By Jon Gambrell
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD TWP. - The steamboat sits just off to the side of U.S. 27, attracting honks, stares and curious picture takers.

Ariel Shirley, 10, Davy Shirley, 12 and Jill Shirley "pull" their steamboat-decorated Oxford home. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

The Oxford Queen, a landlocked steamboat, has taken over the Shirley house in Butler County. Known for their holiday decorations, including a Halloween gallows and guillotine, papier-m’che Christmas reindeer, and a sea of thousands of multi-colored plastic eggs for Easter, the family is hitting new, not-so-open water.

"My first toy was built out of wood and was a steamboat," father Lawrence Shirleysaid. "I have always loved them. We went down and saw Tall Stacks and I wanted my own."

The Queen, built around the front of the Shirley house with 4-by-8 plywood sheets, has a working paddle wheel and two stacks on top from which "steam" pours out with the help of a fog machine.

"We used to have the fog machine running all the time; now we just do it on the weekends," said Lawrence's wife, Jill. "We also want a 'Port of Oxford' sign up on the poles in the driveway."

The Shirleys created a Thanksgiving-themed steamboat, complete with a turkey constructed from a dog igloo and a mannequin pilgrim and Indian pair.

For Christmas, they plan to add green paint and make wreathes out of life preservers.

Though most of the project is done, Lawrence wants to add a motor to the paddle wheel and a series of lights to create the illusion the boat is moving.

The Shirleys say the approving honks of passersby keep them motivated.

With the high concentration of cars coming back and forth on this two-lane road to Oxford, they don't have to wait long to hear the salutes .

Lawrence said the project draws his family closer, including their children, 12-year-old Davy and 10-year-old Ariel.

"This gives us a sense of togetherness and pride," he said.

"It gives a kind of direction."

Planning to decommission the Queen just after New Year's, Lawrence said the family has a few ideas of what to build next.

"I would like to do a new boat every year," he said. "Or even a castle."

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E-mail jgambrell@fuse.net