorten the drum and shaft and fit the bushings at each end). The supports will be installed and bolted in place. Bruce will supervise the installation of the underfloor framing for the lower drum, the brake assembly, and their appurtenances. Alan Bates and Bill Ray will install the bells and cranks and wires. Pete O'Connell will make up the tiller rope. The wheel will be installed last and toeboards fitted. All of these are subject to change. All hands will expect to be 'borrowed' to help each other. ”

While we are awaiting delivery of a few more components, we are grateful for the work of such an outstandingly qualified team of volunteers:

• Capt. Bates is a naval architect, the designer of the Natchez, the author of numerous books on the technology and lore of riverboating, a founding member of the board of the Howard Steamboat Museum.


• Expressly for this project, Bruce Babcock fabricated an exact replica of the bellstand from the Howard-built boat Edith Nugent.


• Bill Ray currently serves as a relief pilot to the Belle of Louisville. In addition, he is the lead singer and banjo player of the Big Muddy String Band.
• Pete O’Connell is the alternate master-engineer for the Belle of Louisville


• Jim Reising was a purser on the Delta Queen and remains an avid riverboat enthusiast.


• The team was enhanced by the participation of Kenny Howe, a retired employee of JeffBoat, who has served as chief engineer of the Belle of Louisville, and is a member of the board of directors of the Howard Steamboat Museum.

Last, but not least, this project has been made possible by a generous grant from the J Mack Gamble Fund of the Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen.

The Howard Steamboat Museum is delighted that after months of planning we are close to having an interesting, authentic, hands-on interactive exhibit.