Martha S

Today is the 64th anniversary of the Martha S's first run at the Keller Ferry.  She is one of three ferries that still cross the Columbia River in the United States.  The others are, upstream at Gifford and downstream at Wahkiakum County.  The Martha S is the only Columbia River ferry run by the State of Washington, the Gifford ferry is run by the Colville Indian Reservation and the Wahkiakum ferry is run by Wahkiakum County, albeit with some financial help from the State of Washington. 
The Martha S, is also commonly known as the Keller Ferry, she was built in Coulee Dam after World War Two, so I could not find why it lists Seattle as her port of origin.  She's not named for Martha Washington, but for Martha Shain the wife of then Highway Director Clarence Shain.  I suppose that is a honor, I can hear the conversation now, "honey we'll named a twelve car ferry after you, it will take over at Keller Ferry, Happy Anniversary!"  Or something like that.  Martha will be forced into retirement next May, when her replacement the Sanpoil will take over the nearly 125 year old ferry crossing.  The Sanpoil is named for a local group of first peoples.  Whereas it is great that we name our ferries after the tribes and have for 50 years, there is something to be said for naming a state motor vessel for the Highway Director's wife, it reminds us of a time when, naming a twelve car ferry for the Keller run really wasn't that important or at least the name didn't need to have some sort of significance.