THE HOWARD STEAMBOAT MUSEUM - Key Persons
Famed architect Arthur Loomis, who designed the Speed Museum, the Conrad-Caldwell House, and many other prominent Louisville edifices, proposed a new Gothic church sanctuary. The original plans submitted by Loomis included a bell tower that was never completed due to lack of funds (Nokes, 2002, 48). Instead, the portico became a small chapel and columbarium. Ed J. Howard served as the contractor for the church and its rectory (house for the parish priest or ‘rector') (Baird, 1909, 235). Using steamboat workers, the house and rectory were built promptly for the sum of $14,466.66 (Baird, 1909, 234). Capt Ed. himself contributed $500 to this church building and his contracting skills saved the church around $2,000 in initial costs (Baird, 1909, 234). The rectory was built in December 1894 in a matter of one month (W. McCulloch, personal communication, August 5, 2021), a testament to the efficient and skilled work of the Howards' laborers.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant & Weekend Manager
A native of Southern Indiana, Christian Thomas graduated from Floyd Central High School in 2013 and attended Indiana University Southeast where he studied history and political science. While there, he participated in several student organizations and served as Student Government Vice President from 2019-2020. Since starting at the Howard Steamboat Museum as an archival intern, Christian has become passionate about telling the story of the Howards and the history of the river. He especially enjoys researching and writing many of the historical blog posts on the museum's website and social media. In his free time, Christian plays trombone in local bands and orchestras and loves to read books about history
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- 2nd Vice President
- Member of the Officers Team
Job Titles:
- 1st Vice President
- Member of the Officers Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
Loretta Maude Wooden was born in 1885 in Kent, Indiana. On June 23rd, 1908, at the age of 23, she married James E. Howard, the younger son of Edmonds and Laura Howard. With the death of Edmonds in 1919, James (we call him Captain Jim) took over the family's shipbuilding business with his older brother Clyde, and in 1923 he became the company's sole owner, with Loretta as vice president. To quote river legend Capt. Alan L. Bates, in Loretta "Jim had found a personal and business helpmate of the finest quality".
In her role as vice president, Loretta acted as the company's business manager, handling financial and administrative matters while her husband ran the shipyard. Since steamboat building was not as wildly profitable as it had once been, Loretta also raised chickens and sold produce from her garden to help support the family. In 1941, the Howards sold the shipyard to the federal government and retired to their mansion.
Loretta Howard tending to her chickens. Her son Ed. J. Howard is in her arms (ca. 1910)
It had long been Capt. Jim's dream to turn his family's home into a museum dedicated to their legacy and to river history, but he sadly died in 1956 before he could see this fulfilled. Loretta made it her mission to see her late husband's dream turned into a reality, and in 1958 the Howard National Steamboat Museum (now shortened to the Howard Steamboat Museum) was chartered thanks to her hard work and dedication. In addition to founding the museum, Loretta was also its first employee, giving tours of the first two floors while living in a small apartment on the third floor.
Loretta Howard with her husband, Capt. Jim Howard
Even in her old age, Loretta maintained her determined and independent spirit. When asked if she was afraid to stay alone in the mansion, she replied, "I've got a pistol and a baseball bat. I'd like to see somebody try to break in here!" Although she moved out of the house in 1970 (climbing up and down multiple flights of stairs had become a bit much by that point), Loretta remained involved in the Jeffersonville community as a leading member of several clubs and institutions. On September 16th, 1978, Loretta Howard died at the age of 93, leaving behind a truly remarkable legacy that will always be remembered here at the Howard Steamboat Museum.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director & Curator
With a passion for steamboats since boyhood, Travis Vasconcelos has spent most of his life connected with river history. Travis has been a calliopist, narrator, and deckhand for the Belle of Louisville, where he is still a relief calliopist. He has also been a riverlorian for the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen, and American Queen steamboats. Travis has a B.S. in Computer Science from Sullivan College (now Sullivan University). He began volunteering for the Howard Steamboat Museum and then served as administrative assistant for six years. Upon the retirement of long-time director Keith Norrington in 2020, Travis was appointed as the museum's director & curator. Given his lifelong experience with steamboats, he is a well-respected calliopist, river historian, and has been a consultant in those areas for people all over the United States and abroad.
Job Titles:
- Senior Warden at St. Paul's
As a docent at the Howard Steamboat Museum and someone with an affinity for Episcopal churches, I was curious about the church located a few blocks from our museum, which we knew that Howards once belonged to. I hoped that a trip to the church would give me a glimpse into the religious, social, and philanthropic lives of the Howards. I satiated my curiosity by requesting a visit and tour and friendly staff at St. Paul's was to happy to oblige. On August 5th, 2021, I toured St. Paul's and was given a in-depth tour by their senior warden, Walker ‘Sonny' McCulloch. Sonny is a lifelong member of St. Pauls with ancestors who have attended the parish since the 1850s. He is a living repository of knowledge of St. Paul's history and was acquainted with Loretta Howard in her later years