W. P. Snyder Jr.

Ohio History

Snyder Paddlewheel

This boat was a workhorse in its day. The W. P. Snyder Jr. ferried barges of coal for Carnegie Steel and Crucible Steel Co. for almost 30 years. It was the last stern-wheeled towboat to operate in the U.S. We marveled at the four 28-foot-long boilers below that powered the engines to run the paddlewheel, towing the barges at only eight miles per hour. You might be surprised that Snyder still runs; at least after the latest repair to the hull (which only cost $1.5 million!).