Historic Hood River
The Dalles Ferry
11-12-2014
Notes
It’s easy to forget that the Columbia River used to be a major impediment to surface transportation. Here’s the crossing at the Dalles on August 21, 1941.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Charlott
This particular ferry was owned and operated by C. T. "Charlie" Smith. With the thoughts seriously at that time of building a bridge to span the Columbia Charlie was offered stock in the bridge for his ferry. He refused. Eventually, when the bridge was to become reality Charlie was bought out by Wasco County in 1950 for $300,000.
After the new bridge was built there was a big gate placed at the entrance to the ferry landing which said, "Ferry Closed…Bridge East of Town."
The very original ferry went from The Dalles across there to Dallesport, which was then called Rockland.
Buzz
My favorite picture as taken on my birthdate. Yesterday, accompanied by friend. drove eaat from Astoria on old highway where possible to Westport, stopping to view eagles and other birds along the river. Crossed the river on the ferry to Cathlamet-very windy-and back west along river to Willapa Bay for an oyster feed at Bay Center. Home in time for another sunset into the ocean. Damn nice country on this end of the Columbia.
l.e.
Happy Birthday Buzz!
You know what I think? I think it is a damn nice country that the Columbia River flows through with amazing landscapes and different lifestyles along its route.
I wonder if anyone has mapped all the ferry crossings?
I know they changed over the years, but basically they crossed where there were settlements and the easiest crossings.
Thanks Charlotte for the information. Very interesting.
l.e.
My dad ran a smaller version of this scow.
He bought it from an elderly man who had built the scow himself and had seen river transportation change from horses and foot passengers to bridges and cars.
What a time of changes!
He didn’t have a regular ferry route. He transported up and down the river in the Vancouver/Portland area and back and forth to the different islands in that area.
longshot
Somewhere along the south side of the river in The Dalles, Tom Purdie once dug up a bunch of small glass bottles. The bottles were apparently water bottles which were sold to people waiting for the ferry. Once the ferry arrived they would toss the bottles aside and load.
Wonder what it cost to take a loaded semi truck of logs across?
nels
Being mid August wonder if that could be melons in the truck on the left.
Charlott
There is a wonderful old book called "Ferryboats on the Columbia River. Think it came out about 1974.
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Happy birthday Buzz…
Buzz
Sorry for the misunderstanding. My birthdate was on the day the picture was taken.–August 21, 1941.
Kenn
Ferry landing and road down to it are still evident on the north side of the Columbia
L.E.
A photo of the "New Western Queen" 1890-1900. She was a sidewheeler ferry running between The Dalles and Rockland.
http://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/klickitat/id/87/rec/98