Boones Ferry - History

History

The ferry was built by the family of Alphonso Boone (grandson of Daniel Boone) who, in 1846, claimed 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) on and around present day Charbonneau which was on the main road between Oregon City and present day Butteville. The family cleared a path and laid a split log roadway north to Portland and south toward Salem. The ferry was propelled by oarsmen from the nearby Tuality Indian tribe. Alphonso was adamant about operating the ferry 24 hours a day, which might have been related to a widespread illicit moonshine industry along the new road.

When word of the California gold rush reached the area in 1848, Alphonso and his sons headed south. Alphonso died either February 1, 1850 or February 27, 1850 in the gold fields of a miner's disease, but his sons returned with their fortunes. Initially Alphonso, Jr. operated the ferry, but soon sold it to his brother Jesse, who operated it until his death in 1872 at the hand of a neighbor over a river access dispute. Afterward, the ferry was owned and operated by several people for a few years, before it passed to Clackamas County. By the early 1900s, the State of Oregon controlled it.

Shortly after the establishment of Boones Ferry, the community of Boones Landing was established and quickly grew. It was the precursor of Wilsonville.

The completion of the Baldock Freeway Bridge (now Boone Bridge) in 1954 resulted in decommissioning the ferry, which made up to 300 trips per day, carrying up to 12 autos at a time.

Many sections of the road are still in use and named Boones Ferry Road, which closely parallels contemporary Interstate 5.

Today, at the end of one of the road fragments on the north shore is Boones Ferry Park in Wilsonville located where one terminal was; the south shore has a marina with a boat ramp in approximately the historical location of the other terminal. The ferry crossing site is about 2000 ft (600 m) west of I-5 and is visible from the southbound lanes of the Boone Bridge.