LONE STAR

      08/15/1999

Dear Dave. This is a sort of late enquiry as I just started on the Net today, 15 Aug 99. I am taking a trip to Wyoming and Colorado to see and ride steam trains. I have a book entitled "End of Steam" It shows a tow boat working the Mississippi around Davenport Iowa in the 60s. She is the Lone Star. I see in the directory of boats that she is still existant. (Note from Dave: In light of information below, I have updated the listing) Can you tell me where she is working so I may be able to reroute my trip to see her. I intended to check out Daveport on the way West, but you may save me some time and hopefully give me the right location.
Joe Milner

08/16/1999
Joe (and Dave):
I checked my 1995 and 1999 Inland River Records for the LONE STAR. There is no towboat currently operating that has carried that name, nor has there been for the last several years. So, it sounds like she's either faded into history, or is no longer towing. Sorry to not have more information for you.
Cap'n Randy: Towboat Captain

08/16/1999
Howdy Mr. Dawley
. . . I looked up 'Lone Star' because I have a few phototgraphs of a sternwheeler which I snapped in September, 1967 while this boat pushed some barges down river, past Bettendorf.
The pictures show the Illinois side of the river in the background.

As we passed this steamer on a small excursion vessel (which had a stern wheel, though it isn't clear to me whether the wheel was merely "ornamental" or actually propelled the craft) a man informed us that what we were seeing was the LAST operating steamboat on the Mississippi and that it was soon to be sold to someone who was going to take it to the Amazon River.
Sincerely, Mace Bowen

And from Jerry Canavit:
06/27/2000
Dave,
Read your entry on the LONE STAR and thought I'd send you a little more info.

The original LONE STAR was a wood-burner, built in 1890 at the Kahlke Yard in Rock Island, IL. for Goss & Co. I've tried to make some verifiable connection with the 1868 sidewheeler of the same name (also owned by Goss & Co.), but so far, no luck. I suspect they may have some connection. In 1900, Goss & Co. became Builders Sand & Gravel Co. and they continued to operate the LONE STAR. At this time she was rebuilt (Kahlke Yard) and was given new boilers and converted to coal-burning. In 1922, the Kahlkes rebuilt her completely - keeping her old engines. In 1957, her hull was worn out and was completely replaced at the Kahlke Yard, along with a major reconditioning effort. In 1967 she failed a USCG inspection and her owners decided to retire her and replace he with a new deisel boat. She was cooled down for the last time on August 28, 1967. The crew on her last trip was Glenn Johnson, master and pilot; William Horlas, engineer; Mrs. Eleanor Johnson, cook; Dick Schmidt and Louis Chapman, firemen-deckhands. The LONE STAR was acquired by the Buffalo Bill Museum at LeClaire, IA by the LeClaire, IA Business Mens Association (for $1.00) and hauled out on the Mississippi River bank where she is currently maintained for public viewing.

I used to see this boat quite regularly from 1957 - 1966 as she dutifully plied the waters around the Davenport/Rock Island area hauling materials for Builders Sand & Gravel Co.

Jerry Canavit

02/27/06
I found this here

LONE STAR TOWBOAT
Homeport: LE CLAIRE, IA
Current Use: MUSEUM VESSEL (DRY BERTH EXHIBIT)
Original Use: TUG/TOWING
Contact: Contact: BUFFALO BILL MUSEUM
201 RIVER DRIVE NORTH
LE CLAIRE, IA 52753
319-289-5580
Built: 1868, LYONS SHIPYARD, ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.
Length: 90,
Beam: 24.5, Depth of Hold: 4.1, Tons: 66. Hull: WOOD.
Preservation Status: FAIR CONDITION, 85% ORIGINAL FABRIC,
LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, REF. NO. 89002461,
DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, 12/20/89.

Riverboat Dave