Ohio

Quilt Square completed by Shirley Cox of Side Stichin’ Quilt Shop, Belpre, OH

For our quilt square, we chose to highlight one of the things Marietta is known for: The sternwheel. Marietta is known as the Riverboat Town and the 2nd weekend in September is the annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. The festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and planning their biggest event ever. The Stenwheel Festival started as an event to promote tourism in this beautiful area and to preserve our rich riverboat heritage. Visitors to Marietta enjoy the popular Valley Gem Sternwheeler tours along the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. Marietta is also home to the Ohio Riverboat Museum.

The inspiration for the steamboat happened right here in Marietta before the town was even founded. John Fitch and several other men were engaged in a business venture to transport boats loaded with flour from Fort Pitt to New Orleans. On the morning of March 20, 1782, the boat got stuck on what is now called Buckley’s island and the crew had to unload the cargo and refloat it near sunset. They planned to reload in the morning, but before they could do so, they were attacked by members of the Delaware Nation. Two of the men were killed and nine others, including Fitch, were taken as prisoners. After months of captivity, they were released and Fitch returned to Philadelphia where he worked on ideas using steam power, that could have dislodged the boat and prevented the tragedy.

Buckley’s island can be seen just behind the festival stage at the annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.