Author Archives: leelinesteamers

James Lee Jr purchased the Bohlen Huse Ice and Coal business sometime in the mid 1880’s and installed one of his sons as the President.   Following the flood of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers April 1913 the facilities were flooded … Continue reading →

This picture was also found at Gentleman’s Antiques Collierville TN.   A postcard version of this picture exists locates this picture at Paducah KY.  The Royal Photo Co., Low Kentucky dates this picture during 1894, however the GEORGIA LEE was … Continue reading →

Another recent find from Gentleman’s Antiques Collierville TN.   From the amount of cotton on the Memphis cobblestones, this picture would have been taken during peak fall cotton transportation time.  Three other Lee Line boats are tied up behind the … Continue reading →

Thank you Mary Smith for sharing these 2 newspaper articles.  The HARRY LEE in this story is the first HARRY LEE which was a wood hulled steamer. HARRY LEE: Boat 2540 Way’s Packet Directory page 207. Stern Wheeler, Packet, wood … Continue reading →

This postcard is from my from my friend Ed Provine’s collection of steamboat postcards.   Way’s Packet Directory recorded the following on the HARRY LEE which was the last boat to enter the Lee Line fleet.  The cars in the … Continue reading →

https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/jul/28/love-in-the-bones/ Thank you Dan Conaway for this story of love for the James Lee House.  Jose and Jennifer and partners have indeed engaged in a labor of love to restore this grand old Memphis home and operate it as a … Continue reading →

Following the bankruptcy of the St. Louis New Orleans Anchor Line due to financial decline and massive damage caused to their boats by killer tornado’s that hit St. Louis May 26, 1896 the Lee Line expanded their business north to … Continue reading →

Both the Idlewild and Quick Step entered the Lee Line fleet after 1874.  Capt. James Lee Sr. had a knack for buying or chartering boats as family boats were lost or sent to repair yards following accidents.

St. Louis river front 1907 Theodore Roosevelt landed on the Lee Line wharf boat.  The top panorama was enhanced using PhotoShop to take out the folds in the original postcard.