Astoria-Megler Ferry
Encyclopedia
The Astoria–Megler ferry, also called the Astoria–McGowan ferry and the Astoria–North Beach Ferry, ran across the Columbia River
between Astoria, Oregon
and two ferry docks near the present small community of Megler, Washington
from 1921 to 1966.
in Pacific County, Washington, also known as the North Beach, was an isolated portion of the state because of the lack of roads. It was practically impossible to reach except by water transport, generally a steamboat. The two most important steamboat landings on the peninsula were on the Columbia River, at Ilwaco
and, 15 miles (24.1 km) to the north, on Willapa Bay
(then known as Shoalwater Bay), at Nachotta
. In 1889, a narrow gauge railway, the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
, connected the two points, running out on the docks at each terminus. During the summers, always the busiest season, steamers such as the sidewheeler T. J. Potter
brought vacation crowds from Portland, Oregon
down the Columbia River to the landing at Ilwaco, and after 1908 to a much larger dock further upriver at Megler
. The railroad and steamers, both under the control of the Union Pacific Railroad
, reached their highest point of profitability in the summer of 1913.
In 1916, construction was completed on a paved highway running from Portland to Astoria. Demand for steamer travel fell off. The last steamer to make the Portland to Astoria run was the sternwheeler Harvest Queen, on February 18, 1921. The steamer Nahcotta made runs from Astoria to Megler, but could not compete with the auto ferries that were coming on the route.
as an improvised ferry and transported over 700 vehicles during that summer. In April 1921, Elving incorporated as the Astoria-McGowan Ferry Company. With the company capitalized at $30,000, Elving was also able to secure a subsidy of $400 per year from Pacific County, Washington. The county also built a road from the town of Chinook
to McGowan, Washington
, where the company had arranged to build a ferry slip at the end of a dock owned by a cannery, P.J. McGowan & Co. Elving also persuaded the Astoria City Council to use municipal funds to construct a ferry dock on the Oregon side of the river.
Elving then contracted with an Astoria shipbuilding firm to build a diesel motor ferry, at a price of between $17,000 and $22,000. The new vessel, Tourist (60 ft (18.29 m) 15 tons, capacity 15 automobiles, 30 passengers) was launched on May 21, 1921, and entered service a few days later. Now with the ferry in place, travellers could drive their automobiles all the way to Astoria and onto a ferry to take them over to the Long Beach Peninsula, without the need of either railroad or steamboat.
Ferry traffic quickly rose, and Elving commissioned a new and larger wooden-hulled ferry, Tourist II
(98 ft (29.87 m), 95 tons, capacity: 22 automobiles, 155 passengers), which was launched at Astoria on June 17, 1924.. The ferries departed from a specially-built dock at 14th Street in Astoria which included a ramp to allow rapid loading and unloading of automobiles.
In good weather the ferry trip took about 30 minutes. In 1925, motor truck operators in Astoria started using the ferries to the Long Beach Peninsula which cut sharply into the railroad's freight business.
tried to best the Elving company by building their own automobile ferry, the North Beach (120 ft (36.58 m) 225 tons, capacity 25 automobiles). Union Pacific had ferry slips built at Astoria and at Megler. Although the North Beach was a well-built vessel, launched on April 28, 1927 with fanfare, and making its first run on July 6, 1927, North Beach could never manage to compete with Captain Elving's boats. J.W. McGowan, a businessman of McGowan
, owned stock in Elving's ferry company, and he made it difficult for the railroad to build a road over his property to the Union Pacific's competing ferry dock at Megler. Union Pacific shut down ferry
operations to Megler in September 1930 selling to one of its employees, Capt. Calvin E. Stewart, claiming they'd lost $40,000 per year in the ferry business.
The railroad calculated that the line had suffered losses of $300,000 from 1925 to 1928. Apparently the railroad then hit on the idea of forming a new subsidiary, the Astoria, North Shore and Willapa Harbor Railroad, selling stock in the railroad to local residents, and then using the proceeds from the stock sale to buy out its losing operation. Supposedly the new operation would return the route to profitability by operating cheaper small diesel-electric engines and cut its expenses by 90%. The plan also included a new ferry for motor traffic and used of trucks instead of rail to deliver freight. There were some problems with the legality of the stock proposal, as the sale could not proceed without the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Local opposition was high, and the plan eventually came to nothing.
