“The Clinton ferry dock is photographed around the 1930s, before the advent of Washington State Ferries. In this 50th year of WSF the dock at Clinton has undergone a major reconstruction. Day of eventsWashington State Ferries will host a 50th birthday party at Colman Dock, Pier 52 in Seattle on Friday, June 1. The event begins with a Jr. Cadillac concert at 11:15 a.m. and birthday ceremonies at 11:45, when winners of the Ferry Tales and essay contests will be announced and stories placed into a time capsule, together with WSF archives, photos and other items from the past 50 years. In attendance will be the Mariners Moose and Ivar’s Dancing Clams, and invited guests are Gov. Gary Locke, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell, state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and others. See historical displays and have birthday cake and punch. Part of the celebration will be Sound Stage Cinema, a floating film festival on board the Seattle-Bremerton-Seattle run, leaving Colman Dock at 6:30 p.m. Films produced by Pacific Northwest filmmakers will be shown, and passengers can get a special Dinner-and-a-Movie meal from the galley. For more information visit the WSF Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries, or call 1-206-515-3410 or 1-800-843-3779. Almost 50 years ago, Washington State Ferries came into existence with the state’s buyout of Puget Sound Navigation in 1951. In that first year of service, the state-operated ferry system carried approximately 4 million passengers. Today, WSF is the largest ferry system in the United States, with 29 boats carrying over 11 million vehicles and 26 million people, many of them going to and from Whidbey Island.Ferry service around Puget Sound has obviously changed tremendously. Originating in the early 1900s, Puget Sound ferry service was initially provided by a number of companies using small steamers known as the Mosquito Fleet. By 1935, the Puget Sound Navigation Company, commonly known as Black Ball line, had primary control of ferry service on Puget Sound. But after World War II, increasing labor costs made private operation of the ferry system increasingly challenging. In the late 1940s, ferry workers’ labor unions succeeded in securing higher wages from the Puget Sound Navigation Company, which then petitioned the State Highway Department to allow a 30 percent fare increase to meet new operating costs. When the state refused its request, the Puget Sound Navigation Company tied up its boats, bringing much of cross-sound ferry service to a halt. In 1951, after numerous discussions with the State Legislature over fares and service, the Puget Sound Navigation Company sold all of its terminal facilities and ferries (with the exception of the Seattle/Port Angeles/Victoria, B.C. route) for $5 million to a newly created Washington Toll Bridge Authority, now known as Washington State Ferries. The ferry system was originally intended to provide temporary service until a network of bridges could be built connecting the west and east sides of Puget Sound. In 1959, however, the legislature rejected the plan to build numerous cross sound bridges, and WSF was on its way to being the major transportation system on Puget Sound waters.A celebration of the 50 years of Washington State Ferries will take place on Friday at Colman Dock in Seattle. Visitors will see much of the history of the ferry system, hear ferry tales from longtime riders, have a piece of birthday cake and give a toast to the WSF past and send it on to the next half-century of service.Source: Washington State Ferries. “