Category: Ames Lake (Page 2 of 6)

Until the 1890s, there were no bridges over the Snoqualmie River, so people used canoes to cross it.

As more wagons and teams came onto the scene, ferries emerged. One of the first was owned by James Duvall. It was located where the Woodinville-Duvall bridge is now.

Some ferry crossings were operated using a system of ropes or cables to pull the vessel across the river. Passengers pulled the ropes to assist the operator.

The Fall City ferry, built in 1885, was a wooden, cable-operated ferry used to get across the river into town.

In the early 1900s, John Ames established a cable ferry at the current site of MacDonald Park and West 40th Street.

Water transportation remained important for commercial and passenger travel until the railroad’s arrival in 1910. The development of roads and bridges eventually led to the decline of ferry crossings on the Snoqualmie River.

The Ames Lake Trestle Bridge was built 100 years ago. It was originally designed with narrow lanes for much smaller vehicles than what we see today.

The original timber piles that supported the deck were decaying. Over time, the poor condition of the piles could prohibit large trucks and emergency vehicles from crossing, which would eventually require the bridge to be shut down completely.

The new Ames Lake Trestle Bridge is now wider, straighter, and safer than the old bridge was. It provides an unrestricted crossing for the community and improved fish and wildlife habitat. It also improved the water quality and reduced erosion.

In 1953-1954, Dave Egan, a longtime resident of our community, started coming with his family to Ames Lake. They camped in tents.

During that time, the lake was sometimes filled with logs and other debris from logging on the northeastern side of the lake. Families spent hours pulling lumber from the water before they could go swimming.

The ALCC annual meetings were once held at the Vincent Schoolhouse. Before the meetings, there was always a potluck or “free lunch” supplied by the Community Club.

In 2006, one of the meeting topics was about the things our dues paid for, such as the Community newsletters, testing the lake water, keys, insurance, and more – much as they are now.