In the spring of 1931, Stewart incorporated as the Columbia Transportation Company, and began a plan to put his rival, Captain Elving, out of business. He began quietly buying up underwater parcels of real estate all around the Elving ferry dock, and then one night with a hired marine pile driver
drove in pilings around the dock so that a ferry could not get through. This move, which had been contemplated by Union Pacific as early as 1927 but not acted upon, did not stop Elving from landing his ferry, precisely how is not recorded but a story was repeated that Elving had backed up the ferry then surged ahead at full speed, knocking down the piles. Fighting between the two crews broke out on the dock until the Astoria police arrived. Elving himself was a tough competitor. He was reported to have simply gotten in a car that was being driven over to the competitor's dock, and persuaded the driver to use his ferry instead. The dispute went on until 1932 when Elving was able to buy out Stewart, who was having general difficulties in the hard economic times, and combine the two companies. Following the purchase, Elving relocated all ferry landings on the north side to Megler, which was a better location for a landing than at McGowan.
Construction on an additional motor ferry, the wooden-hulled Tourist III (109 ft (33.22 m) long, 233 tons, capacity: 28 automobiles, 280 passengers) was completed in 1931, with the new ferry entering service on July 4, 1931.
During the Second World War, Elving sold Tourist II to the U.S. Army for $35,000. The Army renamed the ferry Octopus, rebuilt the ferry's upper works, and used it for mining laying and logistics. After the war Elving bought Tourist II back from the Army, paying a little more, $36,000, but the Army had installed a new engine in the vessel.
In December 1947, a new ferry was launched and, in 1948, placed on the route. This was the steel-built M.R. Chessman (172 ft (52.43 m) 570 tons). Chessman remained on the route until the mid-1960s. Another vessel placed on the route was the motor ferry Kitsap
(159 ft (48.46 m) 426 tons, capacity: 95 automobiles (1920s) 32 (1960), 325 passengers. The highway department also took over operation of Tourist II, and modified the vessel by shortening the superstructure and installing radar
equipment.
was completed. This eliminated the need for the ferry route. The final run on the route came on July 28, 1966, and was made by the M.R. Chessman.
Kitsap was sold to an Alaska purchaser for $12,250, who had the objective of using the vessel as a floating general store. Kitsap however was wrecked en route to Alaska.
Although Tourist II was over 40 years old, the ferry was still in excellent condition, Pierce County bought Tourist II, renamed the vessel Islander, carried out extensive modifications, and placed the ferry on the Steilacoom-Anderson Island route
.
Tourist III was sold to the Pacific Pearl Company which modified the vessel to become a floating fish cannery.
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
between Astoria, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
and two ferry docks near the present small community of Megler, Washington
Megler, Washington
Megler is a small community located in Pacific County in the U.S. state of Washington. Named for legislator Joseph G. Megler, the community is located at the mouth of the Columbia River on the north shore of the river...
from 1921 to 1966.
History
Until 1920, the Long Beach PeninsulaLong Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is an arm of land in western Washington state. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the south by the Columbia River, and the east by Willapa Bay...
in Pacific County, Washington, also known as the North Beach, was an isolated portion of the state because of the lack of roads. It was practically impossible to reach except by water transport, generally a steamboat. The two most important steamboat landings on the peninsula were on the Columbia River, at Ilwaco
Ilwaco, Washington
Ilwaco is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 950 at the 2000 census and decreased to 936 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and, 15 miles (24.1 km) to the north, on Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
(then known as Shoalwater Bay), at Nachotta
Nahcotta, Washington
Nahcotta is an unincorporated community in Pacific County, in the American state of Washington. It is located on Willapa Bay, on the eastern coast of the Long Beach Peninsula.-History:thumb|right|200px|Nahcotta, WA 1893...
. In 1889, a narrow gauge railway, the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
The Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company operated a narrow gauge railroad ran for over forty years from the bar of the Columbia River up the Long Beach Peninsula to Nahcotta, Washington, on Willapa Bay. The line ran entirely in Pacific County, Washington, and had no connection to any outside rail...
, connected the two points, running out on the docks at each terminus. During the summers, always the busiest season, steamers such as the sidewheeler T. J. Potter
T. J. Potter
The T.J. Potter was a steamboat that operated in the Northwestern United States. The boat was launched in 1888. Her upper cabins came from the steamboat Wide West. This required some modification, because the T.J. Potter was a side-wheeler, whereas the Wide West had been a stern-wheeler...
brought vacation crowds from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
down the Columbia River to the landing at Ilwaco, and after 1908 to a much larger dock further upriver at Megler
Megler, Washington
Megler is a small community located in Pacific County in the U.S. state of Washington. Named for legislator Joseph G. Megler, the community is located at the mouth of the Columbia River on the north shore of the river...
. The railroad and steamers, both under the control of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, reached their highest point of profitability in the summer of 1913.
