Friday, January 14, 2011

Monticello Steamship Company -- January 14, 2011

The Monticello Steamship Company operated fast ferries between San Francisco and Vallejo, with a stop at the Mare Island Navy Yard on some runs. The boats connected with trains of the San Francisco, Vallejo and Napa Valley Electric Railroad. In later years they carried automobiles.

Ferry Sehome had a complicated life. She was built in 1877 as Mountain Queen, a stern-wheeler. In 1889, she was rebuilt as a side-wheeler. Monticello purchased her in 1909. In 1914, she was rebuilt to use a propeller. On 14-Dec-1918, fellow Monticello boat General Frisbie, rammed Sehome while proceeding through the fog near Point Pinole. No one was injured and Sehome's passengers were able to transfer to General Frisbie before Sehome went down. The Mare Island Navy Yard Marine Band played music to help calm the passengers.

The ad is from the 20-February-1910 San Francisco Call. Click on the image to see a larger version.

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