_{The Kehloken undergoing maintenance in the early 1950’s not long after state ownership. The top of the 47-foot tall stack of either the San Mateo or Shasta can be see at left, looking like it is coming out of the Kehloken’s deck. Author’s photo, colorized by the author.}

CLASS: Wood Electric

BUILT: 1926, General Engineering & Drydock Co., Alameda, CA

PREVIOUS/LATER NAMES: a. Golden State, b. Kehloken

OFFICIAL NUMBER: 225772 CALL SIGN: WH6755

L/B/D: 240 x 60 x 13 GROSS/NET TONS: 780/481 PASSENGERS/AUTOS: 770/50

PROPULSION: Ingersoll Rand Diesel electric, 1200 HP SPEED: 10 knots

NAME TRANSLATION: “swan”

FINAL DISPOSITION: Gutted by fire, 19 September 1979.  Later cleaned up and towed out to Possession Point, Whidbey Island, and sunk as an artificial reef.

HISTORY

On 30 November 1937 an all-wood ferry sailed into Puget Sound.  Built in 1927, her builders probably had no idea that the ferry would be serving the public well into the 21st century. (Although admittedly the Kehloken is not currently serving in her originally intended capacity.)     

Emerging from the yard in her new colors—white superstructure, black hull, buff trim and crimson smokestacks, and flying the Black Ball flag, the ex-Golden State went to work on 7 January 1938 on the Suquamish-Indianola-Seattle run with her new name: Kehloken. She worked this route for a few years until replaced by the Illahee, at which time the ferry was moved to the Seattle-Winslow route.

While at work on the route the ferry carried out one of the saddest duties of her long career—she was the ferry that was loaded with the Japanese residents of Bainbridge Island that were sent to internment camps.

For the next ten years the Kehloken worked for between Seattle and Winslow.  Only when traffic became too much for her capacity did she finally leave the run in 1950 to the Southworth-Vashon- Fauntleroy route.

With newer vessels coming into the fleet, the Kehloken went on supplemental duty starting in 1959, working the summer season and evening commuter runs on the Vashon route until 1969.  She then went on Kingston route working weekends and summers until 1972.  Her last sailing was on Her last sailing was from Fauntleroy as the #4 vessel at 4:50 p.m. on Friday, 08 September 1972.*

For a few years she lingered at Eagle Harbor. The State was unwilling to put money into the nearly 50-year-old, all wood vessel with a carrying capacity of around 35 cars.

She was sold for $25,000.00 in 1975.  Her new owner towed the ferry over to Lake Washington to be converted into a clubhouse and restaurant.

After four years of lingering on Lake Washington she was set ablaze in September 1979 and burned to the waterline. The hulk was cleaned up and taken over by the Department of Natural Resources.  What remained of the Kehloken was towed out to Possession Point on Whidbey Island and intentionally sunk for use as an artificial reef.

Today, the M/V Kehloken is a popular spot for scuba divers.

* Courtesy of Rex Carlaw, who was a witness to the last sailing.