Steamboats of Willapa Bay

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.

Operations

In 1858, Capt. James H. Whitcomb, a pioneer of the Oregon Territory, obtained a contract to carry mail from Willapa, where he had a donation land claim, and 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. [Newell, Gordon R., ed., H.W. "McCurdy Marine History of Pacific Northwest", at page 73, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA 1966]

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. [Faber, Jim, "Steamer's Wake", pages 82-83 (including large photograph of "Shamrock"), Enetai Press, Seattle, WA (1985) ISBN 0-9615811-0-7] [Newell, Gordon, and Williamson, Joe, "Pacific Steamboats", page 192 (with photo of "Reliable"), Bonanza Books, New York, NY (1963)] In 1896, another steamer employed on the Willapa Bay run was the "Edgar". [Feagans, at 34, reprinting advertisement from the Washington Magazine]
* [http://www.chinookobserver.info/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=116&PhotoID=282&UID=1431484 Photo of "Reliable"]
* [http://www.chinookobserver.info/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=116&PhotoID=284&UID=1431484 Photo of "Reliable" and "Shamrock" at dock]
* [http://www.chinookobserver.info/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=116&PhotoID=285&UID=1431484 Photo of "Shamrock" underway]
* [http://www.chinookobserver.info/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=116&PhotoID=286&UID=1431484 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 [originally known as Woodard's Landing, McCurdy at 477] to Sealand, Washington, on the Long Beach Peninsula. [McCurdy, at 477]

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, "Reliable"'s upper works were cut down and she was converted into a tug. [Newell, Gordon R., ed. "H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest", at page 81, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA 1966]

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. [McCurdy at 92]

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 horsepower 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. [McCurdy, at 113]

Another vessel in service on Willapa Bay was "Flora Brown", used to tow logs to mills at South Bend. [McCurdy, at 92] .

Notes

ee also

*Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
*Pacific County, Washington
*Astoria, Oregon
*Nahcotta, Washington
*Columbia River Maritime Museum
*Willapa Bay
*Raymond, Washington
*South Bend, Washington
*Tokeland, Washington
*Pacific County, Washington

References

* Faber, Jim, "Steamer's Wake", Enetai Press, Seattle, WA 1985 ISBN 0-9615811-0-7
* Feagans, Raymond J., "The Railroad that Ran by the Tide", Howell-North, Berkeley, CA 1972 ISBN 0-8310-7094-3
* Newell, Gordon R., ed. "H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest", at page 81, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA 1966

External links

* [http://www.pacificcohistory.org/index.htm Pacific County Historical Society and Museum]
* [http://content.lib.washington.edu/ University of Washington Digital Collections]