Donald B. (towboat) facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | Donald B |
| Builder | Marietta Manufacturing |
| Launched | 1923 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 51 GRT |
| Displacement | 108 long tons (110 t) |
| Length | 99 ft (30 m) LOA |
| Beam | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Draft | 32 in (0.8 m) |
| Installed power | 160 hp (120 kW) direct reversing diesel engine |
| Propulsion | Sternwheel |
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Donald B (towboat)
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bellaire, Ohio |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002458 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 20, 1989 |
| Designated NHL | December 20, 1989 |
The Standard is a special kind of boat called a towboat. It has also been known as Donald B and Barbara H. This boat is very important because it has been named a US National Historic Landmark. Today, you can find it in Bellaire, Ohio.
The Standard was built way back in 1923. It is the oldest towboat of its kind that is still floating and looks almost exactly as it did when it was new. Because of its unique history, it was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
Contents
Discovering the Standard Towboat
The Standard is a unique boat with a long history. It's known for being one of the oldest and most original towboats still around. Let's learn more about what makes it so special.
What is a Towboat?
You might think a towboat pulls things, but it actually pushes them! Towboats are special boats used on rivers like the Mississippi River. They push large barges from behind. These barges carry all sorts of goods, like gasoline or other supplies, to different places along the river.
How Big is the Standard?
The Standard is about 99 feet (30 m) long from front to back. Its main body, called the hull, is 80 feet (24 m) long. The boat is 18-foot (5.5 m) wide. It sits low in the water, drawing only about 32 inches (0.8 m).
The boat is made from strong steel plates. These plates are riveted, or fastened, to a steel frame. The front of the boat is flat, like a scow, and has special "knees." These "knees" are used to push barges. The bottom of the boat is also flat, without a keel.
Powering the Standard
The Standard gets its power from a 160-horsepower (120 kW) diesel engine. This engine was made by Fairbanks-Morse in 1940. It's a special kind of engine that can reverse direction directly. This helps the boat move forward or backward easily. The boat uses a large paddlewheel at the back to move through the water.
The Standard weighs about 51 gross tons. It can move about 108 long tons (110 t) of weight.
A Journey Through Time: The Standard's History
The Standard has had a long and interesting life on the rivers. It has changed owners and names several times. Each change marks a new chapter in its story.
Building the Boat
The boat was built in 1923 at a place called Marietta Manufacturing. This company was located in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Once it was finished, the boat started its work for the Standard Oil Company of Ohio. They named it Standard. Its job was to move gasoline to different places along the river.
New Owners, New Names
In 1940, the Standard was sold to a man named Ray Brookbank. He decided to rename the boat Donald B after his son, Donald. Donald eventually became the boat's captain! Under the Brookbanks, the Donald B carried all kinds of barges. It traveled up and down the huge Mississippi River system. In 1958, the boat's hull was completely repaired with new steel plates.
The Donald B's time as an active towboat ended in 2000. The next year, it was sold to Steve Huffman. He named it Barbara H after his wife. He kept the boat near Vevey, Indiana.
Back to Standard
In 2012, Steve Huffman sold the boat to Bob Hamilton. Bob moved the boat to Bellaire, Ohio. He decided to give the boat its original name back: Standard.
Why the Standard is a Landmark
Many boats from the same time period as the Standard are no longer around. Some were taken apart for scrap metal. Others were changed a lot for private use. Some are only found in museums.
When the Standard was named a National Historic Landmark, it was special. It was the only rear-wheel diesel towboat of its age that was still actively working. This makes the Standard a living piece of history. It shows us how river transportation used to be.
