W.P. Snyder, Jr. (Towboat)
Encyclopedia
W.P. SNYDER, JR. also known as W.H. CLINGERMAN, W.P. Snyder,Jr. State Memorial, or J.L. PERRY, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark
.
W. P. Snyder, Jr. is a sternwheel, steam driven, towboat
that was originally built as the Carnegie Steel Company
towboat W. H. Clingerman in 1918 by Rees & Sons Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. In 1938, it was renamed J. L. Perry, and in 1945 A-1. In August 1945, it was sold to Crucible Fuel Company of Pittsburgh, and renamed the W. P. Snyder Jr. in September 1945.
She was a sister vessel of the W. H. Colvin Jr., and she towed coal
on the Monongahela River
until being laid up on September 23, 1953, at Crucible, Pennsylvania
. In the summer of 1955, the boat was given to the Ohio Historical Society
for exhibit at the Ohio River Museum in Marietta, Ohio
. The W. P. Snyder Jr. was the last steamboat locking through Lock 1, on the Muskingum River
, before that lock
was removed. She arrived in Marietta, Ohio, with Capt. Fred Way Jr. as master
on September 16, 1955.
As one of the first steel
hull
towboats constructed, it was fitted with the prominent anti-hogging struts and cables necessary on wooden hulled stern wheelers. At the time it was not known they would be unnecessary with the steel hull construction.
The Snyder has been permanently moored on the Muskingum River
in Marietta, Ohio
, at the Ohio River Museum
. Visitors to the museum receive a guided tour of the Snyder.
It is "the only intact, steam-driven sternwheel towboat still on the nation's river system", but "is in danger of sinking". On November 21, 2009, the Snyder was towed from Marietta on her way to South Point, Ohio
to have her hull replaced. The Snyder made its way home starting September 15, 2010 and arrived back in the Muskingum River at Marietta on September 17, 2010.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
W. P. Snyder, Jr. is a sternwheel, steam driven, towboat
Towboat
Not to be confused with the historic boat type with the same name, also called horse-drawn boat.A towboat is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. Towboats are characterized by a square bow with steel knees for pushing and powerful engines...
that was originally built as the Carnegie Steel Company
Carnegie Steel Company
Carnegie Steel Company was a steel producing company created by Andrew Carnegie to manage business at his steel mills in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in the late 19th century.-Creation:...
towboat W. H. Clingerman in 1918 by Rees & Sons Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. In 1938, it was renamed J. L. Perry, and in 1945 A-1. In August 1945, it was sold to Crucible Fuel Company of Pittsburgh, and renamed the W. P. Snyder Jr. in September 1945.
She was a sister vessel of the W. H. Colvin Jr., and she towed coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
on the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
until being laid up on September 23, 1953, at Crucible, Pennsylvania
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,564 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
. In the summer of 1955, the boat was given to the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
for exhibit at the Ohio River Museum in Marietta, Ohio
Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
. The W. P. Snyder Jr. was the last steamboat locking through Lock 1, on the Muskingum River
Muskingum River
The Muskingum River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 111 miles long, in southeastern Ohio in the United States. An important commercial route in the 19th century, it flows generally southward through the eastern hill country of Ohio...
, before that lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
was removed. She arrived in Marietta, Ohio, with Capt. Fred Way Jr. as master
Master (naval)
The master, or sailing master, was a historic term for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel...
on September 16, 1955.
As one of the first steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
towboats constructed, it was fitted with the prominent anti-hogging struts and cables necessary on wooden hulled stern wheelers. At the time it was not known they would be unnecessary with the steel hull construction.
The Snyder has been permanently moored on the Muskingum River
Muskingum River
The Muskingum River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 111 miles long, in southeastern Ohio in the United States. An important commercial route in the 19th century, it flows generally southward through the eastern hill country of Ohio...
in Marietta, Ohio
Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
, at the Ohio River Museum
Ohio River Museum
The Ohio River Museum is a museum that interprets the history of the Ohio River. The museum is situated on the Muskingum River, near its confluence with the Ohio River, in Marietta, Ohio....
. Visitors to the museum receive a guided tour of the Snyder.
It is "the only intact, steam-driven sternwheel towboat still on the nation's river system", but "is in danger of sinking". On November 21, 2009, the Snyder was towed from Marietta on her way to South Point, Ohio
South Point, Ohio
South Point is a village in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,742 at the 2000 census.South Point is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.The village mayor...
to have her hull replaced. The Snyder made its way home starting September 15, 2010 and arrived back in the Muskingum River at Marietta on September 17, 2010.