Captain Dave Tranter explains to guests of the Dixie Boat’s afternoon cruise that the departure time will be delayed due to storms.

NORTH WEBSTER — The weather wasn’t cooperative this year for the Dixie Boat’s birthday celebrations. On Saturday, July 18, the Dixie had plans to celebrate her birthday by doing what she does best, providing historic cruises on Webster Lake.

The day was scheduled to have five different cruises. Two afternoon cruises at 1 and 2:30 and three evening cruises scheduled for 6, 7:30 and 9. But due to the storms and tornado watch only two of those cruises happened as scheduled.

The first cruise of the day was scheduled to take off from the Dixie dock at 1 p.m., but the weather had other plans. Captain Tranter decided to delay the first cruise to avoid a passing storm. The cruise took off from the dock at about 1:30.

Despite the initial delay the first birthday cruise was a huge success. There was even live music on board as Dr. Matthew Murdock performed songs on a pocket trumpet with help from the captain and the Dixie’s horn. Murdock performed from the end of his deck on Webster Lake for the other cruises.
The 2:30 cruise was also delayed due to the weather.

The Dixie crew decided that because of the storms and tornado watch the evening cruises would have to be canceled. So the Dixie Boat got to extend her birthday celebrations to her Sunday cruises.
“It worked out well. It was warm and we had some very good crowds, one cruise had around 90 people on board,” said Karilyn Metcalf, president of Dixie Sternwheeler Inc.

Each cruise would take the traditional route around Webster Lake, informing guests about the lake’s many points of interest including The Kettle, Epworth Forest and Eagle Point.

Each birthday cruise also offered free birthday cakes to those on board.

Many volunteers made the Dixie Boat’s birthday celebration possible.

“It shows its history and at the same time shows what a volunteer organization can do to keep that history intact,” said Dave Tranter, who has served as one of the Dixie’s captains for the past seven years.

The Dixie Boat celebrated her 86th birthday this year. She has been touring Webster Lake since 1929. In the Dixie’s early days the boat served as a delivery boat for residents, carrying mail, general supplies and even a small grocery store.

Today the Dixie Boat serves as a historical landmark and has a place on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Dixie Boat continues to give cruises because of The Dixie Sternwheeler Inc.
Dixie Sternwheeler Inc. took over ownership of the boat in 2007 and now works toward repairing, restoring and preserving The Dixie and everything she stands for.

Because of Dixie Sternwheeler Inc. and many other committed residents of North Webster the Dixie Boat will have its place in many more Webster celebrations as years go by.

The next celebration to mark on the calendars is this year’s Dixie Day on Saturday, July 25. During Dixie Day the boat will have two extra cruises in addition to its regular evening cruises.