:Page 10 Section 4
THE CAPITAL JOURNAL
Salem, Oregon, Thursday, June 21, 1956
Still Cross River
Only
Two Ferries
Remain In Action
' By BEN MAXWELL
' ' Capital Journal Writer
if Virgil, Horace and Calulus
paid old Charon his obolns for
ferriage across the mythical Styx
enroute to the Elysian fields they
boi. soaked. Marion county's two
Lincoln during or before 1832. A
service was maintained at that
crossing until 181)8 with Tracy
Walling as last ferryman.
Salem Had Them Too
Salem, too, had ferries. When
Lieutenants Warre and Vavasour.
nn'r of lintish snoopers, visited
remaining ferries will '"nspor' the site of Salem (then The Wills)
VI1U' aLiraS UIC FiumuniH ,
JU4S-4U they observed that thci
Methodist missionaries had a
make shift ferry on the Willam
ette consisting of two canoes with
a deck of puncheons. Since the
boat had but little utility a later
generation of cynics suspected that
the gentlemen missionaries used
to escape across the river from
irate wives over - burdened with
many children and weary of aus
terity. I
Marion county commissioner s
records show that Dr. W. I!. Will
son, the missionary and so-called
founder of Salem, applied for a
license to operate a ferry at this
crossing in May of 1850. Hates
allowed by the court were gener
ous, exceeding those granted
Hale's ferry on the Santiam. For
a yoke of oxen and a wagon the
charge was $1, for a man and
horse, 25 cents; for a footman
12'.i cents.
Willson Rates Hike
But "Doc" Willson was not satis
fied nnr) snnn hiirh'prml ihe rnllrt
Independence and later at Buena:for a hilher rate, This tncy re.
Vista, runs the new Bucna y';iiUctanllv allowed and the rates
ta." This trolley ferry with a steel for (el.rioge across lne Willamette
hull was laid down in 1955, is atnt Salem were then about aoube
twin screw boat driven by two those on Ule Santiam. Gaunt. im-
electric motors, one for each pro- p(.cunious immigrants with tobac
pollor. Buena Vista takes up to co juice in thcir whi .l:ers were
six cars and makes the crossing ;nut too mucll impressed. They tolci
in about two minutes. At present (he Doc ,vhere he could gj and
the boat is handlin? from 90 o ' d nis fcrry to suit tn(,lr Cu.
150 cars and trucks daily but ;Vcnienc0 win or wilholt nav.
when the bean season gets to go- rarly in ,8U the court ijceix,
Ing strong the number will beWnil(;'s as a Coiiipc-tin ferry and
about doubled. tlere was as soon a gratifying de-
Service Sometimes Stopped Icline in cliarws.
Bucna Vista, like the Daniel, nurinir no Cox and Shcllv es-
Wheatland or Bucna Vista with
out any charge at all.
Of course there are skeptics
who say that crossing the Wil
lamette to Buena Vista in Polk
county or Wheatland in Yamhill
is not exactly comparable to en
tering the Elysian field, that tron
tranquil haven of antiquity. And
there are other hard headed per
sons to remind you that residents
of Polk, Marion or Yamhill coun
ties pay the obolus just the same,
but indirectly. They point out that
joint operation of the two ferries
cost the counties $10,000 a year
for Buena Vista and about $12,
000 for Wheatland.
First License Given
Reason B. Hall, stalwart pioneer
of 1846 settled himself on the site
of Buena Vista 2 miles from
Salem as the Willamette flows
and in 1851 received a license
from the territorial legislature to
operate a ferry at that crossing.
W. E. Lawrence, ferryman with
28 years of experience, first at
Ferries Still Do Good Business on Willamette River
s -
'Ms.
7 Wonders of
World Brought
Up to Date
ders of the world. And you prob
ably can't name the other six.
It's time we brought the list up
to date, using wonders that we
all wonder at every day. Here
with, the wonders of today's
world:
1. The no-rcturn beer bottle.
Before the advent of this sturdy
monument to convenience, man
kind was knee deep in bottles,
waiting to be returned.
2. Singing commercials. Won
ders never cease and neither do
these things.
3. Strapless dresses. The won
der here is: Wonder whether it'll
stay no?
4. View of the Empire State
building. Looks down on the
greatest agglomeration of mason
ry, steel, and connivance in
history.
5. Winston Churchill. A wonder
of this or any other world.
6. High heels for women and
jackets in summer for men. Tba
wonder of the spectacle of mil
lions of persons maiming and
torturing themselves.
7. Air condition. 'S wonderful.
And now back to the storied
tower of Pisa.
We have checked and found
there Is no truth in the ancient
legend that Conrad Hilton is going
to buy the tower, turn it into a
hotel, and name it "The Tiltin"
Hilton."
Nor is there substance to the
report that it is going to be turned
into a restaurant called "The
Leaning Tower Of Pizza."
There was a rumor, some
months ago, that the Leaning
Tower sent a note to Big Ben
in London. The note said:
"You've got the time and I've
got the inclination."
This is true. We wouldn't end
this piece on a false note.
Matheny at Wheatland, has a good
record for continuity of service.
But when the river gets too high
and drift laden both ferries pru
dently retire and wait for Old
Man River to recede within his
banks.
Wheatland ferry Is 13 miles be
low Salem as the river flows and
35 miles from Buena Vista. Daniel
Matheny, veteran of the war of
1812 and a Yamhill county pioneer
of 1843 was operating a ferry at
his crossing in 1847.
Present Wheatland ferry no
quired in 1947 bears the name of
its founder, Daniel Matheny. It is
a six car boat powered by elec
tricity and makes the Willamette
crossing in about two minutes. It
also made newspaper history
few winters ago when the cable
broke during a winter evening
and the boat went adrift in the
darkness. A single power wire
held to guide the ferry into wil
lows where it lodged.
