By MELISSA PEACOCK

DESTREHAN – St. Charles Parish’s boat just came in – its wooden tugboat, that is.

St. Charles Parish is now the owner of an original wooden tugboat from the early 1950s, the last wooden tugboat in Louisiana. The boat, designated by the National Trust for the Historic Preservation as an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” was donated to St. Charles Parish by the Matherne family.

The boat docked at Ormond Plantation this week atop a flatbed truck. Long wooden braces were used to secure the boat and a crane lifted the boat onto the truck, Marilyn Richoux, St. Charles Historic Foundation, said about the move.

The boat, referred to as the “Denver,” has been in dry dock in Larose awaiting restoration efforts.

St. Charles Parish President Albert Laque believes that the move to Ormond Plantation will make it easier for the parish council to monitor the progress of restoration work on the vessel.

“At least its at home and we’ll be able to see and enjoy the progress,” Laque said.

The council appropriated funds in the amount of $45,000 for the restoration when the project was first brought to its attention (around 1999). Much of these funds have been exhausted by early restoration procedures and dry docking fees.

“Now we are in a position where the parish is going to have to appropriate more funds.,” Laque said. “We’re going to try to get grants for this restoration project.”

According to Matherne, about 95 percent of the restoration work on the hull has already been completed and the boat could be complete in a matter of months if funding becomes available.

“All it needs is a little sanding on the hull and a paint job and it will look like new,” Michael Matherne said about the repairs on the boat. “The cabin will be the next challenge.”

The Historical Society will assist in fundraising for the restoration. The society is currently collecting donations from the public and a boat fund has been set up for restoration monies.

The next society fund-raiser will be an “Evening with the Notables” in January at the Destrehan Plantation Mule Barn.

First Lady Laura Bush and Gov. and Mrs. Mike Foster have consented to serve as honorary chairpersons for the event. Laque and Chef Leah Chase are only two of the “notables” expected to participate.

Money raised at the event will be used for a variety of projects.

Ormond Plantation was selected as the site for the future Denver exhibit because of its own unique history.

“We thought it was appropriate to have the Denver here as part of St. Charles maritime history,” Richoux said. “They (the owners) have agreed to allow us to have some space here for a German interpretive site.

“We are trying to establish an interactive, interpretive exhibit for the German influence. Ormond seemed like the best location.”

Members of the Historic Society hope that in the near future, visitors at Ormond Plantation will be able to walk aboard the brilliant red tugboat with its smooth rounded surfaces and not only see history, but to be a part of it.