the Dredge William A. Thompson
On the chilly spring days of 1937 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge boat, the William A. Thompson made it's maiden voyage up the Mississippi River to it's base in Fountain City, Wisconsin. It's Charge: to keep the Upper Mississippi Riverchannel clear of sand, silt and other debris. The Thompson would continue this work for over seventy years.
Dredging Up Memories is the story of the Dredge William A. Thompson, the largest remaining pipeline cutter-head dredge still in use today on the Upper Mississippi River. The lock and dam system was key to opening the Upper Mississippi to shipping, and it was the Thompson's job to maintain and keep the channel clear. Without it the Upper Midwest may not have prospered.
Dredging Up Memories, narrated by Don Shelby, explores the history of dredging in this region, the practice of maintaining a navigable channel and working life on the Mississippi River. Through interviews, archival footage, historical photographs, original music and dramatic cinematography, Dredging Up Memories takes a fascinating look at the Dredge Thompson.