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.

Charlott on 12th November 2014 @ 7:11am

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.

Buzz on 12th November 2014 @ 8:12am

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. on 12th November 2014 @ 8:35am

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.

l.e. on 12th November 2014 @ 8:44am

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?

longshot on 12th November 2014 @ 9:13am

Being mid August wonder if that could be melons in the truck on the left.

nels on 12th November 2014 @ 9:25am

There is a wonderful old book called "Ferryboats on the Columbia River. Think it came out about 1974.

Happy birthday Buzz...

Charlott on 12th November 2014 @ 10:45am

Sorry for the misunderstanding. My birthdate was on the day the picture was taken.--August 21, 1941.

Buzz on 12th November 2014 @ 11:14am

Ferry landing and road down to it are still evident on the north side of the Columbia

Kenn on 4th June 2015 @ 4:24pm