Lofall-South Point

[FNS]

Came across this neat photo page of ferry operations on Hood Canal:



www.flickr.com/photos/9131426@N06/sets/72157626032829240/with/5439364228/

This shows both docks, the RHODODENDRON in the 1950s (when my high school history teacher was Purser aboard the RHODY), the unsuccessful barge that was tried on the run in 1980, and the KLICKITAT, TILLIKUM, KULSHAN, and a passenger ferry.

The route opened in 1950 with the MV VASHON in Black Ball days. After the state took over 80% of PSN's ferries on June 1, 1951, this crossing saw the OLYMPIC, RHODODENDRON, the old KITSAP, CROSLINE, and VASHON. There might have been others, but can't find history books that say. The route closed in 1961 when the then new Hood Canal Bridge was opened to traffic.

On February 13, 1979, a fierce windstorm blew through Puget Sound and sank the west half of the Bridge. The state resurrected the docks at Lofall and South Point and ran a passenger ferry across the Canal with bus connections at both sides that summer of 1979 and placed a Jumboferry on the temporary Edmonds to Port Townsend run. A series of barges were tied together with a ramp at each end and a wheelhouse added along with propulsion and commercial ferry service was provided by the BEACH GIRL out of Port Gamble that year.

In the spring of 1980, WSF had automobile docks ready and tried a barge operation with buses tied to the deck for passengers. This didn't work out after a bad accident occurred with a tug. So, real ferries reappeared on the Canal and the TILLIKUM and KULSHAN were on the run for the rest of that year. Next year, the run had a new I-Class ferry operating with the TILLIKUM and the KULSHAN spent her last summer operating as third ferry next to the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY on the Columbia Beach run before heading to the East Coast where you can see her today as the GOVERNOR doing trips out of Martha's Vineyard through the lens of the MVTimes webcam. Shortly afterwards, the west span had new pontoons and the Bridge was reopened and the ferries went elsewhere.

About a year later, ferry service was seen again on the Canal with the KLAHOWYA and TILLIKUM serving as some further work had to be done on the Bridge.

Strangely to say, and this route was a very short one of less than two miles, galley service was provided as seen on my crossings aboard the TILLIKUM in 1980 and her encore afterwards. Not enough time to eat a hot dog on that run (I think they were still made the old fashioned way then). Oh, yes, the KULSHAN had a vending machine for coffee. The coin drop was covered by tape lots of times as it was out of order due to the sideways shaking of her little cabin! ;D

[northwesterner]

One of the pictures on this Flickr collection is the Klickitat at Lofall in 1980.
Was this the last assignment for the Klickitat before she went in for rebuilding?

[FNS]

Sept 16, 2012 16:03:26 GMT -8 northwesterner said:

One of the pictures on this Flickr collection is the Klickitat at Lofall in 1980.
Was this the last assignment for the Klickitat before she went in for rebuilding?

The KLICKITAT spent her final summer in her old configuration in 1980 serving the San Juans with the KALEETAN, EVERGREEN STATE, and VASHON. She did join the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY on an Edmonds to Columbia Beach reroute for a day after the NISQUALLY rammed Mukilteo on a Wednesday morning in October 1980. This would be as close as you would get in having a total Steel-Electric reunion as the QUINAULT was affected by a printed schedule at Vashon Island.

I think that the KLICKITAT was the first real ferry to reappear on the Lofall run after the ferries were gone from the Canal in 1961. This was in the spring of 1980 as she tried to provide service stability next to the failing barge system. After the tug accident, WSF ended the barge operation and TILLIKUM phased out the long detour and was placed on the Lofall run. WSF also grabbed the KULSHAN from Columbia Beach and placed her next to the TILLIKUJM on the Canal. Columbia Beach had the ILLAHEE, OLYMPIC, and VASHON during the spring of 1980.

The KLICKITAT spent part of the summer of 1980 on the Sidney run while the ES and KALEETAN hauled the domestic load. There was no inter-island service yet until the ISSAQUAH was finally placed on the Vashon run. After the ISSY was placed on the run, the NISQUALLY went north to Columbia Beach and the VASHON went to the San Juans and the ES replaced the KLICKITAT on the Sidney run. We'll have to take a look at the KLICKITAT's old log books if they still are around to find out where she was before her steeling.

