Steilacoom–Anderson Island Ferry
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Steilacoom–Anderson Island ferry is a ferry route in southern
Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ; ) is a complex estuary, estuarine system of interconnected Marine habitat, marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. As a part of the Salish Sea, the sound ...
which is owned and operated by
Pierce County, Washington Pierce County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 921,130, up from 795,225 in 2010, making it the second-most populous ...
. The route also serves Ketron Island.


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, Washington Pierce County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 921,130, up from 795,225 in 2010, making it the second-most populous ...
and the Skansie Brothers. ''Elk'' was new at the time, , 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.Kline and Bayless, ''Ferryboats – A Legend on Puget Sound'', at 126. 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.Findlay and Paterson, ''Mosquito Fleet of Southern Puget Sound'', at 119. In 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 McNeil Island is an island in the Northwestern United States, in south Puget Sound southwest of Tacoma, Washington. With a land area of , it lies in an area of many inhabited small islands, including Anderson Island (Washington), Anderson Island ...
, with no stop listed for Ketron Island. Four runs per day were made in 1934–35, with additional trips if traffic demanded.Galentine and Anderson Island Historical Society, ''Anderson Island'', at 64–65. 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'' (, 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.Feagans, ''The Railroad that Ran by the Tide'', at 90–91. In 1995 the '' M/V Christine Anderson'' was placed on the route.Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Airport and Ferry Division, Memorandum, “Ferry Performance Measures” (April 8, 2011)
(accessed 05-23-11).


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 Administration The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transportation systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administration ...
. 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.Pierce County Rider Information, “M/V Christine Anderson Returns to Service” (May 11, 2010)
(accessed 05-25-11).
There are 10 to 14 runs from Steilacom to Anderson Island per day, depending on the day of the week. Four runs per day detour to Ketron either from (mornings) Steilacoom Dock or back from Anderson Island (evenings).
official website (accessed 10-07-18).


Notes


References

* Feagans, Raymond J., ''The Railroad that Ran by the Tide – Ilwaco Railroad & Navigation Company of the State of Washington'', Howell-North, Berkeley, CA 1972 * Findlay, Jean Cammon and Paterson, Robin, ''Mosquito Fleet of Southern Puget Sound'', Arcadia Publishing (2008) * Galentine, Elizabeth, and Anderson Island Historical Society, ''Anderson Island'', Arcadia Publishing (2006) * Kline, Mary S., and Bayless, G.A., ''Ferryboats – A Legend on Puget Sound'', Bayless Books, Seattle, WA 1983

official website (accessed 05-24-11)

(accessed 05-24-11).
Pierce County Rider Information, “M/V Christine Anderson Returns to Service” (May 11, 2010)
(accessed 05-25-11)
Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Airport and Ferry Division, Memorandum, “Ferry Performance Measures” (April 8, 2011)
(accessed 05-23-11).

official website (accessed 05-24-11)


Further reading

* Heckman, Hazel, ''Island in the Sound'', University of Washington Press (1997) * Newell, Gordon R. ed., ''H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest'', Superior Publishing, Seattle WA 1966 {{DEFAULTSORT:Steilacoom-Anderson Island Ferry Ferry routes in western Washington (state) Transportation in Pierce County, Washington History of Pierce County, Washington 1922 establishments in Washington (state)