1979: Commissioned by Fred Pearce to locate and raise one of the
streetcar boat wrecks to serve as a restaurant attraction.
1980: Enlisted the help of Bill Niccum and led the salvage effort from
start to finish.
Jim Ogland (2012)
1992: Involved with many aspects of Minnehaha’s restoration,
serving as an organizer and an early board member of the “Steamboat Division.”
Led
fundraising efforts by coordinating galas at the Lafayette Club throughout the
1990s.
1995: Served as the restored Minnehaha’s very first captain
during her stability trials.
Served as the
organization’s local historian throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Produced
many educational materials including books, pamphlets, and museum exhibits.
Gabriel
Jabbour (2012)
2004: Instrumental in the formation of the Museum of Lake Minnetonka.
Served as MLM
Vice President from the mid-2000s until 2011.
Key player
through many challenges, financial and otherwise.
Kermit Stake (2013)
1992: Involved with multiple aspects of Minnehaha’s restoration. Restored all the seats in the main cabin in 1994-95.
1990s: Served as an early captain of the restored Minnehaha.
Continued to narrate cruises after he retired as a captain. Remained a beloved figure in the organization until his passing in July 2013.
Brad Buxton (2013)
2003: Became one of Minnehaha’s captains and a key figure in the
annual winter maintenance effort until retiring from his duties in 2013.
Served as a
board member and Director of Operations from the mid-2000s until 2013.
Jim Murphy (2013)
2007: Became MLM President during a very difficult time for the
organization.
Presided over
the organization as its financial situation improved dramatically.
Retired from
the position in 2013.
Leo Meloche (2014)
1989: Conversation with Bob Bolles led to the start of the Minnehaha
Restoration Project.
1990: Negotiated the formation of the Steamboat Division of the
Minnesota Transportation Museum and transferred title of Minnehaha to
the organization.
Served as
Director of the Minnehaha Restoration Project from start to finish and
served as Chairman of the Steamboat Division until the 2000s. Instrumental in
all aspects of Minnehaha’s restoration. By all accounts, it was his
project.
Sharon Provost (2015)
1979: Began conducting historical research on the streetcar boats as her husband, Jerry, planned to salvage one. Continued to assist in this area post-salvage as well.
2006: Began volunteering for the MLM as Webmaster. Instrumental in digitizing ticket sales, leading to huge increases in ridership and financial stability for the organization.
In addition to serving as Webmaster, she has also handled the organization’s public correspondence, membership, and other efforts.
Bob Johnson (2016)
2001: An avid antique and classic boater, he became one of Minnehaha’s
captains.
A key figure
in the annual winter maintenance effort (notably with painting).
Retired from
his duties in 2016 after 15 years of service.
Terry Burns (2019)
2004: Became one of Minnehaha’s engineers and eventually served
as Chief Engineer beginning in 2009.
A key figure
in the annual winter maintenance effort, overseeing all rehabilitation work on
the engine and boiler.
John Palmer (2019)
2009: Became one of Minnehaha’s pursers and eventually served as
Purser Scheduler from 2012 to 2015.
Deeply
involved with the annual winter maintenance effort, notably the re-caning of
seats and minor woodworking projects.
Cliff
Schlueter (2019)
2001: Became one of Minnehaha’s captains.
Having served
continuously since 2001, he is one of the MLM’s longest-serving volunteers.
Bill Niccum (2019)
1980: Engineered the salvage effort and literally raised Minnehaha out of the water.
Donated his equipment for the effort, including 3 barges, 3 cranes, and 8 airbags.
Darel + LaVerna Leipold (2019)
1977: First proposed raising a streetcar boat for the purpose of displaying it in a museum.
1983: Formed the Inland Marine Interpretive Center, cementing the idea of Minnehaha being part of a museum.
1984: Gained first title of the raised Minnehaha (transferred to MTM in 1990 due to insufficient resources).
Among the community’s most significant promoters of Minnehaha and Lake Minnetonka history.
Bob Bolles (2019)
1989: Conversation with Leo Meloche led to the start of the Minnehaha Restoration Project.
1990: Original board member of the Steamboat Division.
Helped draw plans for the restoration barn.
Involved in multiple aspects of Minnehaha‘s restoration, notably the business aspects of the restoration project (insurance, etc).
Served as one of the restored Minnehaha’s first pursers.
Bob Woodburn (2019)
1990: Original board member of the Steamboat Division – served as Secretary until 1996.
Full-time; became materials acquisition manager. Also managed design approval.
Involved in many aspects of Minnehaha’s restoration, notably the electrical work. Also worked on the ribs, planking, and keel/keelson. Engine/boiler/stack installment and other mechanical projects.
Restoration Handbook one of the most precious items in the MLM archives.
An occasional volunteer for the MLM through the years.
Stan Straley (2019)
1990: Original board member of the Steamboat Division.
Brought on as a model boat builder to oversee restoration of the hull (served as the volunteer coordinator for the hull restoration).
Saved the authenticity of the restoration by deciding to go with wood, not metal.
Involved in other aspects of the restoration as well.
Bob Dumas (2019)
Worked in the streetcar shops when younger, collected streetcars at his orchard.
1990: Involved in many aspects of Minnehaha‘s restoration, including construction of the main cabin and windows. World-class carpenter.
By many accounts, he was Leo Meloche’s right-hand man through the entire duration of the restoration project.
Ross McGlasson (2019)
1992: Brought on as a wood worker for the restoration effort, notably with the planking effort.
1995: Served with Jim Ogland and Marsh Gabriel as one of the restored Minnehaha’s first captains (first one to navigate Minnehaha under the Arcola Bridge).
Served as a captain for five years afterwards.
An occasional volunteer for the MLM through the years.
John Anderson (2019)
The MLM’s longest-serving volunteer by a long shot, serving continuously since 1992.
1992: Involved with multiple aspects of the restoration, notably the plumbing and cutting the railings.
1995: Served as one of the restored Minnehaha‘s original pursers during the lake trials.
Has served as a purser every single season since. Also a regular member of the winter maintenance crew.
