Concordia (steamboat)
Encyclopedia
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Concordia was a steamboat that ran on Puget Sound
from 1930 to 1976. Although later converted to diesel power, Concordia was the last inland commercial steamboat ever built on either Puget Sound or the Columbia river.
Concordia, popularly called the Conkie, was the last steamboat built on either Puget Sound or the Columbia, and was one of only four steamboats constructed on Puget Sound after 1920. (None were built on the Columbia River). The others built on Puget Sound were Virginia V
, Sightseer (ex-Vashona), and Arcadia.
Concordia was built by the Vashon Navigation Company
to replace the larger Vashona. The volume of business on the company's major route, from Tacoma to Quartermaster Harbor
, had fallen off, and would not support the larger vessel. Originally Concordia was to be 62.5 feet (19.05 m), but John Manson, the company president, discovered that if the vessel were less than 65, the maritime regulations would permit the vessel to be operated with one less crewman. Four feet of hull were then omitted from the final design on the stern end, which gave the completed vessel a truncated or lopped-off appearance. Vashona was then sold to the Anderson Steamboat Company.
On August 2, 1936, the Tacoma Times newspaper chartered Concordia for the annual picnic of its 300 young newspaper carriers at Redondo Beach, Washington. This was part of a regular practice of the Tacoma Times of sponsoring events for their carriers.
In 1937 the vessel was refitted with a 90 horsepower diesel engine. In 1942, Concordia passed into the hands of Joe Boies and Irving Frank, doing business as Harbor Island Ferries. They then placed Concordia in service transporting shipyard workers across Elliott Bay
from downtown Seattle.
In 1958 Concordia was operated by Horluck Transportation Company as part of their commuter and tourist fleet operating out of Bremerton
and Port Orchard, Washington
.
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Concordia was a steamboat that ran on Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
from 1930 to 1976. Although later converted to diesel power, Concordia was the last inland commercial steamboat ever built on either Puget Sound or the Columbia river.
Career
Concordia was built in 1930 at Tacoma, Washington.Concordia, popularly called the Conkie, was the last steamboat built on either Puget Sound or the Columbia, and was one of only four steamboats constructed on Puget Sound after 1920. (None were built on the Columbia River). The others built on Puget Sound were Virginia V
Virginia V
The steamship Virginia V is the last operational example of a Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet steamer...
, Sightseer (ex-Vashona), and Arcadia.
Concordia was built by the Vashon Navigation Company
Vashon Navigation Company
The Vashon Navigation Company was a shipping company that operated steamboats on Puget Sound in the early 1900s. Steamboats owned by the company included Norwood and the propeller steamer Vashon...
to replace the larger Vashona. The volume of business on the company's major route, from Tacoma to Quartermaster Harbor
Quartermaster Harbor
Quartermaster Harbor is a small harbor located in southern Puget Sound, in Vashon Island, Washington State.-Geographic description:Quartermaster Harbor is formed by Vashon Island on the west and Maury Island on the east...
, had fallen off, and would not support the larger vessel. Originally Concordia was to be 62.5 feet (19.05 m), but John Manson, the company president, discovered that if the vessel were less than 65, the maritime regulations would permit the vessel to be operated with one less crewman. Four feet of hull were then omitted from the final design on the stern end, which gave the completed vessel a truncated or lopped-off appearance. Vashona was then sold to the Anderson Steamboat Company.
Operations
Concordia was placed on the Tacoma-Quartermaster Harbor route. One of Concordias commanders on the Tacoma-Quartermaster Harbor run was the well-known and popular Thomas W. “Billy” Phillips (1877-1949).On August 2, 1936, the Tacoma Times newspaper chartered Concordia for the annual picnic of its 300 young newspaper carriers at Redondo Beach, Washington. This was part of a regular practice of the Tacoma Times of sponsoring events for their carriers.
In 1937 the vessel was refitted with a 90 horsepower diesel engine. In 1942, Concordia passed into the hands of Joe Boies and Irving Frank, doing business as Harbor Island Ferries. They then placed Concordia in service transporting shipyard workers across Elliott Bay
Elliott Bay
Elliott Bay is the body of water on which Seattle, Washington, is located. A line drawn from Alki Point in the south to West Point in the north serves to mark the generally accepted division between the bay and the open sound...
from downtown Seattle.
In 1958 Concordia was operated by Horluck Transportation Company as part of their commuter and tourist fleet operating out of Bremerton
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
and Port Orchard, Washington
Port Orchard, Washington
Port Orchard is a city in and the county seat of Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located 13 miles due west of West Seattle and connected to Seattle and Vashon Island via the Washington State Ferries run to Southworth...
.