Wahkiakum County Ferry
Cathlamet, Washington to Westport, Oregon
BridgeHunter.com: Wahkiakum County Ferry
In 1925 Walter Coates started a ferry service with two wooden boats running from Cathlamet, Washington, to Puget Island to Westport, Oregon. Coates sold his boats in 1932.
Between 1932 and 1936 Arthur W. Houchen operated a boat and barge service between Cathlamet, Puget Island, and Westport. In 1936 Almar Danielsen of Puget Island took over and installed the ferry Tourist on the run. In 1938, the bridge between Puget Island and Cathlamet was built, and eliminated the need for the Puget Island to Cathlamet ferry. The ferry to Westport continued by the Tourist. In 1949 Danielsen replaced the Tourist with an all-metal 65-foot ferry named Almar. Danielsen grounded the Tourist on the beach west of the Puget Island ferry dock. The Almar ran until 1959 when the Danielsens quit the business and sold the ferry to Anacortes.
Briefly in 1960 Darrell Boylan of Richland Tug and Barge operated a 75 by 24-foot barge service. Finally in late 1960 the ferry service between Puget Island and Westport was taken over by the county. A new ferry named Wahkiakum was built in Hood River at a cost of $45,000. It began operations in 1962, and has run until February 2015.
In February 2015 a newer, larger ferry named the Oscar B. started making the run. It is the only ferry still running on the lower Columbia River.
Overview: Ferry across Columbia River on Westport Ferry Road/SR 409
Location: Westport, Clatsop County, Oregon, and Wahkiakum County, Washington
Status: Open to traffic
History: Ferry service started in 1925. Wahkiakum County took over running the ferry in 1962.
Builder: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders
Design: Ferry
Inventory number: BH 66842 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
BridgeHunter.com: Wahkiakum County Ferryhttps://bridgehunter.com/or/clatsop/wahkiakum-county-ferry
Posted by Tom & Jerry's Barroom to Remembering Westport, Oregon on November 4, 2022https://www.facebook.com/groups/141812492542311/posts/5736950419695129
Remembering Westport, Oregon
Brian Jaspers, November 4, 2022:
What’s the name of that ferry? Which tug boat is in the background?
Gary Bergseng, November 5, 2022:
That is the Almar, the one built next to your house and I believe the tug is the Louie 3 but possibly the Louie (Little Louie they called it). I enlarged the picture but hard to tell.
I turned the screen sideways and I think both tugs are tied there; Louie 3 on left and Little Louie on right.
I’m not sure when the mill burned down but it was in the 50s so this was probably early to mid 50s.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/141812492542311/posts/5736950419695129 Accessed: November 15, 2022