In 1916, construction was completed on a paved highway running from Portland to Astoria. Demand for steamer travel fell off. The last steamer to make the Portland to Astoria run was the sternwheeler Harvest Queen, on February 18, 1921. The steamer Nahcotta made runs from Astoria to Megler, but could not compete with the auto ferries that were coming on the route.
Ferry service
Ferry service across the Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon to Megler, Washington began in the summer of 1920 when Capt. Fritz S. Elving set up a scowScow
A scow, in the original sense, is a flat-bottomed boat with a blunt bow, often used to haul bulk freight; cf. barge. The etymology of the word is from the Dutch schouwe, meaning such a boat.-Sailing scows:...
as an improvised ferry and transported over 700 vehicles during that summer. In April 1921, Elving incorporated as the Astoria-McGowan Ferry Company. With the company capitalized at $30,000, Elving was also able to secure a subsidy of $400 per year from Pacific County, Washington. The county also built a road from the town of Chinook
Chinook, Washington
Chinook is a census-designated place in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census and increased to 466 at the 2010 census.-History:...
to McGowan, Washington
McGowan, Washington
McGowan, Washington was a stop on the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company's narrow gauge line that ran on the Long Beach Peninsula in Pacific County, Washington, USA from 1889 to 1930. In the late 19th century, P.J. McGowan bought land in the area for $1,200, and built his house and a dock and a...
, where the company had arranged to build a ferry slip at the end of a dock owned by a cannery, P.J. McGowan & Co. Elving also persuaded the Astoria City Council to use municipal funds to construct a ferry dock on the Oregon side of the river.
Elving then contracted with an Astoria shipbuilding firm to build a diesel motor ferry, at a price of between $17,000 and $22,000. The new vessel, Tourist (60 ft (18.29 m) 15 tons, capacity 15 automobiles, 30 passengers) was launched on May 21, 1921, and entered service a few days later. Now with the ferry in place, travellers could drive their automobiles all the way to Astoria and onto a ferry to take them over to the Long Beach Peninsula, without the need of either railroad or steamboat.
Ferry traffic quickly rose, and Elving commissioned a new and larger wooden-hulled ferry, Tourist II
MV Kirkland
The MV Kirkland is a former car ferry with a unique Pacific Northwest history. Originally known as the Tourist II, is a 1924 wooden-hulled car ferry that has served passengers all over the Pacific Northwest. Originally, it took passengers across the Columbia River, with a dock in Astoria, Oregon. ...
(98 ft (29.87 m), 95 tons, capacity: 22 automobiles, 155 passengers), which was launched at Astoria on June 17, 1924.. The ferries departed from a specially-built dock at 14th Street in Astoria which included a ramp to allow rapid loading and unloading of automobiles.
In good weather the ferry trip took about 30 minutes. In 1925, motor truck operators in Astoria started using the ferries to the Long Beach Peninsula which cut sharply into the railroad's freight business.
Competition
In 1926, the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
tried to best the Elving company by building their own automobile ferry, the North Beach (120 ft (36.58 m) 225 tons, capacity 25 automobiles). Union Pacific had ferry slips built at Astoria and at Megler. Although the North Beach was a well-built vessel, launched on April 28, 1927 with fanfare, and making its first run on July 6, 1927, North Beach could never manage to compete with Captain Elving's boats. J.W. McGowan, a businessman of McGowan
McGowan, Washington
McGowan, Washington was a stop on the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company's narrow gauge line that ran on the Long Beach Peninsula in Pacific County, Washington, USA from 1889 to 1930. In the late 19th century, P.J. McGowan bought land in the area for $1,200, and built his house and a dock and a...
, owned stock in Elving's ferry company, and he made it difficult for the railroad to build a road over his property to the Union Pacific's competing ferry dock at Megler. Union Pacific shut down ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
operations to Megler in September 1930 selling to one of its employees, Capt. Calvin E. Stewart, claiming they'd lost $40,000 per year in the ferry business.
The railroad calculated that the line had suffered losses of $300,000 from 1925 to 1928. Apparently the railroad then hit on the idea of forming a new subsidiary, the Astoria, North Shore and Willapa Harbor Railroad, selling stock in the railroad to local residents, and then using the proceeds from the stock sale to buy out its losing operation. Supposedly the new operation would return the route to profitability by operating cheaper small diesel-electric engines and cut its expenses by 90%. The plan also included a new ferry for motor traffic and used of trucks instead of rail to deliver freight. There were some problems with the legality of the stock proposal, as the sale could not proceed without the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Local opposition was high, and the plan eventually came to nothing.
