Paducah Marine Ways | Market House Museum

Archive Photos

Paducah Marine Ways<br /><div align="left">Paducah Marine Ways was one of Paducah's earliest industries, it and the Civil War arrived closely together. One of its operators Eli Murray (think Merrimac) had invented and patented a method of running railroad tracks into the river bed. On these rails he had cradles on railroad wheels attached to a steam engine on the top of the bank. Boats would pull over the cradles and be pulled out of the water for repairs. Although it was a very busy concern for many years it is now closed and most signs of its existence have disappeared.</div>

Paducah Marine Ways was one of Paducah's earliest industries, it and the Civil War arrived closely together. One of its operators Eli Murray (think Merrimac) had invented and patented a method of running railroad tracks into the river bed. On these rails he had cradles on railroad wheels attached to a steam engine on the top of the bank. Boats would pull over the cradles and be pulled out of the water for repairs. Although it was a very busy concern for many years it is now closed and most signs of its existence have disappeared.

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	Archive Photos Paducah Marine Ways was one of Paducah's earliest industries, it and the Civil War arrived closely together. One of its operators Eli Murray (think Merrimac) had invented and patented a method of running railroad tracks into the river bed. On these rails he had cradles on railroad wheels attached to a steam engine on the top of the bank. Boats would pull over the cradles and be pulled out of the water for repairs. Although it was a very busy concern for many years it is now closed and most signs of its existence have disappeared. » Thumbnail	Early laws in Paducah were a little strange by today's standards. In 1902, it was unlawful for any woman to enter any bar or saloon that sold intoxicating liquor. It was unlawful to lease a building for use as a bawdy house. Flying kites from a city street was also illegal. Riding a velocipide (big wheeled bicycle) on city streets was forbidden. It was also unlawful for any person to remove his clothes and expose his person and go into the river in front of Paducahans. (That is still illegal today!)