From the desk of Alison Gibson, Director
Oh no! Another Ohio River postcard. The Proctor K. Smiley is ready for boarding. The landing in South Ripley is visible on this card. We weren’t familiar with the publisher of this card, the Hugh C. Leighton Co. in Portland Maine. Didn’t last long under this name, which helps date this card between 1906-1909. Looking in Way’s Packet Directory 1848-1994, the Proctor K. was built in 1895 in Catlettsburg, KY and named for a son of Capt. William Smiley who built the ferry to operate from South Point Ohio to Catlettsburg, KY. Later came to Ripley, but in the early 1920s sold back to be near her ‘birthplace’. She was caught on shore at Kenova, W. Va. in high water in 1932, later dismantled there. In the Ripley, Ohio history book, the Proctor K. Smiley was built earlier, in the 1880s, but doesn’t change this picture. We wonder if that little building above the South Ripley landing was the just built 1906 waiting room for the C&O. There was also a bell placed to signal the boat. (Ripley Bee, August 22, 1906)
Hey kids—running out of time to earn your free 2024 Summer Reading Program t-shirt ! Little less than 2 weeks until August 14th deadline. We’ve had a really fine summer, and glad so many kids participated in the reading and the programs we offered. Seems reading is an ok thing to do this year, whether it be graphic novels, series, awesome picture books or ‘how-to’ on a new hobby, we’ve got them, and love that you are checking them out.
Hot muggy week—good time to stop in your local library to chill out, pick up a few items and say hi to the staff—we’re always glad to see you.
