Title	"Idlewild"
Subject	Steamboats; Riverboats; Excursion boats; "Belle of Louisville"; "Avalon"; Ferries; USO clubs; Rose Island
Description	Built in 1914 this boat went by the name Idlewild from that date to 1947. She then became the Avalon from 1947 to 1962 when she was dubbed "Belle of Louisville". She is a shallow draft boat which enables her to glide over water that would not be deep enough for many boats to navigate. As the "Idlewild" she first ferried from Memphis to Hopefield Point, Arkansas. She hauled cargo in early life, also. She became an excursion boat in the 1920s and for some years she 'tramped' along the Missouri and Ohio Rivers. When the "America" burned in September of 1930, the "Idlewild" was called to take over her duties making the run between Fontaine Ferry Amusement Park at Louisville to Rose Island at the mouth of 4 Mile Creek near Charlestown, Indiana. When the war broke out she was refitted and served as a barge at times. She also was used as a USO night club for military camps along the Mississippi. In 1947 she was sold and her name was changed to "Avalon". (see "Avalon)
Creator	Harry Lemen, photographer
Contributors	Madison-Jefferson County Public Library; Jefferson County Historical Society
Date	Photograph taken circa 1945
Type	Photograph
Format	Original: tif, scanned at 1200dpi with a MicroTek ScanMaker 9800XL. Online: jpg, saved at 72dpi.; Scan of 3x5 photograph
Identifier	"MJCPLriver5126-idlewild"
Source	MJCPL Historical files Way's Packet Directory, Internet websites: www.belleoflouisville.org and www.riverboatdaves.com Harry Lemen Collection of the Madison-Jefferson County Public Library
Rights	Permission to reproduce this image for other than personal use must be requested from the Director of the Madison-Jefferson County Public Library. Please contact at 420 W. Main St., Madison, IN 47250 (812) 265-2744.