Steilacoom-Anderson Island Ferry
Encyclopedia
The Steilacoom-Anderson Island ferry is a ferry route in southern Puget Sound
which is owned and operated by Pierce County, Washington
. The route also serves Ketron Island
. There are 10 to 14 runs per day, depending on the day of the week. Four runs per day run on a triangular route run from Steilacoom, Washington
to both Ketron and Anderson islands. The remainder of the runs are direct runs from Steilacom to Anderson Island and back.
and the Skansie Brothers. Elk was new at the time, 67 ft (20.42 m), and could transport 16 automobiles. The Skansie brothers were successful at securing other ferry contracts, and they built most of their ferries, including Elk in their own shipyard. Traffic increased and by 1924, the Skansies were able to put another ferry on the route, the City of Steilacoom, with a capacity for 30 automobiles. The City of Steilacoom had a single deck with a small elevated control room, and a ramp, and looked like a powered barge.
1934-35, the ferry service was still being conducted by the Skansie brothers, who were doing business as the Washington Navigation Company, under Mitchell Skansie, president. The ferry continued to depart from Steilacoom, and made stops at Anderson Island
, Longbranch, Washington
and McNeil Island
, with no stop listed for Ketron Island
. Four runs per day were made in 1934-35, with additional trips if traffic demanded.
In 1938 Pierce County assumed control of the ferry service over and contracted it out for operation. In 1939, Pierce County bought the ferry Pioneer, which had been built in 1916, to serve as reserve boat. Pioneer had been employed on the Deception Pass ferry
until 1935, when that route was eliminated by the construction of the Deception Pass Bridge
. Pioneer was sold in 1964.
In 1967 Pierce County bought the wooden-hulled motor ferry Tourist II
(98 ft (29.87 m), 95 tons, capacity: 22 automobiles), which had been running on the Astoria-Megler route
from 1924 to 1966, and renamed the vessel Islander. Although over 40 years old, Islander had been well maintained and was in excellent condition.
In 1995 the M/V Christine Anderson was placed on the route.
. The work took 8 weeks in dry dock. In addition, $71,000 worth of repairs were done to the Steilacoom, Anderson Island, and Ketron Island ferry docks. 62% of this cost was paid for with Federal stimulus funds.
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
which is owned and operated by Pierce County, Washington
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
. The route also serves Ketron Island
Ketron Island
Ketron Island is an island in southern Puget Sound in Pierce County in the state of Washington, USA. It lies between the mainland near the city of Steilacoom and Anderson Island near the extreme south end of Puget Sound...
. There are 10 to 14 runs per day, depending on the day of the week. Four runs per day run on a triangular route run from Steilacoom, Washington
Steilacoom, Washington
Steilacoom is a town in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,985 at the 2010 census. Steilacoom is on the coast of Puget Sound, on a branch not visible on the map to the right...
to both Ketron and Anderson islands. The remainder of the runs are direct runs from Steilacom to Anderson Island and back.
History
The first ferry service to Anderson Island was on April 1, 1922, with the ferry Elk (later renamed Airline, running under a contract between Pierce County, WashingtonPierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
and the Skansie Brothers. Elk was new at the time, 67 ft (20.42 m), and could transport 16 automobiles. The Skansie brothers were successful at securing other ferry contracts, and they built most of their ferries, including Elk in their own shipyard. Traffic increased and by 1924, the Skansies were able to put another ferry on the route, the City of Steilacoom, with a capacity for 30 automobiles. The City of Steilacoom had a single deck with a small elevated control room, and a ramp, and looked like a powered barge.
1934-35, the ferry service was still being conducted by the Skansie brothers, who were doing business as the Washington Navigation Company, under Mitchell Skansie, president. The ferry continued to depart from Steilacoom, and made stops at Anderson Island
Anderson Island
Anderson Island is the southernmost island in Puget Sound and is part of Pierce County, Washington, United States. It is accessible by boat or a 20 minute ferry ride from Steilacoom. Anderson Island lies just south of McNeil Island. To the northwest Key Peninsula lies across Drayton Passage...
, Longbranch, Washington
Longbranch, Washington
Longbranch is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, Washington, United States. It is located on the Key Peninsula, along Filucy Bay between Pitt Passage and Balch Passage...
and McNeil Island
McNeil Island
McNeil Island is an island in western Puget Sound, located just west of Steilacoom, Washington, with a land area of 17.177 km² . It lies just north of Anderson Island. Fox Island is to the north, across Carr Inlet. To the west McNeil Island is separated from Key Peninsula by Pitt Passage. The...
, with no stop listed for Ketron Island
Ketron Island
Ketron Island is an island in southern Puget Sound in Pierce County in the state of Washington, USA. It lies between the mainland near the city of Steilacoom and Anderson Island near the extreme south end of Puget Sound...
. Four runs per day were made in 1934-35, with additional trips if traffic demanded.
In 1938 Pierce County assumed control of the ferry service over and contracted it out for operation. In 1939, Pierce County bought the ferry Pioneer, which had been built in 1916, to serve as reserve boat. Pioneer had been employed on the Deception Pass ferry
Deception Pass ferry
The Deception Pass ferry was a ferry route in Washington State that ran between Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island across Deception Pass.-History:...
until 1935, when that route was eliminated by the construction of the Deception Pass Bridge
Deception Pass Bridge
The Deception Pass Bridge is a two-lane bridge connecting Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island in the U.S. state of Washington. It was a Washington State Highways project, and included project elements built by young workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps...
. Pioneer was sold in 1964.
In 1967 Pierce County bought the wooden-hulled motor ferry Tourist II
MV Kirkland
The MV Kirkland is a former car ferry with a unique Pacific Northwest history. Originally known as the Tourist II, is a 1924 wooden-hulled car ferry that has served passengers all over the Pacific Northwest. Originally, it took passengers across the Columbia River, with a dock in Astoria, Oregon. ...
(98 ft (29.87 m), 95 tons, capacity: 22 automobiles), which had been running on the Astoria-Megler route
Astoria-Megler Ferry
The Astoria–Megler ferry, also called the Astoria–McGowan ferry and the Astoria–North Beach Ferry, ran across the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and two ferry docks near the present small community of Megler, Washington from 1921 to 1966....
from 1924 to 1966, and renamed the vessel Islander. Although over 40 years old, Islander had been well maintained and was in excellent condition.
In 1995 the M/V Christine Anderson was placed on the route.
Current status
In 2010 the ferry on the route M/V Christine Anderson was renovated at a cost of $1.5 million, 80% of which was paid for by the Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
. The work took 8 weeks in dry dock. In addition, $71,000 worth of repairs were done to the Steilacoom, Anderson Island, and Ketron Island ferry docks. 62% of this cost was paid for with Federal stimulus funds.
Further reading
- Heckman, Hazel, Island in the Sound, University of Washington Press (1997) ISBN 0295954825
- Newell, Gordon R. ed., H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, Superior Publishing, Seattle WA 1966 ISBN 0875642209