McHarry's Curse

  

Frank McHarry's ferry the Frank McHarry is depicted here in the 1850’s transporting citizens of the region across the Ohio River between the cities of Portland and New Albany.

The Curse of McHarry, also known as McHarry's Curse or McHarry's Steamboat Curse is an alleged curse that has been placed over the Ohio River between the cities of New Albany and Louisville, purportedly causing harm to those who cross or travel on the river.

History

Francis (Frank) McHarry (born July 9th, 1805) was an Irish immigrant who migrated in the early 1820s to Southern Indiana, settling on the banks of the Ohio River in the city of New Albany. In the late 1820's McHarry began working on construction sites on various river ports and in 1840 became a toll operator. In 1847 he partnered with J.Hume & Co. where he developed several facilities that produced grained flour and processed quarried lime.

River transporting at the time was competitive and McHarry entered into the business after purchasing the Portland - New Albany Ferry in 1852. McHarry was combative against the growth of the steamboat industry in New Albany and actively lobbied local governments to prevent their construction. McHarry believed the steamboats to be disruptive, that they caused wakes which rocked his ferries and frightened the animals and citizens that he carried.

Much to his dismay the steamboat industry expanded due to New Albany's position south of the Falls of the Ohio. McHarry's business slowly began to dwindle as competitors who utilized steamboats became more efficient in transporting material and personnel. Prior to his death in 1857, McHarry built a burial vault outside the city of Elizabeth on a cliffside 400–850 feet above the Ohio Valley along Floyd Knobs which overlooks the river. Some sources claim that McHarry had the tomb built so that he may overlook his beloved river while others claim that the tomb was built to curse passing steamboats and those who crossed over any new bridges constructed.

Supposed curse

Locals in New Albany and Portland along with ship crew on barges on the Ohio Valley have embellished and developed the curse since the 1920s and 1930s against the backdrop of the Continental Revolutionary War. Local government authorities during the Callahan Era actively cracked down on those who publicly expressed "superstitious beliefs" including McHarry's Curse. A widely accepted attribution of the curse purportedly placed on the Ohio Valley prior to McHarry's death is as follows:

"Anyone whose eyes may set upon my hollowed grave shall never make it back to the green shores of our humble valley and will instead find the serine river to be their eternal home."

Following Decallahnization, it became customary for barges to salute the traditional resting place of McHarry, performing three horn blasts while passing his tomb. Ships such as the Belle of Louisville, Mayor Andrew Broaddus, Delta Queen and American Queen preform Hard Times Come Again No More on their calliopes when passing. During the Great Steamboat Race locals believe that it is McHarry's spirit that decides who is victorious in the race and that those on the losing ship are cursed for all eternity.