Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Archive for the ‘Mississippi’ Category

Life on a Riverboat

W. P. Snyder, Jr. is an historic towboat moored in Marietta on the Muskingum River.

Drifting with the current down the Ohio River has been experienced by many for centuries. While those early days provided an easy way to move products and people, today there have been many changes on the river, especially with the riverboats driven by steam.

During those early days before the railroad or paved roads, towboats were frequent on the river hauling coal, food, and steel. This was a quick and easy way to move things. Men in good physical condition worked on these boats around the clock surrounded by hazardous conditions and constant noise.

New Orleans was the first steamboat on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

In 1811, the New Orleans made the first steamboat trip down the Ohio River and Mississippi River from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. The success of this adventure opened the door for more trading to the cities along the rivers. Passengers began using it as a faster method of getting from place to place.

The Messenger carried Charles Dickens down the Ohio River.

For five months in 1842, Charles Dickens visited America with his wife, Kate, her maid, Anne Brown, and his secretary, George Putnam. They traveled to Pittsburgh by canal, stagecoach, and train before climbing aboard the riverboat, Messenger, for a trip down the Ohio River.

The Messenger held about 40 people on deck with the lower level being filled with the poor, emigrants, and children. Dickens felt lucky that they had a cabin in the stern as he worried about the fierce fire that raged in the body at the forward end of this boat built of what he called “a frail pile of painted wood

Meal time was not pleasant for him as there was no lively conversation. He said the creatures would empty their trough then head to stand around the fire and spit, a habit which he deplored.

This sketch of Charles and Kate Dickens was by the late Mary Ruth Duff.

Charles and Kate would sit outside their small room on the gallery where they could watch the scenery as they drifted down the river. Charles explained the scenery in this colorful way:

For miles and miles the banks were unbroken by any sign of human life or trace of human footsteps. Nor is anything seen to move about them but the blue jay, whose colour is so bright, and yet so delicate, that it looks like a flying flower.

After three days, they reached Cincinnati where Dickens finally found some intelligent conversation. He loved the town and the free schools, as education was something very important to Charles Dickens.

When Dickens arrived in Cincinnati, shantyboats could be seen along the riverbanks.

As they pulled into Cincinnati, they could see shantyboats along the shore. These rough built homes were used by those who wanted to move from place to place along the river with their families. Often, they were homes for people looking for work but also for thieves and law breakers. They always served as a great place to escape paying taxes.

Charles Dickens wrote of his journey in American Notes.

Throughout his journey, it’s no surprise that Dickens wrote in his journal daily about what he saw and felt about America. Perhaps you would like to read his entire story in his American Notes.

Mark Twain’s stories of his travels on the Mississippi boosted the number of riverboat passengers.

A few years later, Mark Twain published a book about his travels on the Mississippi River. When Twain wanted to get his riverboat pilot’s license, he was told he had to memorize the 1,200-mile Mississippi River in detail. The story of his adventures as a pilot and later as a passenger became a boon to the riverboat industry as more and more people wanted to experience the tales told by Mark Twain in his book , Life on the Mississippi

Today’s Queen of the Mississippi is a luxurious riverboat.

Today, riverboat travel on the Ohio and Mississippi has changed with the boats being more luxurious. Many people enjoy taking a short vacation on the river while being served gourmet meals, visiting historical spots along the way, and having evening entertainment.

When a boat pulls into dock at one of the towns along the way, as soon as people hear the sound of the calliope, they head to the shore to watch the paddlewheels and listen to the music.

Captain Bill enjoys taking the wheel of the Lorena on the Muskingum River.

Our area is fortunate to have two small riverboats, Valley Gem and Lorena, operating for day trips in Marietta and Zanesville. These rides are always a pleasure as you catch a slight breeze as you feel the boat moving through the water and catch a little spray from the paddlewheel. It’s a cool way to spend a hot summer day.

The paddlewheels of the Valley Gem move us on the Ohio River.

Perhaps you would enjoy a riverboat ride down the Ohio River. It’s on my bucket list!

Category:

History, Mississippi, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Colt Keith, Former Rolling Hills Schools’ Student, Signs 6-year Contract with Detroit Tigers

Colt Keith at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan received his Tigers’ jersey after signing the contract.

(Update! The article below appeared in Crossroads magazine last month. Since it was written, Colt Keith has signed a $26.8 million six-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, who said, “We are looking for people who care about winning and who are competing as hard in the gym and on the dirt in early work as they are in the batter’s box. That’s what we saw in Colt.” At this time he is enjoying Spring Training with the Tigers in Florida.)

Colt Keith was named Detroit Tigers Minor League Player of the Year in 2023.

“Take me out to the ballgame” is a call that Colt Keith has made throughout his life and it has led him to being named the Detroit Tigers Minor League Player of the Year for ’23 as reported by Baseball America magazine.

While visiting family over Thanksgiving, Colt talked to athletes at Buckeye Trail and gave them suggestions on how to become good at whatever field they chose. He encouraged them to follow their dreams while living a wholesome life without alcohol, drugs, or smoking involved. His advice was, “Stay away from that stuff.”

Buckeye Trail athletes and coaches heard pointers from Colt Keith at a recent meeting.

He explained the routine schedule that he keeps to stay in good physical condition and gave websites for workouts that would be helpful. Since Colt works out six days a week for at least two and a half hours, he feels exercise is very important for fitness and power. He told the athletes, “I love to work out.” The importance of eating nutritional meals and drinking lots of water was also pointed out. “You have to help yourself get better.”

