New St. Louis & Calhoun County Packet Company News

Old Boat Column: The Avalon: A Widely Traveled Excursion Boat

Boats & Barges

Old Boat Column: The Avalon: A Widely Traveled Excursion Boat

October 18, 2024

The previous installment of the Old Boat Column introduced the steamer Idlewild, built in Pittsburgh in 1914 by the James Rees & Sons Company for the West Memphis Packet Company. Read More

A Five Score And Ten Years Old Treasure One of the earliest known photos of the Idlewild after construction at the Rees shipyard. (Photo discovered by artist and model builder John Fryant)

One of the earliest known photos of the Idlewild after construction at the Rees shipyard. (Photo discovered by artist and model builder John Fryant)

A Five Score And Ten Years Old Treasure

October 11, 2024

The James Rees and Sons Company of Pittsburgh began building river craft in the late 1870s. They turned out a wide range of vessels including packets, towboats, snag boats and… Read More