The KULSHAN left the Canal for relief service elsewhere on Puget Sound in the late fall of 1980 as the new KITTITAS was placed in Lofall service. The KITTY damaged a dock on the Lofall run on the same day the ISSY celebrated her first birthday by bashing Fauntleroy. The KULSHAN was seen on Seattle's waterfront hauling cars from Colman Dock to Vashon Island along with the QUINAULT, KLAHOWYA, and the naughty birthday boat the rest of the day on December 29, 1980. The KULSHAN tried out a Vashon to Southworth shuttle on the New Year's holiday weekend before hearing the call to return to the Canal.

More stories later ...

[Deleted]

Sept 16, 2012 17:33:54 GMT -8 FNS said:

Sept 16, 2012 16:03:26 GMT -8 northwesterner said:

One of the pictures on this Flickr collection is the Klickitat at Lofall in 1980.
Was this the last assignment for the Klickitat before she went in for rebuilding?

The KLICKITAT spent her final summer in her old configuration in 1980 serving the San Juans with the KALEETAN, EVERGREEN STATE, and VASHON. She did join the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY on an Edmonds to Columbia Beach reroute for a day after the NISQUALLY rammed Mukilteo on a Wednesday morning in October 1980. This would be as close as you would get in having a total Steel-Electric reunion as the QUINAULT was affected by a printed schedule at Vashon Island.
I think that the KLICKITAT was the first real ferry to reappear on the Lofall run after the ferries were gone from the Canal in 1961. This was in the spring of 1980 as she tried to provide service stability next to the failing barge system. After the tug accident, WSF ended the barge operation and TILLIKUM phased out the long detour and was placed on the Lofall run. WSF also grabbed the KULSHAN from Columbia Beach and placed her next to the TILLIKUJM on the Canal. Columbia Beach had the ILLAHEE, OLYMPIC, and VASHON during the spring of 1980.

The KLICKITAT spent part of the summer of 1980 on the Sidney run while the ES and KALEETAN hauled the domestic load. There was no inter-island service yet until the ISSAQUAH was finally placed on the Vashon run. After the ISSY was placed on the run, the NISQUALLY went north to Columbia Beach and the VASHON went to the San Juans and the ES replaced the KLICKITAT on the Sidney run. We'll have to take a look at the KLICKITAT's old log books if they still are around to find out where she was before her steeling.

The KULSHAN left the Canal for relief service elsewhere on Puget Sound in the late fall of 1980 as the new KITTITAS was placed in Lofall service. The KITTY damaged a dock on the Lofall run on the same day the ISSY celebrated her first birthday by bashing Fauntleroy. The KULSHAN was seen on Seattle's waterfront hauling cars from Colman Dock to Vashon Island along with the QUINAULT, KLAHOWYA, and the naughty birthday boat the rest of the day on December 29, 1980. The KULSHAN tried out a Vashon to Southworth shuttle on the New Year's holiday weekend before hearing the call to return to the Canal.

More stories later ...

Cool. Keep the stories coming!

[SolDuc]

Last weekend I went camping at Kitsap Memorial SP, right next to the old Lofall ferry dock and just miles away from South Point. Here are some pictures:

Southpoint. The Wingwalls are still in place and everything but the tresle and apron are still there.

South Point Ferry Dock by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Any ferry terminal will leave traces. Like here in Lofall:

Ferry Street and Mailboxes @ Lofall, WA by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

And finally a shot of the Lofall Dock. The Terminal Buildings have been converted into homes and a community club now owns the place where the ferry terminal used to be.

Old Lofall Ferry Dock by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

[heatherj]

HI- I was excited to find these photos. I am wondering if anyone has any information or photos of a building that that was moved from the Lofall terminal about 10-15 years ago to a lot on Bainbridge. I currently own a home that is on Bainbridge Island and I was told that it was moved here from the Lofall Terminal. The electrical panel still has the old labels for the fog horn etc. My home is now a vacation rental and I want to share the history with my guests. Does anyone have any information that they might be able to share. Here is the listing on VRBO www.vrbo.com/627669 . If you have any info or photos I would really love it! Thank you!

