The First DIXIE - 1914 to 1928
Last Update: 10-24-09

Joseph Breeck, a packet steamboat pilot from Madison, Indiana, built the first Dixie in 1914. He owned a cottage on one of Webster lake's small islands. The island (formerly known as Breeck's Island and now known as Dixie Island) was the first Dixie's main dock. Prior to the Dixie, Breeck had a smaller sternwheeler named the City of Webster which also docked at the island.

The Breeck Era

The shores of Webster lake were sparsely populated in the early 1900's. Breeck's boats provided several services to lake shore residents. The City of Webster, which operated from around 1906 to 1913, delivered mail and groceries around the lake. The first Dixie continued this service.

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Left: The Dixie at the Yellow Banks Hotel landing, circa 1914.
Right: The Dixie at the city street landing, circa 1914.


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Left: The Dixie at the city street landing, circa 1914.
Right: Another photo taken the same day with a
slightly different pose.


The First Dixie

The first Dixie operated from 1914 to 1928. Like the City of Webster, it was a wooden-hulled vessel. The wooden hulls required significant maintenance. The boats had to be winched onto dry land and caulked each spring.

The first Dixie was approximately 65 feet long. It was constructed using the "swayback" design of traditional wooden-hulled riverboats. The swayback design employed a series of hogchains and hog trusses to give the vessel structural support. The two "main" hogchains extended from the stem to stern; passing up through the top deck and back down to the paddlewheel spars.

The Powertrain

From the time it was launched until about 1918, the first Dixie was powered by a one-lung 8-horsepower reciprocating steam engine. Sometime around 1918 the steam engine was replaced with a single-cylinder 15-horsepower gasoline engine. By the early 1920's the gas engine had been replaced by a Fordson tractor.

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Left: The Dixie as seen from Willis Park, circa 1914.
Right: Postcard of the first Dixie taken from Handley's Island,
looking towards Dallas Landing.


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Left :The Dixie picks up a full load at Miller's Landing.
Right: The Dixie docks again at Miller's landing.

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LEFT: Unknown family poses in front of the pilothouse, 1917. *
RIGHT: The Dixie heads towards Dallas Landing, circa 1918.
An uninhabited Handley's Island appears in the foreground.

* Photo courtesy of Conner Prairie Rural History Project.



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Left: The first Dixie at Weimer's Landing in 1924.
Right: Weimer's Landing was a regular stop for the Dixie.*

* Postcard courtesy of William Fitzpatrick.


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Left: Leaving the Yellow Banks Hotel landing, circa 1924.
Right: The new landing at Epworth Forest, 1925.



The Demise of the First Dixie

By 1928 the first Dixie's hull was in very poor condition. Breeck decided to build a new boat with a steel hull. According to Breeck's grandson, salvagable items, such as the paddlewheel hardware, were removed from the first Dixie before it was intentionally burned to the waterline in 1929. Much of the wooden superstructure was salvaged used in the construction of two cottages. It is also believed that portions of the pilot house was salvaged and used on the new Dixie.

In a 1981 interview, Breeck's grandson explained what he remembered of the boats destruction. First, large field rocks were placed in the hull. Then the boat was towed to deep waters and set on fire. The rocks caused the remaining portion of the wooden hull to sink when the flames reached the waterline.

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Left: The Dixie approaching Yellow Banks Hotel landing.
Several rowboats can be observed riding the Dixie's wake
Right: Postcard of the first Dixie landing at the city street, circa 1924.


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Left: Landing at Epworth Forest, circa 1925.
Right: Crossing the lake, circa 1927.


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Left: The Dixie, circa 1925, at the Epworth Forest pier.
Right: The Dixie making a landing on a windy day, circa 1925.


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Left: Approaching the Epworth Forest landing, circa 1927.
Right: A passenger shakes Captain Breeck's hand while
boarding, circa 1928.


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Scenic photo of the Dixie at Governor's Island, circa 1926.
Standing on top deck, left to right: Captain Joe Breeck,
unknown, grandson Leon and son Leslie.


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