Moving the William M. Black

Once a monster of the Mississippi, the giant steam powered river dredge has retired to a cozy home in the Ice Harbor at the Port of Dubuque. With construction of the America's River Wetlands about to begin, the Black had to be moved from it's current position. It has not moved in over a decade. Even more amazing is that it has not and will not leave the Ice Harbor since it first arrived. The National Register of Historic Places listed vessel was too big to fit through the flood gates of the harbor so they actually cut the giant paddlewheeler into two pieces then welded it back together again once inside the wall. It is safe to say this boat won't be leaving ever again. The weld, running the full length of the dredge is readily visible and the port side paddle (that's the left side...I had to look it up!) was permanently removed.

On August 14th after hours of disconnecting semi-permanent walking ramps and unburrying the giant steel posts that secured the boat deep into the bed of the harbor, the mighty steam boat gracefully eased her way out from the shore without any assistance as if it had been doing it every day since 1934. With careful aide from longtime harbor mate Newt Marine, the Black made her way to the far side of the harbor until such time that the wetland is complete and it can once again settle into a nice long well deserved slumber. Of course, the fact that it will become a boat and breakfast which will be often times inhabited by school children will likely prevent it from getting to much sleep. But considering the fate of most retired ships, I'm pretty sure if a boat could smile, this one would be grinning ear to ear.