Vashon (steamboat 1905)
Encyclopedia
Vashon was a wooden steamboat built in 1905 at Dockton, Washington
on Vashon Island
. The vessel was active on Puget Sound
in the early decades of the 1900s. Vashon should not be confused with the sternwheeler Vashon which also ran on Puget Sound.
which was then engaged in fierce competition with the Tacoma and Burton Navigation Company
for the freight and passenger business on the steamboat routes in the Tacoma and Vashon Island areas of Puget Sound
. Vashon was the first steamboat constructed by the Martinolich Shipbuilding Company
, which in 1904, under the company's founder, John Martinolich, a Croatian
immigrant, had set up a shipyard on Vashon Island at the small settlement of Dockton.
The Vashon Navigation Company intended Vashon to replace their steamer Norwood which had not performed well against the Burton
, a new vessel placed in service in 1905 by the rival Tacoma and Burton Navigation Co. Vashon competed with Burton, and later Burtons replacement, Magnolia
by racing from landing to landing trying to be the first to pick up passengers or embark freight. By 1909, the rivalry had died down when Magnolia was transferred to other routes.
Vashon was dismantled in 1930.
Dockton, Washington
Dockton is an unincorporated community in King County, Washington. It is located on Maury Island, along Quartermaster Harbor. Although once an industrial center, Dockton today is a primarily residential area, with many commuters taking the ferry to nearby Tacoma.-History:Dockton, one of the first...
on Vashon Island
Vashon Island
Vashon is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. It covers an island alternately called Vashon Island or Vashon-Maury Island, the largest island in Puget Sound south of Admiralty Inlet. The population was 10,624 at the 2010 census. At , it is about 60 percent larger...
. The vessel was active on Puget Sound
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...
in the early decades of the 1900s. Vashon should not be confused with the sternwheeler Vashon which also ran on Puget Sound.
Career
Vashon was built for the Vashon Navigation CompanyVashon Navigation Company
The Vashon Navigation Company was a shipping company that operated steamboats on Puget Sound in the early 1900s. Steamboats owned by the company included Norwood and the propeller steamer Vashon...
which was then engaged in fierce competition with the Tacoma and Burton Navigation Company
Tacoma and Burton Navigation Company
The Tacoma and Burton Navigation Company was a shipping company that operated steamboats on Puget Sound in the early 1900s. Steamboats owned by the company included Burton and Magnolia.-References:...
for the freight and passenger business on the steamboat routes in the Tacoma and Vashon Island areas of Puget Sound
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...
. Vashon was the first steamboat constructed by the Martinolich Shipbuilding Company
Martinolich Shipbuilding Company
The Martinolich Shipbuilding Company was founded in the early 1900s by John Martinolich , an immigrant from Croatia.-Course of business:The company's original shipyard was at Dockton, Washington, but later expanded to other locations...
, which in 1904, under the company's founder, John Martinolich, a Croatian
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
immigrant, had set up a shipyard on Vashon Island at the small settlement of Dockton.
The Vashon Navigation Company intended Vashon to replace their steamer Norwood which had not performed well against the Burton
Burton (steamboat)
Burton was a steamboat built in 1905 in Tacoma, Washington and which was in service on Puget Sound until 1924.-Career:Burton was built for the Tacoma and Burton Navigation Company, whose principals had once been partners with the owners of a rival steamer Norwood on runs from Tacoma to points on...
, a new vessel placed in service in 1905 by the rival Tacoma and Burton Navigation Co. Vashon competed with Burton, and later Burtons replacement, Magnolia
Magnolia (steamboat)
Magnolia was a wooden-hulled steamship that operated on Puget Sound from 1907 to 1937.-Career:Magnolia was built at Tacoma in 1907 for the Tacoma and Burton Navigation Company, which intended her to replace Burton on the company's routes around Tacoma and Vashon Island...
by racing from landing to landing trying to be the first to pick up passengers or embark freight. By 1909, the rivalry had died down when Magnolia was transferred to other routes.
Vashon was dismantled in 1930.