1990s: Early Day River Ferries Played Big Role in Area

Ferries are not uncommon in the state of Washington as the Puget Sound ferry system is world famous.

There are few ferries in eastern Washington and two have Ferry County ties. These two are also free ferries. The Keller Ferry (The Martha S.) is known statewide. It is not unusual to be on the ferry this time of year and discover that about half the people on it, especially those with children, are riding the ferry so the kid can say they've ridden on a ferry. In the summer time, the Keller Ferry is very busy as boaters, campers, travelers, etc., come to the area.

The Columbia River has a very colorful history and much of it had to do with the ferries that started to show up in this area prior to the Civil War.

Until bridges were built, boats provided the main transportation across the Columbia River. It was natural that as the frontier grew some enterprising person settled down at a convenient crossing and set up a toll ferry. In 1860, Joseph Ladoux operated the first ferry to be licensed on the part of then Columbia River, now Lake Roosevelt, near Kettle Falls to service the Hudson Bay Company's Fort Colvile. A person on foot paid 75 cents; a pack animal $1.25; loose animals $1.00 each and freight $5.00 a ton. It was later named the Marcus Ferry for the town that grew up around it. The ferry was busiest in 1896 when the northern half of the Colville Reservation was opened for mining. Miners would line up for a quarter-mile waiting to be ferried across. 

This fast growing frontier with its agriculture, mining and timber and spreading population stimulated the need for transportation across the river all along its banks. Small ferry systems sprung up all along its banks. They stayed in service as long as they were convenient. There were several that ran in the Kettle Falls area until 1902 when the bridge was completed. There were ferries at Gifford, Hunters, Fruitland, Lincoln, Fort Spokane, Keller and where the Grand Coulee Dam now sits.

When the two local ferries make the news, it is mostly not good. This was the case this summer when the Inchelium-Gifford Ferry was shut down due to low water and the Keller Ferry was moved to the low water docks. The low water docks were built in the early 70s when the lake was lowered for the construction of the third powerhouse. Two toll ferries still run year around across Lake Roosevelt. They are:

The Inchelium-Gifford Ferry, running between Gifford and Inchelium. It is operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Colville Confederated Tribes. The ferry was started in 1898 by Thomas Stensgar, a brewer from Fort Colville.

The Keller Ferry is operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation and connects Highway 21. It was established in the 1890s by J.C. Keller, who later founded the town of Keller on the San Poil River. Keller also played a major role in the early days of then Republic's Gold Camp. In 1896, he sent 21 pack loaded mules and his partner, W.C. Otto, up the San Poil and they started the first store here. Keller Street is named after him.

The general area of the Columbia River now served by the Martha S. had some historic cable ferries in the early days. Legend says that Wild Goose Bill had a ferry in the area. His first name was Wilbur and that town is named after him.

The cable ferries provided interesting trips for its passengers. Occasionally a cable would snap and subjected the ferry's passengers to a "Missouri Boat Ride."

Just as famous as the Keller Ferry was the Keller Grade. That is the four miles of highway that "lowers or raises" travelers from the lake level to the high wheat country heading for Wilbur.

The stretch of road has S curves and switchbacks. The Keller Grade road is now a super highway (with guardrails) compared to the road a few years back. You can still see the watering trough about half way up the grade. It was a spring pipe that allowed motorists to add water to their overheated vehicles.