Chesapeake Bay Ferries
This past Memorial Day weekend was the traditional opening of the travel season down to the ocean. I was thinking about life before the Cheasapeake Bay Bridge, how people took the Sandy Point Matapeake Ferry and before that the Annapolis-to-Claiborne Ferry. The days of the Sandy Point Matpeake Ferry came to a close with the opening of the Bay Bridge on July 30, 1952. It was a 40-minute trip between the Eastern and Western shores of the bay, during which one could buy something to drink or eat. Or you could read or just stretch out and enjoy the ride.
There are still reminders of the old ferry system at Matapeake State Park on Kent Island. The old ferry pier is now a fishing pier and the ferry terminal building was renovated and turned into the Matapeake Clubhouse.
The Chesapeake Bay Ferry lives on in Washington state. The Gov. Herbert R O'Conor was sold in 1953 for $301,000 and is operated by the Washington State Ferry System. She was renamed the M.V. Rhododendron after the Washington State Flower and is nicknamed the "Rhody." She has undergone extensive renovations during her long career .
The Gov. Harry W. Nice was also bought by Washington state for $ 226,000, but she hasn't been as lucky. She was renamed the M.V. Olympic .
Another Maryland ferry boat, the M.V. Gov. Emerson C. Harrington II was sold to Lake Champlain Transportation Company in Burlington, Vermont for $25,693.98 and renamed the Andirondak she is still in service today.
The bay ferries didn't eliminate backups, but it was a slower pace. There is talk every once in a while of returning ferries to the bay or even building a third bay bridge. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about that idea.
Here's a link to a photo gallery about the ferries.
Here are some more details on the ferry fleet...
M.V. Gov. Herbert R. O'Conor could carry 894 passengers and 75 vehicles. She entered service in 1947 and is still in service today in Washington state.
M.V. Gov Harry W. Nice could carry 792 passengers and 68 vehicles. She entered service in 1938.
M.V. John M. Dennis could carry 880 passengers and 65 vehicles. She entered service 1929 and was sold to a Venezuelan tranport company for $101.000 in 1953.
M.V. B. Frank Sherman was built in 1926 and entered service in Maryland in 1948. She was sold for $27,440 to a New York company .
M.V. Gov. Emerson C. Harrington II could hold 256 passengers and 32 vehicles. She was built in 1913 and entered service in Maryland in 1938. She is in service today on Lake Champlain.
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Comments
WHAT A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A FERRY GOING BACK AND FORTH AGAIN, THE 45 MINUTE BOAT RIDE MIGHT BE THE ONLY TIMES SOME PEEPS COULD ENJOY THE BAY ON A SUMMER DAY W/THAT SWEET WATERY BAY SMELL.
Posted by: KMAN, LARRY KORNELUK | June 15, 2009 12:27 PM