Tom Bowdcn, with 16 years of
experience at the Wheatland cross
Ing, and Frank Hersha operate
the Daniel Matheny. On June 14.
of this year they transported 157
cars and 63 trucks between Mis
sion Bottom and Wheatland.
Two Ferries Remain
Buena Vista and Wheatland
ferries alone remain of many
once landing along the Willamette
in Marion county. For many years
these ferries operated as charge
ferries but after 1910 joint coun
ty operations gave them a free
and public status.
Sol Cox and Richardson Bros,
started operating a ferry at the
Independence crossing August 14.
1885. The service became free in
1896 and a fcrry continued to
operate here until I1"" bridge ro
plnced it five years ago.
Halls ferry between Independ
ence and Salem was established
by Noah I.caho during or before
1867. An early Salem newspaper
carried his rhyming advertise
ment: "So come one, come all
We're always glad to have You
- anil
So come by night or conic by
day
We are always glad to work for
pay "
B. F. Hall acquired I.eabo's
ferry in 18112 and thereafter it
continued to operate under his
name until the service was us-
conlinucd around 1915. Final owner
was a Mr. Pettyjohn who adver
tised to attract a vanishing horse
and bueuy traffic that no autos
were allowed on his ferry. As a
matter of fact the Polk county
road to Pettyjohn's ferry was ui-
ten so deep with ruts and mud thai
no uu o could reaeh his boat from
no auto could reach his boat from
Andrew Jackson lioak estab
lished Doak's ferry at what is now
rn l r
leaciiors ianic .)
To Portland Meet
Five delegates will represent
the Salem Classroom Teachers
association at the SMth annual
convention of the National Edu
cation association in Portland
July 1-6.
Delegates chosen were Joseph
D. Formick, Richard Unices,
Eleanor Roberts. James Watson
and (icorgc Forgard.
Among outstanding speakers
at the convention wilt be Knc
Johnston, special roving ambas
sador for the United States in
the Middle East, and Dr. I.ee Du
Bridge, president of the Califor
nia Institute of Technology,
tablished a swing ferry in North
Salem and during September of
that year J. N. Matheny commis
sioned a steam ferry of sorts for
the Salem crossing. It carried up
to six wagons and made the shore
to shore run in two or three min
utes. Four years later Matheny
and associates replaced this boat
with a more elegant ferry, dis
playing a saloon deck nnd coslin?
about $8,000. Two years later, In
1869, nn even more palatial fern
costing $15,000 entered into scrvici
at this crossing .Until the firs!
Willamette bridge was opened De
cember 7, 1886 steam ferries oper
ated between Salem and tiieir
West Salem landing. Last ferry
service here known to the writer
was maintained briefly during con
struction of the Center street
bridge opened July 30, 1918.
' -it
mJ' j Y ' ' H T!i T.w.1...1 Tl.
l-:.4r it- it Ti'c '-;;v.'J t: Crt. r.-1 Churchill
N '123 IraR- Hj mm 1,.J ByH.-rT-Qu.oo
r i fc.iMguV ILrrVMTyV uwJ !! P 1 L'nitcd Press Staff Correspondent
B'-B. I LiliJ tL-fj:":-. ii.'-. 'i -a . r'i'i- Mill .
FV "UJiMf V'i. - immhi ' T"""'Ttr Jli - I K i 1 from Italy hint that the Leaning
Tf , - - -:.: -.: - ON THE YEAR-AHEAD CAR
'I 0-W;, V ii-Ullv j CHRYSLER WINDSOR V-8
h NEW 1956 CHRYSLER
: - jq. .i "A . It's all yours for the cost of a
T h r 'j fully equipped "low-priced" small car!
Top: Buena Vista ferry service established by Reason B. Hall
In 1851 has been continuous at this crossing for 105 years. Shown
Is the present boat, "Buena Vista," new, twin screw steel ferry
motivated by electrical power. W. . Lawrence, ferryman with
28 years of experience, Is shown at the right directing a car off
his boat. Lower: Ferry "Daniel Matheny" at Wheatland cross
ing bears the name of Its founder who operated a ferry here
during 1847. Tom Bowden and Frank Hersha are ferrymen. (Cap
ital Journal Photos)
Salem Automobile Co., Inc. 435 N. ComI. St. 3-4117
Voodbtirn Picnic S
WOODBURN The annual Sun
day school picnic for the Wood
burn Presbyterian church will be
held duly 24. in .Seltlemier park
(weather permitting). The pot lurk
dinner will be served at the park
immediately after the morning
service. The Sunday school will
provide the drinks and ice cream.
In case of rain the picnic will he
held in the church social room. All
msmbers, families and friends of
Um ihurcti art urged to ttteod. 1
rAVx P ti refreshing
KMAb Hl beer
;! H W -
.. m' -i.rt'i;lQM'4vH
, f1 F':IJ mi'r -Hnfm
JLu
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j -j.V, Plcosant reward ... for a job well done! Bright blossoms and fragrances . . . very attractive helper! j j . j
VI l t i nAl,irnlk, nllc (af ikn llnk fnfrAt klnn knnr rtllfv AnIr,U rA hitrnuar fnr unnrcalf fka linKf S-S F 1
rfV3l IIUIVIUIIJ VUIU IVI lilt lljlll, iVMbJlllliy UCI 9.UIll. II IIIIIUIU. 1.1 IVI VWIJV w iijjh" -jffjjW P'
j refreshing beer in its bright, new anniversary package . . . the light, refreshing beer I
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We cordially invite you fo visit w...ond see how The Light Refreshing Beer is brewed. Guided tours 10 A.M. fo 5 P.My Mondays through Fridays.