Mindset is so important no matter what path you want to take. Colt told students, “Do what you want to do and do it better than other people. Have a positive, pleasant attitude. Work hard and love Jesus.”

Those in attendance had many questions to ask Colt after his presentation. He always gave honest personal answers and great encouragement. Everyone received his autographed baseball card.

Colt enjoyed baseball from a young age. Here he participates in ‘coach pitch’ baseball.

His passion for baseball began playing t-ball in Lore City. His elementary school years were spent in Rolling Hills School District where he also wrestled. However, once his parents noticed his great love for baseball, they moved to a spot where baseball could be played year-round.

Colt’s dad, Troy, Colt, Kait, and his mom, Mary all attended the signing in Detroit. His parents have been a constant source of encouragement throughout his baseball career.

Colt expressed great appreciation to his parents and coaches for being so supportive along the way. His dad, Troy, was a wrestler and became a teacher and wrestling coach at Meadowbrook while his mom, Mary, played college basketball and then became an attorney. Sports were always a big part of their family.

This Southern Utah team was yet another place where Colt experienced baseball.

First, they went to Utah and then to Arizona where Colt played baseball at the positions of shortstop or catcher with Verredo High School, which was not far from Goodyear – Spring Training grounds for several major league baseball teams. It was then he first had the idea that he would like to be drafted. “You have to have a goal.” While in Arizona, he was named High School Player of the Year.

While in Biloxi, Colt met his fiance, Kait.

Later they moved to Biloxi, Mississippi where he finished his high school years and met his fiance, Kait. While he was offered a scholarship to the University of Arizona, once he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2020, he decided to try that opportunity first.

A Guernsey County All-Star game was one of his early all-star connections.
The Guernsey County Miners were a championship team back in 2016.

Even though they moved, Colt always came back in the summer to play ball with his grade school friends. He remarked, “The Guernsey County Miners were the best team around back then.”

Toledo Mud Hens Player of the Week was one of his frequent awards.

While working his way up through the minor leagues, Colt played second and third base. Frequent awards came his way in the form of Player of the Week, Player of the Month, Best Single-game Performance, and a place on several All-Star teams.

This left-handed slugger has a fantastic career batting average of .303 and a .976 fielding percentage. In July, he moved up to the Toledo Mud Hens, a triple-A team. He remarked, “I batted and played my way up. I’m always anxious for the game to start.”

A typical ML Tigers announcer on July 23 said:

Colt Keith with a beautiful piece of hitting to find the hole and drive in the go-ahead run with 2 outs in the 8th. He’s 3-for-4 with a double, a sac fly, and 2 RBIs tonight. And he just stole a base.

At his first bat in triple-A against the Columbus Clippers, Colt hit a homerun.

A couple of his memorable moments were in ’22 when he hit a walk-off home run in Michigan, and then in ’23, he hit another walk-off home run in Erie. At his first bat in triple-A against the Columbus Clippers, he hit a home run.

Colt was selected from the Detroit leagues to participate in the Minor League All-Star game in Seattle.

Colt has played on two All-Star Teams recently. In ’19, he was chosen for the Future All-Stars where the top 30 high school baseball players from all over the United States played a game before the regular All-Star game in Cleveland. In ’23, Colt played in the Minor League All-Star game in Seattle. There were only two chosen from the Detroit leagues.

Now Colt’s looking forward to the future with the Detroit Tigers. After signing he told the press, “My mission is to be the best player possible and help win a World Series Championship for Tiger fans everywhere.”

Category:

Arizona, Mississippi, Ohio, Uncategorized, Utah

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Gypsy Highway

Snyder's BluffWhile visiting Vicksburg, Mississippi to do some research for a Civil War Diary, my journey took me to Snyder’s Bluff, one of the places frequently mentioned in the diary. This is where my GPS took me that hot, southern day.

   Dust settled over my gypsy car while exploring a dirt road not far from that grand Mississippi River that divides our country. With temperatures near 100 degrees as the sun beat down, I felt fortunate that the Chevy’s air conditioning worked properly.

   Soon the road went through a narrow pass cut into the ground with sides ten feet high and trees extending their roots like tentacles reaching out to capture something or someone. Because of the desire to do research for the book, my curiosity led me forward. After a few miles, no end seemed to be in sight so when the road widened, giving an opportunity to turn around, I maneuvered the car back and forth until it was headed out.

   Returning through the pass, a loud sound reached my ears and there was more dust up ahead. Around a slight bend headed straight toward me rumbled a semi loaded with logs. Imagine they were as surprised to see me as I was to see them.

   Somehow we passed with inches to spare between us and between the banks of the road with tree roots waiting to grasp. No walls came tumbling down!

   After that close call, it was necessary to stop for a few minutes. With my hand resting on my chest, I could feel the rapid heartbeat. The smell of dust filled the car.

   My lips felt like sandpaper from the dust and heat, and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. Perhaps back on the main road, there would be someplace to buy a cold ice tea to wet my whistle.

   You never know what you might encounter when taking a Gypsy Highway. It made me wonder how Pvt. George Painter, the writer of the diary, handled the dangers in the area back in 1863 when he was a member of the Mississippi Marine Brigade.

Category:

Back Roads, History, Just for Fun, Mississippi, Uncategorized

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