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.
12 comments:
Some (all) boats cost more to dispose of than they are worth. A shame!
It IS well named ... rather sad.
I 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.
I 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.
Husband goes fishing a lot, wife breaks out rolling pin?
This 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!
Sheryl,
Reminds 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.
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 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.
I think Floyd grew up on the corner of Hume and Commercial. ask him
I'm glad we already have the answer at some of the obvious questions.
A 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!
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