If you worked aboard the Dixie, then this page is for you!
You can add, revise or remove your information HERE.
Entries are in chronological order.
| Name: Bernard Breeck | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Joseph Breeck |
| Year(s) worked: 1914-1916 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Devon Phelps | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Joseph Breeck |
| Year(s) worked: 1924-1927 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: Devon ran the small grocery store aboard the first Dixie. | |
| Name: Harold Gaskill | Updated: Tue Sep 14, 1999 |
| Address: North Webster, IN | Captain: Joseph Breeck |
| Year(s) worked: 1929-1939 | Position: 1st Mate & Pilot |
| Comment: Harold was the first 1st Mate aboard the Dixie when it was new in 1929. He worked off and on through the 1930's, many times as the captain. Harold would often drive Joe Breeck from Lamb, Indiana to North Webster in the spring... On one such trip Harold was caught in the 1937 Ohio River flood and had to stay with the Breecks for several weeks. The Ohio was 90 feet above flood stage, and 4 feet from entering the Breeck household... On another such trip Harold met his wife-to-be in Madison. | |
| Name: Kenny Koher | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Earl Ungeright |
| Year(s) worked: 1955-1957 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Dennis Huffman | Updated: 07-09-08 |
| Address: Lamb, IN | Captain: Earl Ungeright |
| Year(s) worked: 1956-1957, 1961 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Judy Kidd | Updated: 07-22-08 |
| Address: Unknown | Captain: Earl Ungeright |
| Year(s) worked: 1957 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: John Pierson | Updated: Sat Oct 30, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Earl Ungeright |
| Year(s) worked: 1958 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Tag Huffman | Updated: Sat Oct 30, 1999 |
| Address: North Webster, IN | Captain: Earl Ungeright |
| Year(s) worked: 1959 | Position: 1st Mate/Captain |
| Comment: During his first year of ownership, Tag worked as 1st Mate and Captain for Earl Ungeright to learn the Dixie's operation. | |
| Name: Lu Huffman | Updated: Sat Oct 30, 1999 |
| Address: North Webster, IN | Captain: Earl Ungeright |
| Year(s) worked: 1959 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Steve Tracy | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1961 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Larry Harris | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: North Webster, IN | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1961 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Bill Bechtold | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1961-1963 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Reta Cooperrider (Huffman) | Updated: Wed Sep 8, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1961 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Sue Huffman (Silver) | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1961 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Jackie Bowman | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1962 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Liz Hostetler | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1962 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jackie Kuhn | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1962-1965 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Sarah Harris | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1962 | Position: Concessionaire (sub) |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Bill Brown | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1964 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Phil Wooters | Updated: 07-22-08 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1964 | Position: Substitute 1st Mate |
| Comment: Nephew of Tag Huffman | |
| Name: Rick Humbles | Updated: Mon Jan 24, 2017 |
| Address: Anderson, IN | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1965-1966 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: Tag was a wonderful mentor | |
| Name: Donnell Strand | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1965 | Position: 1st Mate (sub) |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Rick Ryerson | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1966 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Dan Kuhn | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1966 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Mary Reiff | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1966 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Nancy Konzelman | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1966 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Rhonda Loucks (Huffman) | Updated: 07-09-08 |
| Address: Goshen, IN | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1966-1970 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Chuck Hill | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1967 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jim Fribley | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1968 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Corrine Critchfield | Updated: Sat Aug 8, 2009 |
| Address: Bremen, IN | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1968-1970 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: One evening we set sail for another uneventful boatful of spectators and great weather. By the time we were across the lake a very bad storm that developed into a tornado, with damage around the lake developing. We cut the trip short but ended up seeing much of the damage done while getting back to our home port. | |
| Name: Tom Fribley | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1969 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Joe Reynolds | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1970-1971 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Tim Hoppus | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1971-1972 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Roger Smith | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1971 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Kevin Koher | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1972 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Scott Eddy | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1972-1974 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Tim Kuhn | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1973-1974 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Marshall Minnick | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: North Webster, IN | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1975 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Lori Sliger | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1975-1977 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jill Sliger | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1975 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Norma Sliger | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1975 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Dick Owens | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1975-1978 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Eric Sheperd | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1976 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Dick Owens | Updated: Mon Oct 4, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1976-1977 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Steve Huffman | Updated: 07-09-08 |
| Address: Lamb, IN | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1977-1982 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: Worked as Captain from 1983-1986. I'll never forget when the paddlewheel gear broke in 1981, and we turned the paddlewheel by hand to get back to Dixie Camp... Once we were caught in a storm so strong, that we could only back-into the wind. Even at full reverse we could only maintain our position until the wind abated... All 1st Mates during Tag's era will remember the coin-toss tradition. Tag would toss the 50 cent-piece and call "heads" or "tails"; the loser bought the soda pop... | |
