Does anyone remember....

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

....the Patterson Ferries that ran between Prosser, WA and Irrigon, OR?  Even better, can anyone produce pictures of them?

 

There were two tiny tugboats, each pushing a steel barge with maybe a ten car capacity.  I remember them being white with red trim, no railings of any kind, and being so afraid we'd wash away because the tugs would turn upstream and make a huge curve back to exactly the right spot once the current took over.  It felt like we we were out of control.

 

They built a bridge downstream a few years later, but I'll remember that  ferry forever.

 

 

[Alpo]

There's a 2-minute video here. The first minute is just telling about it. Then there's some old - from 1938 - black and white footage of the ferry.

 

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

From an Irrigon Oregon FB group 

 

Paterson Ferry 1949 pulling into Oregon landing, tug Roxana , looking north west.

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

7 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

From an Irrigon Oregon FB group 

 

Paterson Ferry 1949 pulling into Oregon landing, tug Roxana , looking north west.

 

I question the date on that.  It looks way more sophisticated than I remember.  This one has side rails or nets, appears to be a lot larger, and different ramps.

 

I don't think it had any life boats when I was last on it in 1952 or 1953 and it appears to have a radar mount on the top.

 

Somehow it looks a whole lot larger, too.

 

Of course I was only a wee laddie then and my much more aged mind may be messing with memories,  It has happened, you know....A LOT!!!

[watab kid]

funny thing about our memories , ive found that what i recall about the early 50s always seemed bigger and grander than the photos i have of those times appear to really be , i think as a wee lad we are impressed easier as everything is a new experience to us , i dont recall the interior of our 52 buick but i remember thinking that was a huge car from the outside - it was a coupe , it was blue , i slammed my finger in the door and i never liked it after that ..........i guess bad memories stick with you as much as good ones , i know my father was very happy with that car .....it was his first "new" car in his lifetime , 

[Eyesa Horg]

When I was around 26 or 27 working for the phone company I got sent on a repair in the town where I lived when I was 5 years old. I remembered the road name and the church across the field,so tried to find the childhood home. Found it pretty easy but was amazed at how close to the road it was! Seemed a lot further back when I was 5! Found my old school too and looked way smaller than memory.