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Weiser Ferry

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In the spring of 1883 Thomas Ranahan installed a ferry across the Snake River close to where the Snake River Bridge is now located. This crossing, known as the Weiser Ferry proved to be a popular one and opened up trade with the Malheur and Willow Creek settlers, capturing a certain amount of business for Weiser that might otherwise have gone to Baker City. (It took about fifteen minutes to get across to Idaho at the price of $1 each way.)

The ferry also proved popular with local patrons. Billy Stroebel, was the pilot and on one occasion the Leader reported that Billy had crossed “Smith and Hale’s entire grading outfit consisting of 14 teams and wagons, together with three teams and one hundred men . . . in one hour and forty-five minutes”. and yesterday a band of 450 horses were crossed in safety without the slightest accident occurring.”

Marvelous as this was, no amount of stage or ferry connections could equal one set of railroad tracks. Fortunately the Union Pacific was headed this way, grading roadbeds and laying tracks on their Oregon Short Line from Ogden, Utah to Portland, Oregon. The editor of the Leader was jubilant that the “shrill neighing of the Iron Horse” would soon echo across the valleys, giving Weiser a transcontinental connection.

From Weiser the Way It Was – by Betty Derig

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The Weiser ferry is considered one of the safest in this vicinity, but one day last week, the roaring torrent of the Snake River was too much for the cable, and it gave way. Mrs. Nellie Stroble and her family were passengers on the boat at the time, but, except for the natural fright accompanying such episodes, they came off all right. Fortunately, the shore was near enough for the ferryman to jump off and secure the boat. A bridge would do away with accidents of this kind and add thousands of dollars a year to the business of this county. It is a great need.

From Weiser Semi-Weekly Signal – Weiser, Idaho – Thursday, May 13, 1897

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Bob Tuttle has purchased the Weiser ferry from the Clayton Boys and will at once proceed to put in a new boat.

From Weiser Semi-Weekly Signal – Weiser, Idaho – Thu, Feb 24, 1898 – Page 2

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My grandfather Frank Gribbin moved to Weiser from Iowa in 1900.

In 1903 he homesteaded 160 acres on the Oregon side of the Snake, south of Weiser.

I would imagine that before the bridge was opened in Dec. 1904, that he used the Weiser ferry many times on his move from Weiser .

From Michael Gribbin

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Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Tuttle and children left Monday, overland for California, where they will probably make their future home. Mr. Tuttle has conducted the Weiser ferry for many years. They have leased their splendid property to J.A. Equals, who has already taken possession. |Mr. Tuttle and family have many friends in Weiser and this county who regret to have them leave, but their best wishes go with them.

From Weiser Semi-Weekly Signal – Weiser, Idaho – Sat, Sep 24, 1904 – Page 5

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FOR FORTY YEARS THE WEISER FERRY WAS THE CHIEF GATEWAY TO OREGON.

The dedication of the new steel bridge at Weiser puts out of use one of the most conspicuous of pioneer Snake River ferries, says the Baker City Herald.

For over 40 years, the Weiser ferry across the Snake has been one of the chief gateways to Oregon, and many historical characters have crossed into the state at this point to become citizens and help make the state what it is.

It was on the main highway from Umatilla Landing to the Idaho mines, as well as on the old emigrant road leading from Green River across the bridge at Blackfoot to Grande Ronde Valley and Walla Walla.

One of the best reminiscences told of the old ferry concerns Jack Vincent, the veteran stage driver, well known in Pendleton, Walla Walla, and other points in the Inland Empire. Vincent was a gruff, adventurous character and was often “busted” in pioneer days due to the rapid pace he led when he had money.

It is told of Vincent that he had crossed the Weiser ferry about 10 times one summer, traveling back and forth to the Boise Basin mines. As he had been busted each time, his ferry bill had climbed up to something like $25. Finally, the ferryman told him emphatically that he must have money to square up his old bill and pay in advance before he could cross again.

In October of 1871, Jack started down from the mines with two pack horses, his six-shooter, gold pan, pick and shovel, but he was out of grub and broke as usual. There was no possible way of getting to Grande Ronde Valley except across the ferry, and he had received a tip that trouble would follow if he attempted to cross again without paying.

He was revolving all his old tricks in his mind, trying to find a solution when he overtook a lone horseman and soon found that this traveler was about as badly embarrassed financially as Vincent. Vincent immediately discovered a means of escape.

The ferryman could not refuse passage to an officer of the law in discharge of his duty, so the stranger was to play prisoner, and Vincent would demand passage for both, as officer and prisoner.

The stranger was disarmed, bound to his horse, and Vincent tied the prisoner’s halter strap to his own saddle horn and led him down to the ferry, where he triumphantly beckoned the ferryman across.

At first, the ferryman refused passage for them, but when Vincent, with a horrible bluff, threatened to have the state authorities take his ferry privileges from him for delaying the execution of the law, speedy passage was given. The prisoner and his captor hurried down the road to a convenient hill to hide behind, where they celebrated their success by a feast of jackrabbit and sage hen broiled on a sagebrush fire and eaten without salt.

From Weiser Semi-Weekly Signal – January 21, 1905 – Page 1

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