[Barnacle]

Nov 12, 2014 9:15:48 GMT -8 heatherj said:

HI- I was excited to find these photos. I am wondering if anyone has any information or photos of a building that that was moved from the Lofall terminal about 10-15 years ago to a lot on Bainbridge. I currently own a home that is on Bainbridge Island and I was told that it was moved here from the Lofall Terminal. The electrical panel still has the old labels for the fog horn etc. My home is now a vacation rental and I want to share the history with my guests. Does anyone have any information that they might be able to share. Here is the listing on VRBO www.vrbo.com/627669 . If you have any info or photos I would really love it! Thank you!

Interesting.  I looked at the Google Earth shots of Lofall and South Point, and although your building does look like a terminal waiting room, the buildings I'd assumed were the waiting rooms were both still present.  FNS, do you have any hints or leads on this?

[FNS]

Nov 12, 2014 15:28:52 GMT -8 Barnacle said:

Nov 12, 2014 9:15:48 GMT -8 heatherj said:

HI- I was excited to find these photos. I am wondering if anyone has any information or photos of a building that that was moved from the Lofall terminal about 10-15 years ago to a lot on Bainbridge. I currently own a home that is on Bainbridge Island and I was told that it was moved here from the Lofall Terminal. The electrical panel still has the old labels for the fog horn etc. My home is now a vacation rental and I want to share the history with my guests. Does anyone have any information that they might be able to share. Here is the listing on VRBO www.vrbo.com/627669 . If you have any info or photos I would really love it! Thank you!

Interesting.  I looked at the Google Earth shots of Lofall and South Point, and although your building does look like a terminal waiting room, the buildings I'd assumed were the waiting rooms were both still present.  FNS, do you have any hints or leads on this?

I didn't pay any attention to the buildings.  Just the presence of the slips when they were used for the post-bridge-sinking services from 1979 on.

[SS San Mateo]

I came across this picture of one of the modified barges that operated on the route.

pugetsoundblogs.com/photovideo/files/2015/12/01-19-80_LofallBarge_CAM.jpg

[sounder]

Jan 7, 2016 10:54:11 GMT -8 SS San Mateo said:

I came across this picture of one of the modified barges that operated on the route.

pugetsoundblogs.com/photovideo/files/2015/12/01-19-80_LofallBarge_CAM.jpg
This is a fantastic photo of the barge equipment that was used. If I remember correctly, the barges had a school bus or two parked on board that acted as shelter cabins for walk on passengers. It is very rare to come across any photos of the Lofall-South Point run either before the Hood Canal bridge or during the bridge rebuild (1979-1982)

[Barnacle]

Jan 7, 2016 10:54:11 GMT -8 SS San Mateo said:

I came across this picture of one of the modified barges that operated on the route.

pugetsoundblogs.com/photovideo/files/2015/12/01-19-80_LofallBarge_CAM.jpg

Wow.  I'd always heard those things were frightening, but... wow.  Just wow.  I don't think I'd even get aboard, let alone run one.

[FNS]

Today marked the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Hood Canal bridge.

Half of it sank in a violent windstorm on February 13, 1979.

Within a couple of weeks or so, the little old Quincy Street dock in Port Townsend was upgraded to handle bigger ferries for service between there and Edmonds.

The KALEETAN, SPOKANE, WALLA WALLA, YAKIMA, and ELWHA took turns on this 90-minute run.  The evening northbound trip met the southbound PRINCESS MARGUERITE coming from Victoria during the summer of 1979.

The RHODODENDRON made fast at Keystone each night to keep Quincy clear for the late night landings of the ferry from Edmonds.  She normally berthed at Port Townsend at that time.

A passenger only ferry ran between Lofall and South Point during the summer of 1979 while ferry docks were being restored.  Feeder bus lines branched out from the docks.

After the TILLIKUM phased out the long run (taking two hours to complete a trip), she worked with the KULSHAN on Hood Canal in 1980.  This was the aftermath of a failed barge service on the Canal.  A new I-100 ferry entered service there in 1981 and the KULSHAN returned to Columbia Beach as third ferry, backing up the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY. 

The OLYMPIC joined the RHODY on the Keystone run in 1981 marking WSF's first two-vessel service there.  WSF had just completed a new slip in Keystone Harbor west of the then existing one.  The OLYMPIC made fast in the old slip and the new slip was used for traffic.  The old slip was torn down after the new double-slip Harrison Street Port Townsend terminal was opened in about 1983.

