William A. Thompson (Screw Propeller Dredge)

Photographer

Hill, Ed

Date

• September 12, 2007

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Screw Propeller
• BOAT TYPE: Dredge
• BUILT: 1935 by Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Decommissioned in 2008
• OWNERS: U.S. Engineering Office
• OFFICERS & CREW: 1955-1968: Captain Allen Fiedler; 1987: Ron Zeches (junior engineer)
• RIVERS: Mississippi River; St. Croix River; Illinois River
• OTHER INFORMATION: The William A. Thompson was named after a man who was assistant engineer with the USED from 1896 to 1925 and was built for a cost of $850,000. William A. Thompson had a crew of 50 who worked three eight-hour shifts a day. She worked 683 miles of the Mississippi River from St. Paul, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri as well as 24 miles of the St. Croix River and 335 miles of the Illinois River
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Photo of the William A. Thompson, a USED screw propeller dredge, taken on September 12, 2007 about five miles above Guttenberg, Iowa