In the spring of 1931, Stewart incorporated as the Columbia Transportation Company, and began a plan to put his rival, Captain Elving, out of business. He began quietly buying up underwater parcels of real estate all around the Elving ferry dock, and then one night with a hired marine pile driver
Pile driver
A pile driver is a mechanical device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings or other structures. The term is also used in reference to members of the construction crew that work with pile-driving rigs....
drove in pilings around the dock so that a ferry could not get through. This move, which had been contemplated by Union Pacific as early as 1927 but not acted upon, did not stop Elving from landing his ferry, precisely how is not recorded but a story was repeated that Elving had backed up the ferry then surged ahead at full speed, knocking down the piles. Fighting between the two crews broke out on the dock until the Astoria police arrived. Elving himself was a tough competitor. He was reported to have simply gotten in a car that was being driven over to the competitor's dock, and persuaded the driver to use his ferry instead. The dispute went on until 1932 when Elving was able to buy out Stewart, who was having general difficulties in the hard economic times, and combine the two companies. Following the purchase, Elving relocated all ferry landings on the north side to Megler, which was a better location for a landing than at McGowan.
Depression and war
As of April 18, 1931, the route, under the name of the Astoria-North Beach Ferry Company charged a “new low rate” of $1 for car and driver. Ferries departed Astoria for Point Ellice, as the northern terminal was known, and returned, nine times a day. Walk-on passengers on the 9:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. ferries out of Astoria could make a bus connection on arrival at Point Ellice, with the converse being true at Astoria for the 9:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 5:30 pm ferries departing Point Ellice.Construction on an additional motor ferry, the wooden-hulled Tourist III (109 ft (33.22 m) long, 233 tons, capacity: 28 automobiles, 280 passengers) was completed in 1931, with the new ferry entering service on July 4, 1931.
During the Second World War, Elving sold Tourist II to the U.S. Army for $35,000. The Army renamed the ferry Octopus, rebuilt the ferry's upper works, and used it for mining laying and logistics. After the war Elving bought Tourist II back from the Army, paying a little more, $36,000, but the Army had installed a new engine in the vessel.
Sale to Oregon Highway Department
Captain Elving retired in 1946 and sold his ferry business to Merle R. Chessman (d.1946), who had planned to sell the operation to the Oregon State Highway Department. This sale occurred on June 1, 1946, but Chessman died before the sale was completed.In December 1947, a new ferry was launched and, in 1948, placed on the route. This was the steel-built M.R. Chessman (172 ft (52.43 m) 570 tons). Chessman remained on the route until the mid-1960s. Another vessel placed on the route was the motor ferry Kitsap
MV Kitsap (1925)
M/V Kitsap was a ferry built at the Lake Washington Shipyards in Houghton, Washington and launched in 1925. She was 165 feet long, and her capacity was a little more than 30 modern automobiles, and 325 passengers...
(159 ft (48.46 m) 426 tons, capacity: 95 automobiles (1920s) 32 (1960), 325 passengers. The highway department also took over operation of Tourist II, and modified the vessel by shortening the superstructure and installing radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
equipment.
Close of service
In 1966 the Astoria-Megler BridgeAstoria-Megler Bridge
The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel girder continuous truss bridge that spans the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington, in the United States. The span is from the mouth of the river, and was the last segment of U.S. Route 101 between Olympia, Washington...
was completed. This eliminated the need for the ferry route. The final run on the route came on July 28, 1966, and was made by the M.R. Chessman.
Sale of the boats
The ferries were sold at auction on August 12, 1966. The U.S. Navy bought M.R. Chessman for $300,000, and transferred the vessel to Vietnam. The Navy had originally intended to use the vessel as a ferry on the Mekong River. The vessel was employed as a machine shop for river patrol craft.Kitsap was sold to an Alaska purchaser for $12,250, who had the objective of using the vessel as a floating general store. Kitsap however was wrecked en route to Alaska.
Although Tourist II was over 40 years old, the ferry was still in excellent condition, Pierce County bought Tourist II, renamed the vessel Islander, carried out extensive modifications, and placed the ferry on the Steilacoom-Anderson Island route
Steilacoom-Anderson Island Ferry
The Steilacoom-Anderson Island ferry is a ferry route in southern Puget Sound which is owned and operated by Pierce County, Washington. The route also serves Ketron Island. There are 10 to 14 runs per day, depending on the day of the week. Four runs per day run on a triangular route run from...
.
Tourist III was sold to the Pacific Pearl Company which modified the vessel to become a floating fish cannery.
Further reading
- Query, Charles, A History of Oregon Ferries Since 1826, (2008) ISBN 0892882913
External links
- Map showing Oregon ferry routes in 1935 (accessed 05-25-11).
- Oregon Department of Transportation history center photos – ferries. (accessed 05-25-11)