Submitted photo

Pictured (from left) are Wetzel “Doc” Fields, River Museum Director Jack Fowler and Claflin Foundation President Stephen C. Littlepage.

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POINT PLEASANT — The Robert and Louise Claflin Foundation recently donated $15,000 to the Point Pleasant River Museum’s Pilothouse Training Simulator Project for new steering equipment.

It was reported the Claflin Foundation presented this donation in order to help promote local job training, economic development, and employment opportunities through the museum’s pilothouse simulator.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the Claflin Foundation to become instrumental in enhancing community development,” says Claflin Foundation President Stephen C. Littlepage. “The need for job training, our river resources and Mr. Fowler’s ability to analyze the need for this simulator project will make an impact on this community for the next several years.”

It was stated that the opportunity to use the pilothouse as a training facility is now available at the River Museum. In order to qualify as a Coast Guard Certification training simulator, it was also stated that new equipment had to be installed at the museum including steering arms, flanking rudder controls, and rear window and computer software.

“Our pilothouse will be as good as any simulator in the business,” states museum director Jack Fowler. “This is an economic grant that will position us to participate in the riverboat pilot training business.”

As previously reported, the pilothouse, which was named after the late Captain O. Nelson Jones, has the potential to not only benefit the museum, but benefit Point Pleasant by attracting trainees to come to Point Pleasant, providing revenue for other area businesses. It could also cut down on the costs for local trainees, who now won’t have to travel far from home to receive the proper education.

The museum has also received several other grants for recent upgrades to the pilothouse simulator. The pilothouse also includes six 50 inch television screens and ten computers and several different scenarios for the potential pilot to experience.

For more information on the pilothouse simulator project, contact the River Museum at 304-674-0144.