So I emailed the Tabasco historian Shane Bernard:

Subject: E.A. McIlhenny and the steamboat F. Hilma Burdin:

Shane:

I really enjoy the stuff you've put on the Web and I plan to continue following your work.

I wanted to contact you about two subjects.

The first is E.A. McIlhenny's newspaper columns which were published in Hammond, Louisiana from 1937 until 1939. All that ended in 1940 with the Governor Leche indictments and McIhenny's legal trouble over landscaping deals. Has anyone transcribed McIhenny's newspaper articles? I believe he wrote over 40 newspaper columns.

I transcribed a few and posted them on my blog.

The Tuskaloosa Independent Monitor

I also wanted to let you know that an important Bayou Teche maritime archaeological treasure is now sitting on the bank of the Black Warrior River at the east side of University Branch on the University of Alabama. It is the 105 foot hull bottom of the F. Hilda Burdin, constructed on Bayou Teche in 1916. If you are ever in Tuscaloosa, I'll be glad to show it to you.

University Branch - Google Maps

The Tuskaloosa Independent Monitor

ROBERTOREG CARDINAL FLOWERS BESIDE PADDLEWHEEL STEAMBOAT HULL - YouTube

The old wooden hull of the F. Hilda Burdin

The F. Hilda Burdin was built out of cypress at Burgin's St. Martinville lumber yard Bayou Teche. Here's a ROBERTOREG YouTube video of my visit to Bayou Teche. Wooden Boat Show On Bayou Teche In St. Martinville, La.

Hope to hear from ya. 

Best,

Robert Register

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video ROBERTOREG CARDINAL FLOWERS BESIDE PADDLEWHEEL STEAMBOAT HULLPreview YouTube video ROBERTOREG CARDINAL FLOWERS BESIDE PADDLEWHEEL STEAMBOAT HULL

Preview YouTube video Wooden Boat Show On Bayou Teche In St. Martinville, La.Preview YouTube video Wooden Boat Show On Bayou Teche In St. Martinville, La.

Robert,

Thanks for your very interesting email!

I'm unsure why McIlhenny stopped writing his "Nature Rambling" articles--though, yes, his friend, Gov. Leche, went to prison--but it's occasionally been suggested that we reprint those articles as a standalone book.

I think it's an excellent idea, but the problem is actually getting his descendants to actually follow through with the proposal, which of course would entail an investment of at least a few thousand dollars for editing, printing, etc.

I think it's terrific you're transcribing them and hope you do more.  I don't know anyone else doing that.

That's fascinating about the F. Hilda Burdin.  My longtime friend Clare Burdin of Lafayette, La., is related to that Burdin family (for which the boat was named), and I will cc: her on your findings.

I love old steamboats and am in fact working on a manuscript now about steam-powered gunboats on south Louisiana's bayous.

Sincerely,

Shane