West Seattle scene: Former ferry Annabelle, on Elliott Bay

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Trina for the photo of the Annabelle, which she reported seeing near Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). An info search reminds us that we’ve shown the Tacoma-based former Herron Island ferry here before, in 2010, at which time commenters surfaced lots of info about both its history and its rebirth as a floating home.

SIDE NOTE FOR SEA-WATCHERS: Checking the Coast Guard’s latest Local Notice for Mariners, looks like west-facing water watchers will see a yacht race one week from today – the annual Blake Island Race (see the course map on page 23, here) on May 31st.

miws May 24, 2014 (12:54 pm)

I thought I had seen the Annabelle S featured on WSB before! Can’t believe it’s been nearly four years ago!

Anyone interested, can find my own memories of her and Herron Island in the Comments of the “in 2010” Article linked above.

Mike

K'lo May 24, 2014 (1:44 pm)

I thought it was a Festivus ornament for the Space Needle!

Scott May 25, 2014 (6:37 am)

Thanks for this photo and comments. It brought back a lot of memories for me also. We moved to Herron Is. In 1967 after vacationing there for years. It was a great place to grow up riding the Annabel to the school bus every morning sitting at the top of the hill to see who was coming off the ferry on Friday afternoons to know where the party’s were going to be that weekend. And then Sundays all the weekenders would leave and the island would be just ours again.
Every so often Charlie would let us pilot the ferry or at least try to. That flat bottom boat was a bear to keep straight on course.
Thanks, Scott

miws May 25, 2014 (1:20 pm)

Scott, we must have crossed paths, then.

Our “daily driver”, from 1962-68ish was a gray ’62 Rambler 440 Station Wagon. After that, it was a blue ’65 Rambler 770 S/W.

We also had a blue, ’51 or ’52 Plymouth “Leapin’ Lena” that we kept on the Island (unlicensed Beater) for the on-Island romps; zipping down the “Whoopty-doooo!” Road, (the One-Way steep hilly road), and for mowing down alder trees on my Grandparents vacant lot.

Lena finally died out on us, probably by 1970, or a little after, (clutch went out, as I recall), and although Dad had intended to fix her, but was never able to get around to it.

I think Dad posted a sign/note on a bulletin board at Kirk’s Store, claiming Lena would ride again!

Many more memories of Lena and the Island to share, but I don’t have time now.

A side note about the Herron Island Ferry, that may have been mentioned in the previous article/comments; the Annabelle S’s replacement, was (re)named the MV Charlie Wells, in honor of longtime Captain Charlie.

Mike

Sorry, comment time is over.