Story
This cannery tender was built in 1919 by Pacific American Fisheries in Bellingham, WA.
Historical Notes
George Schneider (May 2026) writes: Although she always carried the name rendered "Minnahaha" on her records. a photo shows it rendered with the common spelling, "Minnehaha" on her hull. The Coast Guard closed her documents with the note "Sunk, not recoverable" effective 04 Oct 1996 but gave no further information.
Owners & Masters
In 1925-1942 she was owned by Pacific-American Fisheries, South Bellingham WA.
In 1942-43 she was owned by the U. S. Navy.
In 1946-1958 she was owned by the Pacific American Fisheries Inc., Bellingham WA.
In 1962-63 she was owned by Lou E. Montgomery, Juneau AK.
In 1964 she was owned by North Pacific Crab Corp., Seattle WA.
In 1965-1968 she was owned by Will P. Lowman, Bellingham WA.
In 1974 she was owned by Richard D. Varlay, Bellingham WA.
In 1981-1994 she was owned by Transmotive Pacific Marine, San Francisco CA USA.
Name Significance
Minnehaha (the accepted spelling) is a Native American character in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem The Song of Hiawatha. The name, often said to mean "laughing water", literally translates to "waterfall" or "rapid water" in Dakota.
References
- Merchant Vessels of the United States (1920-1989)
- Merchant Vessels of the United States (1948)
- Merchant Vessels of the United States Annual digital data files, 1992-2017, cgmix.uscg.mil ↗ (Accessed 10 May 2026)
- (Photo of name as spelled on hull:) Pacific Maritime Magazine, March 1992, Page 53.
