Joliet, IL: Joliet Marine & Drydock and Alexander McKenzie Sternwheeler

The office when it was in business? (Satellite)

The work area: (Satellite)

The derelict Alexander MacKenzie: (3D Satellite)

David Gulden posted two photos with the comment: "ALEXANDER MACKENZIE."

Curt Smith: She's still at Joliet rusting away. Went by her a month ago. I don't even think Joliet drydock is in business anymore. Seen that small boat they use for moving stuff in the back. In the day that little boat was built at Dubuque Boat Boiler she was Mary and Floyd Thompson and other names.

Tom O'Dell: One of the last big Steam Sternwheelers built by Marrieta Manufacturing at Point Pleasant. She and her sister the Jason (Herbert E. Jones). Both built to use Bunker C Fuel Oil and later converted to Coal. Her wheel was at Port Amherst for many years. Amherst had bought for one purpose to use fir spare parts for the Jones.

[Some comments indicate that it is headed towards the CB&Q Bridge]

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David Gulden posted three photos with the comment: "ALEXANDER MACKENZIE."

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David Gulden posted 9 photos.

Rob Smith: Curt Smith It still there…. I’m very sure there is still a lot of topside welding going on…. Not sure if they are still using the Drydock.

Tom O'Dell: Great pictures of a great lady taken right here in Marietta Manufacturing Company just prior to our entry into WWII. She and the Jason, her sister boat were the last of the big steam Sternwheel towboats to ply the Ohio, Mississippi and Kanawha Rivers clear into to the middle and late 1950’s. Originally built to operate on Bunker C Fuel Oil and later switched to coal. The Wheel of the Jason (Herbert E. Jones) still rest at the Pittsburg point where the Ohio is formed. I’m not sure on the Mackenzie’s wheel but it was for many many years on the bank of the Kanawha at Port Amherst.

Joshua Sasfai: Her big brother just got scrapped last week the Jason

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Buzzfile has not purged its record for this company:

Joliet Marine & Drydock is located in Joliet, Illinois. This organization primarily operates in the Barges, Building and Repairing business / industry within the Transportation Equipment sector. This organization has been operating for approximately 25 years. Joliet Marine & Drydock is estimated to generate $186,498 in annual revenues, and employs approximately 1 people at this single location. This organization is engaged in manufacturing activities at this facility.

The Port of Joliet has the following description:

Joliet Marine and Drydock Inc. owns and operates the Joliet Marine & Drydock Landing in the Port of Joliet to moor and repair floating equipment and barges and to moor its floating dry dock. At the head of the slip is permanently moored the office boat Alexander McKenzie, and a 450-ton floating dry dock is moored next to the office boat. Another 200-ton floating dry dock is moored at the outer end of the slip. The Port of Joliet's Marine & Drydock Landing has berthing space of 335 meters (1100 feet) NPE.

David Gulden posted
Tom O'Dell: They are looking awfully hard at the Pitman Arm. Wonder if there was a problem.
Dick Karnath: My father, Walt Karnath, was pilot on her for several years. As I recall he took her to Joliet for her retirement about 1951 or 2.

I've read that the price of scrape steel has gone up, so I better save the current image.

3D Satellite

The crane looks old, but not the U-shaped thing under it.

3D Satellite

Is the dry dock a submersible that is pumped out so that it floats and the working area is dry?

Satellite

We can see the sterns of the "office boat" and the little towboat.

Screenshot, 20150603

Screesnshot, 20250603

I've taken photos of the sternwheeler from the other side of the river because it caught my eye, but I have too many "Joliet" folders to easily find those photos. If I come across the photos when looking for something else, I now have a place to put them.