The demise of Carey's ferry created some real problems for the farmers and ranchers south of the river, especially since there was almost no road to Priest River. They really needed to get the ferry running again. In 1920 those most concerned took action. Initially the plan was for another toll ferry, however the county agreed to operate a free ferry. Late in the year Fred Consulas began to work on getting a ferry ready. On February 15, 1921 he received his first paycheck of $70.00 for a month's wages. And so began a ferry that would last for three decades.
The name for the ferry came from the Great Northern flag stop and siding and from the school and ferry landing on the south shore. Fred Consulas' wife taught at the Thama School and would often take her classes down to the ferry to watch it operate.
Fred Consulas was only one of many who would run the ferry. Henry Bergdorf remembers Frank Maio, Frank Veltri, Jack Clark, Bill Granger, Albert Bauer, Frank Kemper, Albert Fox, Troy Bower and Loren Markham. Henry too ran the ferry on many occasions. And when just a passenger he helped whenever he could, reasoning that anything he could do to help would get him to the other side just that much sooner. He also recalls pulling more than one ferry across, hand over hand, especially when the wind was blowing.
Mr. Bergdorf says that he hauled hundreds of cords of firewood over on the ferry to the GN siding, where it realized $2.50 a cord. He added that most of the Thama traffic was local.
Since the Thama ferry continued to operate until 1954 most of the accidents are well remembered. Henry Bergdorf lost his brother Charles when two young horses were spooked by the waves washing over the boat. As the ferry approached the shore the horses went into the water and took Charles with them. As they struggled to reach land they blocked Charles Bergdorf's way and he drowned as the ferryman watched helplessly. The date was May 30, 1944, while Henry was in the service. It was a double tragedy in that Charles was engaged to marry Leota Fox, a young lady born and raised only a few miles upriver from the Bergdorf ranch. Leota is the twin sister of Leona Fox (Mrs. Glen Judge) who still lives only a few miles away. Albert Fox is a brother to the twins.
In 1944 the ferryman was Harry Chamberlain, followed by Frank Kemper. In 1948 Charley Shoopman was hired. (To be continued)
All photographs have been used with permission of the Bonner County Museum.
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