The vessel known as Alice was originally constructed in 1897 in Tacoma, Washington, primarily serving as a steam passenger ship. Built for Captain Bradford, Alice operated on the route between Tacoma and North Bay, replacing the steamer Susie, which was subsequently sold to the Franco-American Canning Company for use as a cannery tender. In 1900, ownership transferred to the Petersberg Packing Co., and Alice was relocated to Alaska, where she served as a cannery tender for over two decades. By 1902, she was rebuilt specifically for this role, purchased out of Juneau by the Todd Packing Co. Later, Alice returned to Puget Sound, functioning as a steam tug for the Delta V. Smyth Towing Company. A significant transformation occurred in 1930 when she underwent an extensive rebuild at Olympia, Washington, during which her steam engine was replaced with a diesel engine rated at 135 horsepower. This modification extended her service life and improved her operational capabilities. Alice gained notable cultural significance in 1932 when she appeared in the film *Tugboat Annie*, a fictionalized story inspired by Thea Foss. In the film, Alice participated in a staged tugboat race, under the command of Captain Harold Nelson, which was won by the vessel Peter Foss. The event highlighted her role among the iconic Puget Sound tugboats. In 1941, the vessel was sold to Foss Launch and Tug Co., which renamed her Simon Foss. She remained in active service under this name until 1963. That year, marine historian Gordon R. Newell purchased Simon Foss, had her beached at Olympia, and renamed her back to Alice. She was intended to serve as an editorial headquarters for the Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. Subsequently, ownership transferred to the Hargitt family, who moved her to Anacortes, Washington, with the aim of restoring her. Despite efforts to preserve her, including several repairs after sinking incidents, she was ultimately demolished. Her wheelhouse was preserved as a relic of her maritime history. Throughout her long service, Alice’s multiple rebuilds and her appearance in film cement her importance as a versatile and culturally significant vessel in the maritime history of the Pacific Northwest.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.