In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Pend Oreille was a county divided. The river proved to be a formidable geographic barrier that figured prominently in the lives of local citizens. Over time, transportation improvements bridged the gap. A notable step in this process came with the development of a reliable ferry system designed to transport vehicles, people, stock, and raw materials between the east and west banks of the Pend Oreille River.

Ruby Ferry, constructed by Pend Oreille County in 1913, operated longer than any ferry in the county. The original crosscurrent ferry consisted of a single-hull vessel covered with a platform. End gates folded down, allowing for the loading and unloading of cargo. A cable system spanning the river kept the ferry from going downstream, while guiding it across the river. By turning the pilot wheel, the rope attaching the boat to the cable tightened on one side, while loosening on the other causing the craft to angle against the current, propelling it toward the opposite bank. The pressure of the current against the craft’s adjustable rudders directed it across the river in the chosen direction. No crank, motor, or propulsion system of any kind was required, just the current. Ruby proved to be an ideal place to locate such a ferry because the swift river current there ensured a steady pace. The Ruby Ferry ran year-round except during periods of extremely high water.

As was true with many other ferries in the American West, possessing a colorful personality appears to have been a prerequisite for the ferrymen at Ruby Ferry. Among them was Otto “Dutch” Wilmer, known for selling moonshine and keeping passengers briefed on local news. Wilmer also served as justice of the peace and officiated at least one wedding aboard the ferry in the middle of the Pend Oreille River.

The 1956 completion of the Box Canyon Dam placated the river’s once-swift current. No longer able to harness the river’s flow, Pend Oreille County acquired a second-hand steel diesel-powered ferry to replace the original crosscurrent system. By 1965, the ferry had ceased operation altogether and the era of Pend Oreille ferry crossings came to an end.

Credits and Sources:

Bamonte, Tony, and Susan Schaeffer Bamonte. History of Pend Oreille County. Spokane: Tornado Creek Publications, 1996.

Cole, Josephine. “Ferrymen of Ruby.”Big Smoke, 1975.

Piper, William J. “The Ferries.” Big Smoke, 1990.

“Ruby Ferry Sold.” Newport Miner, May 13, 1965.

Photographs courtesy of the Pend Oreille County Historical Society and Pend Oreille County Library District.