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Archive for May, 2020

Remember that Old Stereoscope

Monday, May 25th, 2020

Monarch Stereoscopes by Keystone View Co (F Nash Collection)

LC Woodword Stereoview Jun 19060

Stereoscopes were used for entertainment form the 1850-1900. Similar to a slide projector, a stereoscope had two lenses and a view box which one person could use. (What’s a slide projector? A discussion for another time). The stereoscope had a handle and sliding bar which held cards much like real photograph postcards (RPPCs). The cards had two images of the same scene or topic and when placed in the device gave the viewer a new life-like image. Almost three dimensional.

The stereoscope technology was introduced to the public in 1851 at the Great Exposition in Philadelphia. [1] Hundreds of patents were issued in the following years. Thousands of instruments were sold in many designs. They were quite popular with people of all ages. On Sunday afternoons and winter evening families would pass time and share the stereoscope with each other viewing cards on a multitude of subjects.

Monarch Stereoscopes Model Symbol by Keystone View C (F Nash Collection)

Both devices in hand were manufactured by Keystone View Co in Meadville, PA . The model is the Monarch with a patent date of 12 Apr 1904.

Stereoscope images by Keystone View C (F Nash Collection)

The slides were produced by several manufactures including the Keystone View Co. Th images, to name a few, includes locations like the Capital in Washington, Mount Vernon, the Liberty Bell, graphic WW I trenches, a few Parisian style, and homelife. The maiden in the kitchen slide features the identical set with a different person. One set has thirteen images of the Sear &Roebuck Co in Chicago.

As always there is so much more to this story and every story. Stereoscopes and their sets of cards are collectibles. A fun idea would be to pass them down for the next generation to enjoy.

References.

[1] Whisker, Vaugh E, Tales from the Allegheny Foothills, Vol VI

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Licensing Pilots and Engineers

Saturday, May 16th, 2020

Pittsburgh Daily Post 3 Jun 1857, Wed · Page 3.

The Steamboat Act of 1852 required that pilots and engineers pass a knowledge-based test before a license was granted. The license was valid for twelve months. Pilot, the prince of the river, training required years of apprenticeship. Pilots were the most skilled and so best compensated of the steamboat officers. As a cub pilot, a trainee had to learn the name of every town, point, bend, island, sandbar, snag, and wreck on the river. There was no external aid to navigation; it was all in their brain. The pilot was the flesh and blood GPS without whom a tall stack packet could not move. Not all captains were qualified pilots, and not all pilots aspired to be captains. Even when serving a captain who himself was a qualified pilot, the pilot at the wheel reigned supreme during his allotted watch. The actual navigation of the boat was the responsibility of the pilot on duty. His word was law before which everyone bowed. A pilot’s chief indulgence was hero worship. Their heroes were those of their own profession who had undertaken the most thrilling adventures.

On 3 Jun 1857, the successful and not so successful candidates licensed by the local inspectors in the month of May were named in the Pittsburgh Daily Post. The number of pilots licensed was eleven. A close looks at the pilots included Geo W Ebert (my double great grandfather), Geo W Poe ( brother of Jacob and Thomas), Jonathan Kinsey (often clerk on many Poe family boats), Jno N Lyons (son of Samuel Lyons who wasan engineer on many Poe family boats), and John S McMillen. Five of the eleven licensed pilots were residents of Georgetown. Two pilot license applications were refused for “want of knowledge”.

Nineteen pilot licenses were awarded and twenty-one refused None of named candidates were residents of Georgetown.

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Georgetown Captains 1845-1850

Saturday, May 9th, 2020

The Pittsburgh Daily Post printed a column daily called the River Intelligence for the Port of Pittsburgh. From 1845 to 1850 the daily reports included the river condition and listed the steamers arrivals and departures.

The following news clips focus on the Georgetown captain, Richard Calhoon, and his boats. In the report dated 12 Feb 1845, the steamer Cleveland arrived at the Port of Pittsburgh from Wellsville, OH. The river channel had four feet of water. The str Cleveland was built in 1840 in Freedom, PA and dismantled in 1846. [1]

Figure 1 Pittsburgh Daily Post · 12 Feb 1845, Wed · Page 3

Also listed the str Columbiana arrived from Louisville. The str Columbiana built in Wellsville, OH in 1843 was commanded by Capt Jesse Smith who resided who resided opposite Georgetown in Smiths Ferry. [2]

Figure 2 The Pittsburgh Gazette · 31 Mar 1845, Mon · Page 3.

The str Cleveland was a regularly scheduled packet serving Pittsburgh and Wellsville with daily runs.

In 1848, Captain Calhoon was the master of the str Cinderella operating between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Note that Calhoon is misspelled in the ad.

Figure 3 Pittsburgh Daily Post · 16 Nov 1848, Thu · Page 3

On 2 Nov 1848, the channel depth in Pittsburgh was five feet. The packets Hudson and Euphrates arrived at te wharf from Wheeling and Cincinnati respectively. Capt Richard Calhoon owned the str Euphrates and the Hudson was a Poe family boat. It is unclear which Poe brother was the captain on this trip.

Figure 4 Pittsburgh Daily Post · 2 Nov 1848, Thu · Page 3.

Figure 5 Pittsburgh Daily Post 7 May 1849, Mon · Page 3.

On 7 May 1849 the river was rising. The Port of Pittsburgh was full of boats arriving and departing. Georgetown steamboat captains were taking advantage of the rise on the Ohio River.

Arrivals Master Destination

Tuscarora Poe Cincinnati

Cinderella Calhoon Sunnfish

Caledonia Calhoon Wheeling

Departures Master Destination

Euphrates Calhoon Nashville

Hudson McMillen Bridgeport

Tuscarora Poe Cincinnati

Three Calhoon captains were active on that day. No doubt Richard and Joseph MC commanding boats. The third brother is unknown. John had drown in Marietta in 1846.

Figure 6 The Pittsburgh · 10 May 1849, Thu · Page 3

On 10 May 1849, Captain Calhoon aboard the str Cinderella arrived from Wheeling. Also, in the report, the str Hudson arrived from and departed to Bridgeport (opposite Wheeling in OH). The str Hudson was commanded by Capt John Smith McMillen. His surname was misspelled in both line entries.

The river was rising from 10 to 16 feet .

References.

[1] Way, Frederick Jr, Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994, p101.

[2] Way, Frederick Jr, Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994, p106

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A Fine Tribute

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

Capt George W Ebert was the principal investor in the str Yorktown in 1865 before the end of the Civil War. Before that Capt Jacob Poe, Ebert’s brother-in-law had built and operated the str Yorktown.

In the news column River Matters dated 27 Jan 1865 from the Pittsburgh Daily Commerce, there was a fine tribute to the “officer and gentleman” George W Ebert.

The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial· 27 Jan 1865, Fri · P4.

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Archive for May, 2020

Remember that Old Stereoscope

Licensing Pilots and Engineers

Georgetown Captains 1845-1850

A Fine Tribute

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