Rocky Hill–Glastonbury Ferry

The Rocky Hill–Glastonbury Ferry is a seasonal ferry crossing the Connecticut River between the towns of Glastonbury and Rocky Hill, Connecticut and is part of Route 160. It is believed to be the oldest continuously operated ferry service in the United States.[1] The river crossing has an annual average daily traffic of 400.[2]

Rocky Hill–Glastonbury Ferry
The Hollister III (barge) and the Cumberland (tow boat)
WaterwayConnecticut River
Transit typetowboat and barge
Route Route 160
Carriespedestrians, bicycles, automobiles
TerminalsRocky Hill (41.666363°N 72.629648°W / 41.666363; -72.629648)
to
Glastonbury (41.66565°N 72.626537°W / 41.66565; -72.626537)
OperatorConnecticut State Ferry Service
AuthorityConnecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT)
Began operation1655
Frequencyas needed
No. of vessels2, Cumberland (towboat) and Hollister III (barge)
Daily ridership400
WebsiteOfficial website

History
The west (Rocky Hill) terminal in 2023

The ferry is the oldest continuously running ferry service in the United States.[1] Started in 1655, it actually began before the foundation of the towns of Glastonbury and Rocky Hill, both towns being part of Wethersfield at that time.[3]

Originally a raft that was poled across the Connecticut River, it was then powered by a horse on a treadmill before being upgraded to a steamship in 1876. Today's ferry is a 3-car barge named the Hollister III towed by a diesel towboat named the Cumberland.[1]

The ferry landings and the ferry itself are included in the Glastonbury–Rocky Hill Ferry Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The National Register listing was proposed in 2005 to help preserve the historic ferry.[4] The historic district also encompasses farmscapes of the Great Meadows in South Glastonbury that preserve 17th-century land use patterns and Colonial and Greek Revival farmhouses, as well as the homes of shipbuilders and merchant traders near the two landings, including several examples of Colonial and Italianate architecture.[5]

The ferry was to be closed by the state on August 25, 2011 because of budget cuts.[6] Though service was not cancelled when savings were found elsewhere in the state budget, the State Department of Transportation has been meeting with residents who wish to find a way to have the ferry be self-financing to at least a small extent.[7]

Use

The ferry is the only river crossing accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists between Hartford and Middletown, preventing what would otherwise be a thirteen-mile (19 km) detour for them.[8]

Operating between April 1 and November 30 (except Thanksgiving Day), the toll for cars is $5 on weekdays, and $6 on weekends. For cyclists & pedestrians it is $2.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Rocky Hill–Glastonbury Ferry". Connecticut Department of Transportation. State of Connecticut. 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  2. "2005 Traffic Volumes State Maintained Highway Network (Traffic Log)" (PDF). State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. p. 134. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
  3. "The Rocky Hill - Glastonbury Ferry". Places of Interest in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Rocky Hill Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  4. Peter Marteka, Effort Could Earn Ferry, Neighborhoods Historic Designation; What May Be The Oldest Continuous Service In U.S. Was Once At Risk From Budget Cuts, Hartford Courant, April 1, 2005
  5. New Listings on the National Register, Connecticut Trust For Historic Preservation
  6. Cho, Jenna (July 15, 2011). "Governor drydocks state ferries, eliminates all eight ferry-worker jobs". The Day. New London, Connecticut: The Day Publishing Company. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  7. Burton, Jonathan (August 30, 2011). "Residents, officials discuss how to make ferries more efficient (video)". The Middletown Press. Middletown, Connecticut. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  8. Sokolowski, Kenneth E. (2005). "Rocky Hill Glastonbury Ferry Now 350 Years". Wethersfield.NET. Kenneth E. Sokolowski. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  9. Billy Joel - The River of Dreams (Official Music Video). YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.

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