Historic Gillnet Boat Restoration

Port District #2 of Wahkiakum County now has ownership of the historic gillnet boat currently stored at the fairgrounds in Skamokawa. Built at the Wilson shipyards in Astoria sometime between 1913 and 1916, it was sold to Walter Jacobsen, an Astoria resident, then eventually sold to Herman Raistakka of Rosburg. In time it was stored at the Altoona Cannery and remained there till the cannery was not stable enough to support it. It was then moved to the Port District’s storage shed at Vista Park. In the last few years, it has been at the fairgrounds, but now plans are being developed for it to be restored and put on display at Vista Park. In 1978, the gillnetter was officially placed on the National Historic Register. Nicholas Vann, architect from the State’s Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation, recently visited Skamokawa to see the boat. He commented that the boat is the smallest item in the State of Washington listed on the National Register. The boat is one of five sites in the County listed on the Register. Other official historic sites listed include the Deep River Church (1974), the Grays River Covered Bridge (1971), Cathlamet’s Pioneer Church (1973), and the Skamokawa Historic District (1976). Over the years, many have worked to restore the boat including Ed Steffens, Gilbert Vik, Kent Martin, Dean Badger, and Steve McClain. Port District #2 plans to place the boat in a permanent structure located near the flag pole in Vista Park and develop a display so that visitors and residents alike can get near the boat and see inside. Educational signs will be developed describing the history of gillnetting on the Columbia and the importance of the historic salmon industry of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The Fair Board has requested that the boat be moved by August 1^st so the work of preparing the boat, moving it, and setting it up will be happening over the next few months. As funds are raised and plans made, volunteers, donors and others interested in the boat are encouraged to call Port Manager, Janet Bryan, or Kayrene Gilbertsen, Port Commissioner, at the Vista Park office at (360) 795-8605 for more information.