I am so sorry Art. Such an unexpected tragedy makes the loss doubly hard. I pulled up a previous post of yours on the JBS thread and am reposting it here along with the words to John's fine song.

Condolences to all who knew him and our thanks for his support of both Art and John Hartford as well as his contributions to the lore, traditions, and preservation, of Steamboatin' on the rivers of the American heartland.

Spaw

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The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #30961   Message #400588
Posted By: Art Thieme
17-Feb-01 - 11:43 PM
Thread Name: REQ/ADD: John Hartford Songs
Subject: RE: John Hartford Songs / The Julia Belle Swain

When I first started singing and tale tellin' on the JBS it was because John H. was on board as pilot that week and the TV show Good Morning America was doing a segment on John and his connection to steamboats and rivers. The ABC TV crew had left their car at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam. John knew I lived in Peru, Illinois and he called me from the pilot house to get me to drive the TV crew's car to the town of Henry, Illinois so they'd have a way back to Chicago. (I got $50.00 for doing that.) While waiting for the boat to land at Henry I gave my business card to the "luggage babe" as she was called on that boat. (She took passengers luggage in a van to the lodge where they stayed overnight.) I told her I was a folksinger grounded in history of rivers and the U.S.A. in general. She gave my card to DENNY TRONE, her boss and owner of the steamboat. He called me a week later to do a few trips. That led to work for all the next year (5 months worth).--------And then they moved from the Illinois River to the Mississippi River to base out of LeClaire, Iowa. Also built THE TWILIGHT-----another fine boat---this time a diesel/electric. As I've said, I did those gigs for the next 8 years. Steady work for a folksinger. Pretty rare. Best job I ever had.
For years before moving to the Mississippi, the JBS ran from Peoria, Illinois to the Starved Rock Lodge near Utica, Illinois. Our town----Peru---is right on the Illinois River too. Their excursion trips were 2-day trips. Took a day to get from Peoria to St.Rock---stay at the lodge that night---and back the 2nd day. "DENNY" in this song is Dennis Trone---the man who designed and built the Julia Belle Swain. "Moon" in the song refers to Moon Trone---- a fine fellow and the late brother of Dennis. Moon was a States Attorney (I believe) of Sangamon County, Illinois for many years. There are legendary tales about both of these great fellows on the Sangamon River and near New Salem, Illinois where Abe Lincoln hung out. The Julia Belle had to be sold a few years back (competition from gambling boats---a sad episode) but THE TWILIGHT is still taking passengers between LeClaire, Iowa (where I-80 crosses the Mississippi River) and the Chestnut Mountain Lodge near Galena, Illinois. For a truly relaxing 2-day getaway without gambling call River Cruises --- 1-800-331-1467 or e-mail -- twilight@galenalink.net Ask for their brochure.

Art Thieme
(The rest of those mentioned in the song were Peoria folks and crew members from that era when John Hartford wrote the song -- almost 15 or 20 years ago.)


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JULIA BELLE SWAIN
(John Hartford)

This is a song about the Julia Belle Swain

Oh,the Julia Belle Swain is a mighty fine boat
Got a mighty fine captain too
Got a big red wheel that goes around and around
And a bunch of old hippies for a crew
Well I can't stay here well I gotta get away
I'm Chattanooga Tennessee bound
Gonna get my banjo and put it on my back
When the Julia Belle Swain comes down
When the Julia Belle comes down


When the Julia Belle comes to Peoria you know that summer's here
And up on the Illinois River,that's the very best time of the year
Those steam boat days in August like a hazy, lazy dream
I want to be at the foot of Mainstreet
When the Julia Belle raises steam, when the Julia Belle raises steam
Well Dennis and Moon and Bob Burnett and Doc and Murray too
Are one big steamboat family and the Julia Belle steamboat crew
Me I tell you I gotta getta away
I'm Chattanooga Tennessee bound
Gonna get my banjo and put it on my back
When the Julia Belle comes down
When the Julia Belle comes down

Now the Julia Belle Swain is a women's lib boat
First I ever knew
Got girls in the pilothouse and girls on deck
And a lady in the engine room
Now Donna's got her license
Cindy's learning to steer
Little Julie keeps Moon outa trouble by wandering off everywhere
By wandering off everywhere

When the Julia Belle gets in a steamboat race she's a mighty hard boat to beat
She raced the Belle of Louisville, she beat the Delta Queen
She don't need no help to get her turned around
She'll come right around on a dime
And after the race she heads up the river
Cuz the Julia Belle's still got time, cuz the Julia Bell's still got time
Well I sure do love the Tennessee River, the Ohio and the Illinois
And I love the old Mississippi River, It's a good old place for a boy
Just to step on board the steamboat, ride all the way to the sea
Where else but a muddy old river, would a person want to be?
Would a person want to be?

Well I come up the river the other night
Darker than the inside of a cow
Ain't nothin like a crooked old river, straighten my head right out
Now I love my love she's pretty as could be
And I love to take her down
Those pretty ladies really like to ride
When the Julia Belle comes down
When the Julia Belle comes down