El Paso’s last chapter

As automobiles became more prevalent in the early 20th century, the Bay Area’s ferry system began to build larger ferries to carry both automobiles and people. The Richmond-San Rafael Ferry Co. opened for business in May 1915. The business started with wooden-hulled side-wheeler paddle boats. The partners of the Richmond-San Rafael ferries could not agree on whether the boats should be painted red or white, so they were repainted alternating red and white into the 1920s. Patronage was not limited to just people and automobiles. Additional passengers included cattle and prisoners headed to San Quentin prison. By the 1920s, the larger ferries provided a water transport link between Castro Point in Richmond and San Quentin in Marin across the San Pablo Bay. The ferry would dock, and an “apron” was lowered onto the main deck, allowing cars and trucks to be driven aboard.

By 1924, three 240-foot steel-hulled ferries, the El Paso, Klamath and Russian River, were operating in the bay. The newer ferries featured a sit-down restaurant on the upper deck, where full-course meals could be cooked and eaten while crossing the bay.

The 1930s and 1940s were deemed the “golden age of Bay Area ferries.” By 1937, a dozen ferry routes were done by 40 boats. During World War II, the ferries operated almost round the clock to transport employees to the Marinship docks in Southern Marin. The ferries often carried more than 5,000 cars a day as the Redwood Empire and Russian River areas drew campers, fishermen and others wanting to escape the city. Yet, in the early 1950s, the era of ferries was coming to an end. There were only four routes and 13 boats. In 1953, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties came together to fund and build the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge that would more than double the traffic carried by the ferries.

The last Richmond-San Rafael ferry ran late Aug. 31, 1956. The El Paso was packed and many people reminisced about their experiences. Capt. Raymond Clarke reflected on his 41-year career working on the ferry. Danny Soleim sold newspapers on the Richmond pier for 41 years and rode the ferry a few times on the last day. At 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1, 1956, the upper span of the bridge opened for cars and pedestrians, and this ferry system sadly came to an end.

An Oct. 17, 1961, Marin IJ article announced the sale of the El Paso, Klamath and Russian River ferries. They were auctioned off by Oregon’s Schnitzer Brothers the day before in Oakland. Sam Goechman of Kern County purchased the El Paso and Russian River, saying they would either be left intact or become scrap metal. In a Jan. 27, 1964, Marin IJ article, it was reported that the Klamath was purchased after sitting idle since 1956. Owner Walter Landor planned to convert it into an office for the affiliated firms of Walter Landor & Associates.

The El Paso will be remembered for carrying 2,500 cars a day and 5,000 cars during summer weekends, enjoyable meals in the restaurant and more than four decades of fellowship wrapped up in timeless nostalgia.

History Watch is written by Lane Dooling, marketing and social media coordinator at the Marin History Museum, marinhistory.org. Images included in History Watch are available for purchase by calling 415-382-1182 or by email at info@marinhistory.org