Most of you know the rest of the story.  I'll let another forum member continue on from here on the reopening of the bridge.

Here's an article of interest:

mynorthwest.com/1273065/hood-canal-bridge-sank-windstorm-1979/

[sounder]

Feb 13, 2019 22:33:36 GMT -8 FNS said:

Today marked the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Hood Canal bridge.

Half of it sank in a violent windstorm on February 13, 1979.

Within a couple of weeks or so, the little old Quincy Street dock in Port Townsend was upgraded to handle bigger ferries for service between there and Edmonds.

The KALEETAN, SPOKANE, WALLA WALLA, YAKIMA, and ELWHA took turns on this 90-minute run.  The evening northbound trip met the southbound PRINCESS MARGUERITE coming from Victoria during the summer of 1979.

The RHODODENDRON made fast at Keystone each night to keep Quincy clear for the late night landings of the ferry from Edmonds.  She normally berthed at Port Townsend at that time.

A passenger only ferry ran between Lofall and South Point during the summer of 1979 while ferry docks were being restored.  Feeder bus lines branched out from the docks.

After the TILLIKUM phased out the long run (taking two hours to complete a trip), she worked with the KULSHAN on Hood Canal in 1980.  This was the aftermath of a failed barge service on the Canal.  A new I-100 ferry entered service there in 1981 and the KULSHAN returned to Columbia Beach as third ferry, backing up the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY. 

The OLYMPIC joined the RHODY on the Keystone run in 1981 marking WSF's first two-vessel service there.  WSF had just completed a new slip in Keystone Harbor west of the then existing one.  The OLYMPIC made fast in the old slip and the new slip was used for traffic.  The old slip was torn down after the new double-slip Harrison Street Port Townsend terminal was opened in about 1983.

Most of you know the rest of the story.  I'll let another forum member continue on from here on the reopening of the bridge.

Here's an article of interest:

mynorthwest.com/1273065/hood-canal-bridge-sank-windstorm-1979/

Thank you for the historical insight FNS, you have some great info on how the different boats played a part with the sinking of the Hood Canal Bridge. I have always wondered what traffic looked like when it was cued up and waiting at that old Quincy Street dock. Vehicles must have been lined up all over downtown Pt. Townsend if the Jumbos & Supers were running close to full capacity out of that terminal? They must have been separated from the Keystone bound traffic? I know that the Quincy Street terminal was not that big and seemed like very little room for holding lanes.

[SS San Mateo]

History of the Lofall dock.


www.lofallcc.org/dock-history.html

[Kahloke]

Jun 17, 2021 17:32:43 GMT -8 SS San Mateo said:

History of the Lofall dock.


www.lofallcc.org/dock-history.html

Nice article, but a couple of their photos need re-captioning.  The most incorrect reference is the one of MV Vashon with Lofall fishing fleet floats in the foreground...WRONG!  Vashon is at Orcas Island in that photo, not Lofall.

[Barnacle]

Jun 17, 2021 18:00:16 GMT -8 Kahloke said:

Jun 17, 2021 17:32:43 GMT -8 SS San Mateo said:

History of the Lofall dock.


www.lofallcc.org/dock-history.html

Nice article, but a couple of their photos need re-captioning.  The most incorrect reference is the one of MV Vashon with Lofall fishing fleet floats in the foreground...WRONG!  Vashon is at Orcas Island in that photo, not Lofall.

And the shot of the Kitsap and "Vashon" at "Lofall" is the Kitsap and Chetzemoka at Columbia Beach.

[donsay]

Does anybody remember where the dock was on the South Point side?
I've been looking at satellite images, and nothing is jumping out at me.

Thanks,
Don

[FNS]

Jul 13, 2022 16:59:18 GMT -8 donsay said:

Does anybody remember where the dock was on the South Point side?
I've been looking at satellite images, and nothing is jumping out at me.

Thanks,
Don

THE SOUTH POINT SLIP IS GONE



This image dated 4 May 2013 shows what was left of the South Point Terminal.  The small pier was used by the passenger ferry.



Between then and 10 July 2014, the slip and the span were removed as well as the passenger pier.

[donsay]

Great! Thanks!