White's Ferry

White's Ferry is the only cable ferry service that carries cars, bicycles, and pedestrians across the Potomac River. The location offers fishing services and rentals of water recreation including canoeing. The street address for the terminal on the Maryland side is 24801 White's Ferry Road, Dickerson, Maryland 20842.

White's Ferry on the Potomac River in 2007

History

Early settlers recognized that the relatively still waters of the Potomac River at the location would provide an ideal location for a ferry. A possible early mention of the ferry appeared in the book: "The life and adventures of Robert Bailey, from his infancy up to December 1821" written by himself: "From the house of this good man, I crossed at Conrood's ferry, and went to Montgomery County, in Maryland, where I once more (after an absence of nearly six years,) had the heart feeling gratification of beholding my dear and affectionate mother and my kind and loving sister." Assuming the book is chronological, the crossing apparently took place after December 15, 1778. The first known ferry operation at the location was Conrad's Ferry, pronounced contemporaneously by the locals as "Coonrod's Ferry"[1] in 1871. After the Civil War, former Confederate officer Elijah V. White purchased it and made many improvements to the service. He named his ferry boat in honor of his former commander, General Jubal Anderson Early.[2] The ferry boat was renamed "Historic White's Ferry" in June 2020.

White's Ferry Road crosses the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, with stone ruins of the granary on the left

Currently the ferry is owned by Malcolm Brown, whose father purchased the location in 1946 with other business partners. He eventually bought out his partners and shipped new ferries from Baltimore in 1953 and from Norfolk in 1988; both of which were named after Confederate General Jubal A. Early because of his, "rebellious, no surrender attitude".[3]

The Confederate War statue that had been moved from Rockville to White's Ferry in 2017, was moved to a private storage location by the owners June 16, 2020, although the base of the monument honoring the Confederate Army remains.

The base of the CSA monument moved from Rockville, MD, to White's Ferry, MD.

Each May, White's Ferry hosts an event honoring wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Escorted to the area by a large motorcycle honor guard, the soldiers enjoy a day of music, food, fishing, and rides on the ferry. The event is sponsored by the town of Poolesville, Maryland, and receives support from many groups and individuals within the community.[4]

Loading on the Virginia side, with a view of the Maryland side

On September 13, 2006, the United States Coast Guard ordered White's Ferry to be shut down because the operator was unlicensed. The ferry continued to operate regardless.[5] The next day the Coast Guard allowed the ferry to resume operations after the owners assured the Coast Guard that there would be licensed individuals on the vessel. For operating without a licensed operator the ferry was fined $8000, which it could appeal.[6]

Maryland rock band Clutch has a song titled "White's Ferry", written about the sights frontman Neil Fallon saw on a drive around some country roads in Maryland and Virginia that took him over the Potomac on the ferry.

References
  1. "Our War Correspondence From The Divisions of Banks and Stone". The New York Times. November 1, 1861. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  2. Peck, Garrett (2012). The Potomac River: A History and Guide. Charleston, SC: The History Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-1609496005.
  3. Barned-Smith, St. John (November 1, 2012). "White's Ferry's swift trips across the Potomac have long history". The Gazette. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  4. Stern, Nicholas C. (May 18, 2008). "Wounded veterans get time to heal at picnic". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  5. Kunkle, Fredrick (September 15, 2006). "Mutinous Ferry Roils the Waters". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  6. "Ferry keeps running, will be fined". Loudoun Times-Mirror. February 7, 2014.
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