| Name: Tammy Penn | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1978-1979 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Leanne Haile | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1979 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Laurie Richardson | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1979 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Lonnie Siglinger | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1979 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Steve Crouch | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1979 | Position: 1st Mate (sub) |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Darlene Sheperd | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1980 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Tom Cox | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1980 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Kim Zurcher | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Tag Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1980 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Steve Budd | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1981-1982 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Melanie Berger | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1981, 1983 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Michelle Berger | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1981, 1983 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Annette Parker | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1982 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jeff Parker | Updated: 07-22-08 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1982 | Position: Substitute 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Lisa Stanley | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1982 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Cynde Aaron (Knotts) (Email) | Updated: Thu Dec 26, 2009 |
| Address: FLORIDA | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1982 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: My favorite cruises were the last one of the evening. The Dixie would appear so serene, almost ghostly with its colored lights flickering, and music quietly playing for all of the lake to hear as we passed by. Usually the boat would be empty as the last of the passengers would be dropped off at Epworth Forest. Rather than take the long way home via the lake's shore, Steve would cut directly across the still, black waters of Webster lake. It was then that I would ride at the very tip of the bow, peering into the water at the 3 to 4 foot long gar that would be illuminated by the boat's bow lights. | |
| Name: Tera Collins | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1982 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Lynn Stackhouse | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Walter Nellessen |
| Year(s) worked: 1982-1983 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Lee Streby | Updated: 10-15-08 |
| Address: | Captain: Walter Nellessen |
| Year(s) worked: 1983 | Position: Substitute Concessionaire |
| Comment: My first summer job as a teenager was at Dixie Landing in the new restaurant - the summer of 1983 (I think!) under the Nellessen's employ. My summer included frequent rounds as a Concessionaire on the Dixie. Can't imagine Webster being Webster without Dixie. | |
| Name: Kay Stackhouse | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Sallac |
| Year(s) worked: 1982-1983 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jill Nellessen | Updated: Mon Sept 6, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Walter Nellessen |
| Year(s) worked: 1983 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Crystal Walker | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1983 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Sara Guy | Updated: 07-23-08 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1983 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jon Lippe | Updated: 04-19-10 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1983-1985 | Position: 1st Mate |
|
Comment: I served as sub captain part time my final year for Steve Huffman. I have some great memories (concessions, 1st mate, and a little captain). Steve Huffman, Jeff Amick and I came up with a rating system and often would invite eligible bachelorettes from around the lake on the dixie during our shift. We had several storms. One of the most noteworthy was when we got caught up on the point near Yellowbanks. I remember the property owner at the time was Jeff's uncle, and he was not happy. Dixie owner Walter Nellesen (God rest his soul) was captain that night. He insisted on staying out on the lake despite an impending storm. We were caught way across the lake over near Highbanks when the wind hit. Nellie tried to make it past the point going full ahead, despite the emergency protocol of backing into the wind (a manuever which Captains Steve & Tag had used sucessfully in past storms). The boat's bottom is flat and can not operate in high wind going forward. We knocked the snot out of Jeff's uncle's swim raft then followed up by destroying his dock. The police were called and we had to unload passengers right there on what was left of his pier. They requested we rip several lifejackets from the ceiling (they were stored on the bottom deck in the ceiling and were not routinely inspected back then) when we did so we ripped nothing but dry rotted cloth from the cork filled jackets. They had been stowed in the ceiling for decades and were completely useless. I still remember seeing Nellie's face when the Convservation Officer and police officer aked me to hand them the material. It was priceless. I will never forget my years working on the lake. I can think of no better way to make money for college and spend my high school years. We could just make it to Goshen after work on Friday's and Saturday's to cruise in the prime time! | |
| Name: Jeff Amick | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1984-1985 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Michelle Lippe | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1984 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jason Lippe | Updated: 07-22-08 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1985 | Position: Substitute 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Chris Guy | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1986 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Debbie DeRolf | Updated: Thu Aug 26, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Steve Huffman |
| Year(s) worked: 1986 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: (archive entry) | |
| Name: Jason Van Pelt | Updated: Wed Sep 08, 1999 |
| Address: | Captain: Greg Van Pelt |
| Year(s) worked: 1987-1990 | Position: 1st Mate |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Heidi Easter (Van Pelt) | Updated: 09-22-08 |
| Address: | Captain: Greg Van Pelt |
| Year(s) worked: 1987-1993 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: | |
| Name: David Lee Crabb | Updated: 04-07-10 |
| Address: | Captain: David Lee Crabb |
| Year(s) worked: 1994 | Position: Captain |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Stacey de la Fuente (Crabb) | Updated: 04-07-10 |
| Address: Leesburg, IN | Captain: David Lee Crabb |
| Year(s) worked: 1993-1995 | Position: Concessionaire |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Chris Wiggs | Updated: Tue Oct 12, 1999 |
| Address: North Webster, IN | Captain: Bo Thystrup |
| Year(s) worked: 1998-1999 | Position: 1st Mate (sub) |
| Comment: | |
| Name: Ron Erb | Updated: Tue Jun 29, 2011 |
| Address: North Webster, IN | Captain: |
| Year(s) worked: 2009-2011 | Position: 1st Mate (sub) |
| Comment: Started as cruise captain 2011. | |