Astoria, Oregon ~ April 11, 201039th Street
The Pipe Dream II is permanently parked on 39th Street between Leif Erikson Drive and the River walk. It's seen better days. I wonder whose dream it was, and what happened to it. I enjoy looking at the warping derelict and being reminded that we live in a waterside town with history - as if we needed a lot of reminding.
Does anyone know the story?I asked this question, and it turned out that "someone" knew. Here's what popped up on Comment Number 8:
Cap'n Rich: That was my boat and I gave it to Floyd Holcomb to show our history in gillnetting. It has a new engine & transmission but all the ribs were falling apart and after only having a few days to fish. It was not financially feasible to continue fishing. I suffered a stroke in 2009 and coming back strong. The boat was built by Alfred Korhonen in 1947, he came back after the war and built the boast. I found where he had been boarded by the Coast Guard and inspected for a number of years starting in the early 1950's.
Some (all) boats cost more to dispose of than they are worth. A shame!
ReplyDeleteIt IS well named ... rather sad.
ReplyDeleteI think it would make a wonderful yard sculpture - for someone with a really big front yard.
Wonderfully poignant post! There are probably a number of stories connected with this relic. One would think, though, that the authorities would haul it away, unless, of course, it is a paean to Astoria's watery past, present and future.
ReplyDeleteI remember commenting on MB's blog once about wooden boat cemeteries: in the water. I always think it's sad when boats end their lives on grass.
ReplyDeleteHusband goes fishing a lot, wife breaks out rolling pin?
ReplyDeleteThis boat reminds me a lot of my childhood. My dad had a partnership with some friends in a wooden fishing dory (about the size of this boat). The dory had seen better days by the time I came along. He and his friends removed the engine and retired it from fishing by the time I was four. For the next 10 years it was parked in the grass behind our house and became a playground for my friends and I. What adventures we had in that thing -- in our minds, it was at various times a boat, a submarine, a spaceship, and an airplane. Sometime in my teens my dad disposed of it in a huge bonfire. But, what memories!
ReplyDeleteSheryl,
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the song by Tanya Tucker, "Delta Dawn" where it says, "could it be a faded rose from days gone by?" Have you ever seen the hedge at 108 West Franklin? My old neighbor Denny Thompson has cut his hedge in the shape of a gillnet boat for about 40 years or so.
That was my boat and I gave it to Floyd Holcomb to show our history in gillnetting. It has a new engine & transmission but all the ribs were falling apart and after only having a few days to fish. I was not financially feasible to continue fishing.
ReplyDeleteI suffered a stroke in 2009 and coming back strong. The boat was built by Alfred Korhonen in 1947, he came back after the war and built the boast. I found were he had been boarded by the Coast Guard and inspected for a number of years starting in the early 1950's.
My husband says Floyd was from Knappa.
ReplyDeleteI think Floyd grew up on the corner of Hume and Commercial. ask him
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we already have the answer at some of the obvious questions.
ReplyDeleteA very nice story, I'm a bit sad for this boat: it always bad to see something well made falling apart.
very nice post..love the title especially:)) Have a great week!
ReplyDelete