The historic White’s Ferry, the last remaining ferry service that travels between Virginia and Maryland on the Potomac River, announced on Monday that it would be discontinuing operations.
DCist reported that the ferry service, which has been operating since the late 18th century, was discontinued due to a centuries-long legal dispute over the landing site on the Virginia side of the river. The website reported that the conflict comes from the location of the landing site at Rockland Farm, which was given to the ferry in 1871, although the location was never correctly marked on the map.
“White’s Ferry regrets to inform the public that it will immediately discontinue the ferry to the Potomac River between White’s Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland and White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County, Virginia,” the ferry wrote on its Facebook page. -page. The Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Virginia has ruled in the case of Rockland Farm, LLC, et al. V. White’s Ferry, Inc. that there is no public dock on the Virginia shoreline off White’s Ferry Road and that the ferry is prohibited. is from the landing at that location in Virginia. “
Herb Brown, whose father relaunched the ferry service in 1946 after a decade-long hiatus, said his family had made the decision to end the ferry service because a court order would have ended the ferry service next week.
“We knew there was going to be an order that we couldn’t land in Virginia, so we made the decision. It wouldn’t make sense to stay open for a week, ”he told DCist.
Last month, Judge Stephen Sincavage ruled in favor of Rockland Farm, writing that it was uncertain whether the landing was actually on public land.
“Evidence that the ferry landing has been in ‘the same place’ for a long time, even as far back as 1871, may be convincing for the broader issue of location, but does not provide reasonable assurance on the more specific issue of that location,” Sincavage wrote.
One of the owners of Rockland Farm, Lily Devlin, told DCist that her family had no plans to discontinue the service and had tried to make several arrangements in advance.
“The owners decided they would just walk away from the business. We did not shut down the ferry. We did everything we could to keep it running,” she said.
Brown said the deals offered were too expensive for the ferry to continue operating. He didn’t say if he thought the ferry service would ever run again.
DCist noted that many local politicians expressed their views on the ferry closure.
The state of Virginia Del. Danica Roem wrote on Twitter, “This needs to be resolved immediately. White’s Ferry is holding off so many vehicles from 15, 495 and 270 every day. It’s an important part of our transportation infrastructure.”
This should be resolved immediately. White’s Ferry pulls off so many vehicles from 15, 495 and 270 every day. It is an important part of our transport infrastructure.
Also: if you’ve taken it (backups aside) it’s usually a peaceful, tranquil experience floating over the Potomac. https://t.co/PzGSTliioI– Del. Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 28, 2020
The City Commissioners of Poolesville, Maryland, said in a statement on Facebook, “Poolesville Commissioners are actively working with officials from Montgomery County and the State of Maryland in an effort to keep the ferry operational.”