One of the special sights and sounds on Chautauqua Lake each summer is the steamer with the bright red paddlewheel named the Chautauqua Belle. The Belle, as she is affectionately called, is an authentic double deck Mississippi riverboat complete with its gingerbread trim and a wedding cake stacked superstructure which is indigenous to the Mississippi River-styled steamboat. The design features many of the architectural details lost to the modern boat builder like cambered decks to shed water from her roof and a sheer line to evenly distribute the weight of the boilers, engines and paddlewheel. This style of deck layout, which became the pinnacle of all steamboat architecture, was pioneered by Henry Shreve and his steamboat Washington of 1824. The vessel featured a barge-built hull which allowed the steamboat to carry immense weight while maintaining a shallow draft for navigation on the shallow inland rivers. Each summer the Belle travels to the historic steamboat turn-around at McCrea Point Park boat landing in Jamestown via the Chadakoin River.
The Chadakoin is a 7.8 mile long waterway that is a tributary of the Conewango Creek. The Chadakoin lies entirely in Chautauqua County. The creek begins at the southern end of Chautauqua Lake and its watershed is bounded to the North by the Chautauqua Ridge, a continental divide that results in the water flowing eventually to the Gulf of Mexico rather than the nearby Great Lakes.
The Belle was launched in 1976 as part of the Chautauqua County's celebration of the United States Bicentennial. She is 98 feet long, has a 22 foot beam, draws 30", weighs 70 tons fully loaded, carries a crew of 7 and has a capacity of 120 passengers. Her top speed of 7 miles per hour is provided by a pair of 20 HP Johnston steam boilers, built by Harry McBride in 1975. These boilers turn the vessel's impressive red paddlewheel.
The Belle is one of only 5 operating steamboats in North America which includes Queen of Seattle in WA, Minne-Ha-Ha in Lake George NY, Belle of Louisville in Louisville KY on the Ohio River and the Natchez in New Orleans on the Mississippi River.
She was designed by naval architect Captain Alan Bates of Louisville KY as was the riverboat, Natchez. It was originally financed and built by Captain James Webster in Mayville NY between 1974 and 1976. The Belle's maiden voyage was on July 4, 1976.
The Chautauqua Belle is currently operated under the ownership of Mat Stage, Chief Operating Officer of Maple Springs NY. Mat purchased the Belle in 2007 and made the needed maintenance upgrades. "The Chautauqua Belle continues to be close to my heart. It has taught me so much that I use while at sea, but more importantly it has brought me closer to the local community which allows me to work everyday with family and friends whom I love", said Stage. Mat is an officer on the cruise ship, Oceania which sails the Mediterranean Sea.
The Belle operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day and into the early Fall season traversing both the North and South basins of Chautauqua Lake. Featured excursions run from her home port in Mayville NY to Chautauqua Institution and Bemus Point. Many different cruises are offered throughout the season such as historical cruises, fireworks cruises, cocktail cruises, BBQ chicken dinner cruises, moonlight cruises and Fall foliage cruises.
The photo featured with this story depicts the Belle when it would pay a visit to the Pops when it was located in Bemus Point NY. The Belle could be precisely maneuvered between the many boats in the bay to be seen passing directly behind the floating stage. It was a sight and sound to behold when she would come by with passengers waving from its decks. To officially announce her presence the Captain would blow the deep sounding steam whistle from the wheelhouse as she glided by folks having dinner on the deck of the Italian Fisherman, enjoying a summer cocktail on the Fish Tank or sitting on the floating Chill Lounge near the dock leading to the floating stage.
Be safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
