The Long Way
Marion County
A car ferry crossing a river under a cloudy sky.
Plate I. Wheatland Ferry crossing the Willamette River. Photograph by EncMstr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A car ferry crossing a river.
Plate II. Wheatland Ferry crossing the Willamette River. From willamettewatertrail.org
Vehicles aboard the Wheatland Ferry.
Plate III. Vehicles aboard the Wheatland Ferry. Photograph by Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vehicles deboarding the Wheatland Ferry.
Plate IV. Vehicles deboarding the Wheatland Ferry. Photograph by Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Operator cabin on the Wheatland Ferry.
Plate V. Operator cabin on the Wheatland Ferry. Photograph by Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Car deck, Wheatland Ferry.
Plate VI. Car deck, Wheatland Ferry. Photograph by Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wheatland Ferry

Wheatland, Marion County, Oregon. Ferry; Year-round operation.

Details

Map. Wheatland, Marion County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
Wheatland, Marion County, OR. No street address stated. Directions
When
Seven days a week 5:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Getting there
From the west: 9.5 miles south of Dayton on Highway 221, turn east onto Wheatland Ferry Road and proceed 1.2 miles to the ferry; Ediger Landing boat ramp is just north of the ferry.
Fees
Pedestrian Free; Bicycle $1; Motorcycle $2; Vehicle (with or without trailer and overall length): Less than 22 feet $3, Less than 42 feet $6, Greater than 42 feet $9; Single vehicle using entire ferry or over 65,000 lbs $18.
Access
Vehicle access and parking; paddlers can park and launch from either side of the ferry and should watch for the ferry's speed.
Walk-in or reserve
Walk-up crossing; tolls paid on board in cash, check or ferry toll card; toll cards also sold at Marion County Public Works, 5155 Silverton Road NE, Salem.
Phone
503-588-7979
Website
co.marion.or.us
Managed by
Marion County.
Established
1850's.
Coordinates
45.09069, -123.04654.

Oregon's oldest continuously operating ferry crossing, and its busiest; the ferry is the only remnant of the old Wheatland business district.

Notable Events

  1. 1837David Leslie came to help at the Methodist Mission, lived in a log cabin on the west side of the river and crossed to the Mission; the first river crossings were in Indian canoes. gutenberg.org
  2. 1843Daniel Matheny crossed the plains and took up a donation land claim reaching the river at Wheatland; his family then operated a ferry for many years. gutenberg.org
  3. 1844Daniel Matheny built the first ferry to carry an ox and wagon across the Willamette River; the original ferry was a current-powered drift ferry. hmdb.org
  4. 1872After Matheny died, the ferry fell into the hands of several private operators. oregonlive.com
  5. 1930sClyde Lafollette bought the ferry and built a cabin on it so his son Clarence could sleep there and take late travelers across. gutenberg.org
  6. 1935Marion and Yamhill counties began joint supervision of the ferry. oregonlive.com
  7. 1937Backed by Clyde Lafollette, the communities pressed for a free ferry; Yamhill and Marion counties took it over that year, hired two men to run it, and installed a new gasoline ferry. gutenberg.org
  8. 1947A new electric ferry was built that could handle six cars at a crossing. gutenberg.org
  9. 1958The ferry then in service was built by Albina Shipyards in Portland; at the time Yamhill and Marion counties planned to replace the ferry with a bridge. hereisoregon.com
  10. 1959The present ferry, an all-steel electric one handling six large cars, was purchased. gutenberg.org
  11. 2002The Daniel Matheny V, named after the ferry's original owner, entered service; the two counties had ordered a new ferry after learning repairs to the old vessel would cost too much. willametteheritage.org
  12. 2023A plaque funded by the Oregon State Society Daughters of the American Colonists, marking the Wheatland Ferry as the oldest continuously operating ferry in the state, was dedicated. hereisoregon.com

People

  • Bill Isham, owner after the Matheny family moved away.
  • Clyde Lafollette, bought the ferry, added a cabin and later a gasoline engine; backed the push for a free county ferry (early 1930's).
  • Daniel Matheny, built the first ferry and established the ferry service (died 1872).
  • Dick Wood, owner after the Matheny family moved away.
  • John Isham, owner after the Matheny family moved away.
  • Lane Davidson, owner after the Matheny family; a new ferry boat was built while he ran it.
  • Tom Bowden, operator of the gasoline ferry (1940).
  • Elaine Wagner, State regent of the Oregon State Society of Daughters of American Colonists and great-great-great-great granddaughter of Daniel Matheny; led the marker dedication.
  • Captain Daniel Matheny, built the first ferry to carry an ox and wagon across the Willamette (1793-1872).
  • Mary Cooper Matheny, wife of Daniel Matheny; came to Oregon in the first wagon train (1800-1856).

Sources

  1. co.marion.or.us/PW/ferries/Pages/wheatlandhours.aspx
  2. willamettewatertrail.org/map/wheatland-ferry
  3. yamhillcounty.gov/facilities/facility/details/Ediger-Landing-14
  4. co.marion.or.us/PW/ferries/Pages/default.aspx
  5. gutenberg.org/files/60734/old/60734-h/60734-h.htm
  6. oregonlive.com/history/2023/08/new-marker-celebrates-wheatland-ferrys-place-in-oregon-history.html
  7. hmdb.org/m.asp?m=292786
  8. willametteheritage.org/ferry-new