The M.R. Chessman made the final Astoria-Megler ferry run on July 28, 1966 (The Oregonian, 29-July-1966).
Hundreds of nostalgic ferry riders left the Astoria dock at 9 p.m. Thursday to crossover the 4 1/2 miles of river, returning from Megler at 10:30 p.m. Dozens of present and former crewmen who have worked in the ferry service here over the last five decades were aboard.
Though the Astoria-Megler Bridge would not officially open until August 27, the bridge opened to automobile traffic at 6am on July 29, relieving the ferry boats of their duty.
2016 Update: the Astoria ferry may be coming back!
I was born in Astoria in 1945 and lived there until 1959. Dad worked for the Navy at Tongue Point. When the base closed Dad found a new job in Portland so he sold our house and we moved.
As a kid in the 1950’s it was fun to ride the ferry. My favourite one was the Tourist No. 3.
It cost ten cents each way for me and my bicycle on the ferry. That left me a nickel from a quarter to get a ice cream cone from the coffee shop on the ferry.
While the bridge is impressive it just doesn’t have the class the ferries had.
I have some colour slides of the ferries I took in about 1962.