Her start was plying the Oakland-San Francisco route in the 1920’s. She wound up linking San Rafael and Richmond and, during the 1940s, in her twilight, served Seattle. From there, she was auctioned off to the colorful Bay Area figure Arnold Gridley, creator of the motorized cable cars.
The Fresno was built in Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Union Yard in San Francisco for the grand sum of $525,000.
Published: October, 2006
Gridley’s hopes of translating Fresno into offices or a museum never gelled, and time and rust overcame Fresno. As Bay Crossings went to press the wrecker’s ball was poised over Fresno; valiant efforts to save her by Gridley’s son, Phil Wright, and dedicated volunteers notwithstanding.
Bay Crossings stepped in to preserve her wheelhouse and lifeboats, which are now safely in storage. Exactly what will happen with them is a question our accountant would particularly like to know. Perhaps, a ticket booth for new ferry service to Richmond or South San Francisco?
Loyal Fresno, her cockpit at least, stands by to serve ferryriders when called again.
For their extraordinary generosity of time, money and skill preserving the Fresno wheelhouse, Bay Crossings wishes to gratefully acknowledge:
Phil Wright
Roslyn and Eric Johnson of Pt. San Pablo Harbor (the Bay Area’s own Gilligan’s Island on acid) and their picaresque crew: Thomas Van Buskirk and Mark Allen Johnson
Bill Long of the Mare Island Historical Museum
Leo Teniente
Gary Johnson of Lennar Mare Island
Cooper Crane & Rigging, Inc.
Bill Aboudi and AB Trucking
…and especially Steve Bernardini and the crew of Bernardini Construction.
The preservation crew assemble med by Bay Crossings took special care to remove rare trim pieces.
