On Saturday evening, May 14, the Steamboat Era Museum held a reception for museum members and donors. President Keith Kehlbeck welcomed the attendees and thanked them for their support. He introduced the Board of Directors and officers of the board. Fred Pevahouse and Will Hubbard were thanked for their time on the board. 

Museum Executive Director Steve Humphrey reviewed the highlights of the museum’s 2021 season, which are included in the newly released 2021 annual report. He also spoke about the funds and grants raised during 2021.

The highlight of the evening was the dedication of two plaques located in the restored Potomac Pilothouse. They joined plaques in the wheelhouse installed in 2020.  One plaque is in memory of Benjamin and Willoughby Colonna who saved the Potomac pilothouse from destruction. John Morgenthaler, a shipwright and master craftsman is honored in a second plaque for lovingly restoring the pilothouse

The plaques dedicated during the reception are in memory of Anne Long McClintock and Dr. Lee and Teensa Williams all original founders of the museum.  Families and friends of the honorees were present at the reception.

The Williams were original founders and long supporters of the museum. Both passed away this past summer. 

Dr. Williams was very familiar with the Potomac. He first visited the pilothouse, at age five, as a passenger in 1929.  After swallowing a penny, his mother called Captain Archibald Long for help. Deciding the penny would pass on its own, he invited the young boy to visit the wheelhouse, a very special honor. 

Ninety years later in 2019, at age ninety-five, he revisited the wheelhouse and once again turned the wheel. The plaque in memory of the Williams reads: 

The Potomac Wheelhouse is in Loving Memory of

Dr. M. Lee and Teensa Williams

Dr. Williams first visited the

pilothouse, at age five, as a passenger on the Potomac in 1929.

Ninety years later in 2019, at age ninety-five, he revisited the

wheelhouse and once again turned the wheel.

They were original founders of the museum.

Anne Long McClintock was the granddaughter of Archibald Long, the longest serving captain of the Potomac. The museum and the restoration of the pilothouse were close to Anne’s heart, and she worked hard to make each successful. 

One of Anne’s greatest joys was the publication of her short stories about the Steamboat Era. Working with former museum Executive Director Barbara Brecher, she collected her stories written for local newspapers and, with Brecher’s design support, We are Who We are Because Steamboats Were was published by the museum in 2014. The first printing sold out in one day at the museum’s Holiday Marketplace.

Anne passed away in January 2020, but she was present in May 2019 when the restored pilothouse was raised over the museum and installed in the exhibition hall. Anne’s plaque reads: 

The Captain’s Quarter

is in

Loving Memory of Anne Long McClintock,

an original founder of the museum.

The Pilothouse restoration was close to Anne’s heart.

Archibald Long, the longest serving captain of the Potomac (1903-1929),

was Anne’s grandfather.

He spent many nights in this cabin.