Steamboats of Willapa Bay
Encyclopedia
Willapa Bay
is a large shallow body of water near the Pacific Ocean in southwestern Washington. For a number of years before modern roads were built in Pacific County, Washington, the bay was used as the means of travel around the county, by powered and unpowered craft. This article discusses steamboat navigation on Willapa Bay.
In 1858, Capt. James H. Whitcomb, a pioneer of the Oregon Territory, obtained a contract to carry mail from Willapa, Washington, a small settlement upstream upstream from modern-day Raymond
, where he had a donation land claim, across the Willapa Bay
to Oysterville
. He ran passengers, freight and mail on the route with the sloops Minerva and Pet, and later the steamboat Favorite. Later, he commanded the steamers Montesano and Tom Morris on Willapa Bay. His son, James P. Whitcomb, built Mountain Buck at Naselle in 1888, which was placed in towing service under his father's command.
Another main route was from South Bend, Washington
to Nahcotta, Washington
, on the Long Beach Peninsula
. At Nahcotta
, the propeller steamers Shamrock and Reliable would met the train at the end of the Nahcotta dock, and pick up passengers bound for South Bend
across Willapa Bay
. In 1896, another steamer employed on the Willapa Bay
run was the Edgar.
In 1902, the steam propeller Reliable (99 tons, 73') was built at Astoria, Oregon for the Willapa Bay Transportation Company, operating under the command of Captain A.W. Reed. Much later, in 1925, when passenger traffic had fallen, Reliables upper works were cut down and she was converted into a tug.
In 1903, Lauderback & Taylor of Willapa built the steam propeller Laurel for C.A. and James S. Coulter of South Bend. She had a steeple compound engine and Morgan-type pipe boiler. She worked as a tow and log boat in Willapa Bay until she was sold to the Hubble concern in Grays Harbor, where she was abandoned in 1938.
In 1905, the steam propeller Shamrock (99 tons, 72'), a near twin to Reliable, was also built at Astoria, by R.M. Leathers. She had a 225 hp compound steam engine, and was operated by A.W. Reed, doing business as the Willapa Bay Transportation Co. As with Reliable, Shamrock was later converted to a towboat under Knappton Towing Co. of Astoria. Agnes, a steam tug built at Hoquiam
in 1905, was later placed in service in Willapa Bay under T.H. Bell.
Another vessel in service on Willapa Bay was Flora Brown, used to tow logs to mills at South Bend.
Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
is a large shallow body of water near the Pacific Ocean in southwestern Washington. For a number of years before modern roads were built in Pacific County, Washington, the bay was used as the means of travel around the county, by powered and unpowered craft. This article discusses steamboat navigation on Willapa Bay.
Operations
Raymond, Washington
Raymond is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,975 at the 2000 census and decreased 3.1% to 2,882 at the 2010 census. The town's economy is based on logging and fishing, together with a limited amount of tourism....
, where he had a donation land claim, across the Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
to Oysterville
Oysterville, Washington
Oysterville is an unincorporated community in Pacific County, Washington, United States.-History:Oysterville was first settled in 1841 by John Douglas, who married a local Chinook woman. Oysterville was established and named in 1854 by J.A. Clark. It was a hub of oyster farming as the name suggests...
. He ran passengers, freight and mail on the route with the sloops Minerva and Pet, and later the steamboat Favorite. Later, he commanded the steamers Montesano and Tom Morris on Willapa Bay. His son, James P. Whitcomb, built Mountain Buck at Naselle in 1888, which was placed in towing service under his father's command.
Another main route was from South Bend, Washington
South Bend, Washington
South Bend is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. It is the county seat of Pacific County. The population was 1,637 as of the 2010 census, a decrease of 9.4% from the 2000 census figures. The town is widely known for its oysters and scenery....
to Nahcotta, Washington
Nahcotta, Washington
Nahcotta is an unincorporated community in Pacific County, in the American state of Washington. It is located on Willapa Bay, on the eastern coast of the Long Beach Peninsula.-History:thumb|right|200px|Nahcotta, WA 1893...
, on the Long Beach Peninsula
Long Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is an arm of land in western Washington state. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the south by the Columbia River, and the east by Willapa Bay...
