Alice (steam tug 1897)
Encyclopedia
Alice was originally a Puget Sound
steam passenger ship built in 1897. Alice was later rebuilt into a steam tug, and later converted to diesel power and renamed Simon Foss. As a tug, the vessel was in service until 1963. This vessel should not be confused with the similarly designed vessel Alice, built in 1892, which later became Foss 18.
for Capt. Bradford, who then put the vessel on the route between Tacoma and North Bay
. Alice replaced the steamer Susie on the run, with Susie then being sold to a Fairhaven
concern, Franco-American Canning Company, for use as a cannery tender.
In 1900, Bradford sold Alice to the Petersberg Packing Co. and Alice was transferred north to Alaska, where the vessel served for over 20 years. In 1902, Alice was rebuilt as a cannery tender and put into operation purchased out of Juneau
by the Todd Packing Co. Alice was then returned to Puget Sound, and served as a steam tug for Delta V. Smyth Towing Company.
, and converted the vessel to diesel power. The installed engine was rated at 135 hp.
. The film, which was based on a fictionalized version of the life of Thea Foss
, starred the then very popular comedic actress Marie Dressler
(1865-1934) in the title role. The film required a staged tugboat “race”, which was won by the Peter Foss, under the command of Capt. Arthur Hopstead, to whom Marie Dressler personally presented the Tugboat Annie Trophy. Alice was commanded in the race by Capt. Harold Nelson.
, which renamed the vessel as the Simon Foss. As Simon Foss the vessel remained in active service until 1963.
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
steam passenger ship built in 1897. Alice was later rebuilt into a steam tug, and later converted to diesel power and renamed Simon Foss. As a tug, the vessel was in service until 1963. This vessel should not be confused with the similarly designed vessel Alice, built in 1892, which later became Foss 18.
Career
Alice was built at Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
for Capt. Bradford, who then put the vessel on the route between Tacoma and North Bay
North Bay
-Places:*North Bay, Ontario, a city in Ontario, Canada*North Bay Village, Florida, a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida*North Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community in Door County, Wisconsin...
. Alice replaced the steamer Susie on the run, with Susie then being sold to a Fairhaven
Fairhaven, Washington
Fairhaven, Washington was founded in the late 1880s and is now part of the City of Bellingham, Washington, USA. It is on the south side of Bellingham, and borders Bellingham Bay on the west and Western Washington University on the northeast...
concern, Franco-American Canning Company, for use as a cannery tender.
In 1900, Bradford sold Alice to the Petersberg Packing Co. and Alice was transferred north to Alaska, where the vessel served for over 20 years. In 1902, Alice was rebuilt as a cannery tender and put into operation purchased out of Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
by the Todd Packing Co. Alice was then returned to Puget Sound, and served as a steam tug for Delta V. Smyth Towing Company.
Rebuild
In 1930, Delta V. Smyth did an extensive rebuild of the Alice at Olympia, WashingtonOlympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, and converted the vessel to diesel power. The installed engine was rated at 135 hp.
Tugboat Annie race
In 1932, Alice was featured along with a number of other Puget Sound tugboats in the feature film Tugboat AnnieTugboat Annie
For the 1957 syndicated television series, see The Adventures of Tugboat Annie.Tugboat Annie is a 1933 movie starring Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery as a comically quarrelsome middle-aged couple who operate a tugboat...
. The film, which was based on a fictionalized version of the life of Thea Foss
Thea Foss
Thea Christiansen Foss was the founder of Foss Maritime, the largest tugboat company in the western United States...
, starred the then very popular comedic actress Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler was a Canadian-American actress and Depression-era film star. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1930-31 in Min and Bill.-Early life and stage career:...
(1865-1934) in the title role. The film required a staged tugboat “race”, which was won by the Peter Foss, under the command of Capt. Arthur Hopstead, to whom Marie Dressler personally presented the Tugboat Annie Trophy. Alice was commanded in the race by Capt. Harold Nelson.
Purchase by Foss
In 1941, Delta V. Smyth sold Alice to Foss Launch and Tug Co.Foss Launch and Tug Company
Foss Launch and Tug Company was founded in 1889 by Thea Foss and her husband Andrew Foss. The company, now known as Foss Maritime, is now the largest tug and towing concern on the west coast of the United States.-Course of business:...
, which renamed the vessel as the Simon Foss. As Simon Foss the vessel remained in active service until 1963.