Historic Hood River
Sail Powered Ferry Revisited
5-1-2025
Notes
We saw this sail powered ferry all the way back in 2011. It’s worth revisiting since we have a much better scan now and we’ve discovered Ella May Davidson’s notes that accompanied her negatives. In 2011 we were wondering if the horse and buggy were connected for the voyage. This view makes it clear the horse was secured separately from the buggy. We also wondered about the date. Ella May’s notes are a bit cryptic and difficult to tie to specific negatives, but it appears her very earliest images were taken in 1909.
The ferry rigging is very similar to the ferry in this image. I hope someone can tell us what this sort of rigging is called.
starboard
Gaff rig. But lots of questions. The buggy is faced like just loaded; yet there appears to be a bow wave, as if coming toward the photographer; perhaps. that has something to do with the towing hawser also toward the photographer. There certainly doesn’t appear to be enough of a breeze to move a cumbersome scow cross current with that. single simple sail.
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