. At Nahcotta
Nahcotta, Washington
Nahcotta is an unincorporated community in Pacific County, in the American state of Washington. It is located on Willapa Bay, on the eastern coast of the Long Beach Peninsula.-History:thumb|right|200px|Nahcotta, WA 1893...
, the propeller steamers Shamrock and Reliable would met the train at the end of the Nahcotta dock, and pick up passengers bound for South Bend
South Bend, Washington
South Bend is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. It is the county seat of Pacific County. The population was 1,637 as of the 2010 census, a decrease of 9.4% from the 2000 census figures. The town is widely known for its oysters and scenery....
across Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
. In 1896, another steamer employed on the Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay
Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
run was the Edgar.
- Photo of Reliable
- Photo of Reliable and Shamrock at dock
- Photo of Shamrock underway
- Photo of Shamrock steaming away from the Nahcotta railway dock
Vessels
In 1875, the steamer General Canby was launched at South Bend. George A. Whitcomb, member of a prominent steamboating family, served on her as mate. In 1882, the Shoalwater Bay Transportation Company launched Montesano at Astoria to run mail from Willapa to Sealand, Washington, on the Long Beach Peninsula.In 1902, the steam propeller Reliable (99 tons, 73') was built at Astoria, Oregon for the Willapa Bay Transportation Company, operating under the command of Captain A.W. Reed. Much later, in 1925, when passenger traffic had fallen, Reliables upper works were cut down and she was converted into a tug.
In 1903, Lauderback & Taylor of Willapa built the steam propeller Laurel for C.A. and James S. Coulter of South Bend. She had a steeple compound engine and Morgan-type pipe boiler. She worked as a tow and log boat in Willapa Bay until she was sold to the Hubble concern in Grays Harbor, where she was abandoned in 1938.
In 1905, the steam propeller Shamrock (99 tons, 72'), a near twin to Reliable, was also built at Astoria, by R.M. Leathers. She had a 225 hp compound steam engine, and was operated by A.W. Reed, doing business as the Willapa Bay Transportation Co. As with Reliable, Shamrock was later converted to a towboat under Knappton Towing Co. of Astoria. Agnes, a steam tug built at Hoquiam
Hoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
in 1905, was later placed in service in Willapa Bay under T.H. Bell.
Another vessel in service on Willapa Bay was Flora Brown, used to tow logs to mills at South Bend.
See also
- Ilwaco Railway and Navigation CompanyIlwaco Railway and Navigation CompanyThe Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company operated a narrow gauge railroad ran for over forty years from the bar of the Columbia River up the Long Beach Peninsula to Nahcotta, Washington, on Willapa Bay. The line ran entirely in Pacific County, Washington, and had no connection to any outside rail...
- Pacific County, Washington
- Astoria, OregonAstoria, OregonAstoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
- Nahcotta, WashingtonNahcotta, WashingtonNahcotta is an unincorporated community in Pacific County, in the American state of Washington. It is located on Willapa Bay, on the eastern coast of the Long Beach Peninsula.-History:thumb|right|200px|Nahcotta, WA 1893...
- Columbia River Maritime MuseumColumbia River Maritime MuseumThe Columbia River Maritime Museum is a museum of maritime history located about ten miles from the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon, U.S.. It has a national reputation for the quality of its exhibits and the scope of its collections and was the first museum in Oregon to meet...
- Willapa BayWillapa BayWillapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
- Raymond, WashingtonRaymond, WashingtonRaymond is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,975 at the 2000 census and decreased 3.1% to 2,882 at the 2010 census. The town's economy is based on logging and fishing, together with a limited amount of tourism....
- South Bend, WashingtonSouth Bend, WashingtonSouth Bend is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. It is the county seat of Pacific County. The population was 1,637 as of the 2010 census, a decrease of 9.4% from the 2000 census figures. The town is widely known for its oysters and scenery....
- Tokeland, WashingtonTokeland, WashingtonTokeland is a census-designated place in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 151 at the 2010 census, a sharp decrease from the 194 at the 2000 census.The town was named after Chief Toke, an Indian chief of the 19th century....
- Pacific County, Washington