A wharfboat was a floating warehouse moored at the river shore, usually at the larger towns or freight distribution points.  Steamers docked at the wharfboat to transfer cargo and passengers.  In the balmy days of steamboating, these wharfboats were found at nearly every town of consequence along the Ohio River.  Usually privately owned and operated, a wharfboat often served a single customer, such as a packet line or local business.  Wharfboats were the shells of out of service, older packets partially dismantled.  The engines and boilers and cabin fixtures were removed leaving secure space for offices and cargo storage.

Theodore Poe with two ladies ca 1900 GPN

Theodore (Dory) Cochran Poe managed a wharfboat in Pittsburgh.  The wharfboat is unknown at this time, but quite possibly he managed the wharfboat serving the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Packet Line.

A book recently ordered arrived on Saturday.  It is a history of California, PA from 1849-1881.  As you no doubt know, California is a major historic steamboat building town in a historic steamboat building region along the Monongahela River.  The years covered align well with the Golden Age of Steamboats and with my ancestors who owned and operated boats from Georgetown, PA.  To date, I know of nine steamboats built in California in which captains from Georgetown, PA had interests. 

The book by JK Folmar I is “California, PA 1849-1881 The History of a Boat Building Town.”  Not only is it fact filled, it is a good read.  I highly recommend it.