Ornament Mark Twain 2025. Indian Lake Area Historical Society Ornament.
Regular price
$20.00
You can show content from product description or you enter custom description for all products. Choice is yours.
Unavailable
Refresh availabilityIndian Lake Area Historical Society Ornament for 2025 is "Mark Twain.”
The “Mark Twain” was a 175-passenger sightseeing boat that operated on Indian Lake from 1956 to 1971. The paddle-wheeler was built in 1955 by Floyd Dever and co-owned by Bob Holt.
The “Mark Twain” was powered by a D-440 engine, the same that powers a D-4 Caterpillar tractor. It also had a Chrysler engine that powered the hydro-jet. The boat had a draft of only two feet, and a cruising speed of ten miles an hour. It was 57 feet long, and 21 feet wide. The hull was made from nine surplus military pontoons that were built with hundreds of small, air-tight compartments filled with Styrofoam so it “couldn’t sink, even if it was machine-gunned” according to Dever.
The boat was a replica of an old-time river boat. It had two decks and a sizeable stern paddle wheel to propel it. Floyd Dever and Bob Holt used to dress as ship captains while doing excursions. For several summers they had a calliope on board that played all the old river songs as they paddled along. Over the years many people enjoyed riding on the “Mark Twain”. It was also used for high school senior parties, church parties, card parties and many private parties.
The “Mark Twain” was powered by a D-440 engine, the same that powers a D-4 Caterpillar tractor. It also had a Chrysler engine that powered the hydro-jet. The boat had a draft of only two feet, and a cruising speed of ten miles an hour. It was 57 feet long, and 21 feet wide. The hull was made from nine surplus military pontoons that were built with hundreds of small, air-tight compartments filled with Styrofoam so it “couldn’t sink, even if it was machine-gunned” according to Dever.
The boat was a replica of an old-time river boat. It had two decks and a sizeable stern paddle wheel to propel it. Floyd Dever and Bob Holt used to dress as ship captains while doing excursions. For several summers they had a calliope on board that played all the old river songs as they paddled along. Over the years many people enjoyed riding on the “Mark Twain”. It was also used for high school senior parties, church parties, card parties and many private parties.
These are collector's ornaments and come packaged in a plastic lidded box with felt for displaying.
The ornament measures 2.5" width x 2.25" tall x 1/8" depth and is made of metal and tied with a red corded rope.
Check out other years of this collectible IL Historical Ornament.