The historic White’s Ferry, the last remaining ferry service that traveled between Virginia and Maryland across the Potomac River, announced Monday it would go on strike.
DCis report that the ferry service, which had been in operation since the late 1700s, had ceased due to a centuries-long legal dispute over the landing site on the Virginia side of the river. The website reported that the conflict stemmed from the landing site at Rockland Farm, which was given to the ferry in 1871, although the site was never fitted on the map.
“White’s Ferry regrets informing the public that it will immediately suspend its Potomac River ferry operation between White’s Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland and White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County, Virginia,” the ferry service wrote on its Facebook page. “The circuit court of Loudoun County, Virginia ruled in the case of Rockland Farm, LLC, et al. V. White’s Ferry, Inc., that there was no public landing on the Virginia coastline at White’s Ferry Road and the ferry is prohibited from landing at that location in Virginia. ‘
Herb Brown, whose father resumed the ferry service in 1946 after a decade-long break, said his family made the decision to end the ferry service because a court order would have to end the service next week.
“We knew there would be an order that we could not land in Virginia, so we made the decision. It would make no sense to open for a week, ‘he told DCist.
Last month, Judge Stephen Sincavage ruled in favor of Rockland Farm and wrote that it was uncertain whether the landing was on public land.
“Evidence that the ferry was ‘long in the same place’, even until 1871, may have convincing value for the broader issue of location, but does not provide reasonable certainty regarding the more specific issue of location,” Sincavage wrote.
One of the owners of Rockland Farm, Lily Devlin, told DCist that her family did not intend to discontinue the service and tried in advance to reach several agreements.
“The owners decided they would just walk away from the business. We did not lock the ferry. We tried everything to keep it going,” she said.
Brown said the deals offered are too expensive for the ferry to continue. He did not say whether the ferry service would ever run again.
DCist noted that many local politicians weighed in on the closure of the ferry.
Delica, Virginia, Danica Roem, wrote on Twitter: “This needs to be rectified immediately. White’s Ferry keeps so many vehicles off 15, 495 and 270 every day. It’s an important part of our transportation infrastructure.”
This must be rectified immediately. White’s Ferry runs so many vehicles of 15, 495 and 270 every day. It is an important part of our transport infrastructure.
Also: if you took it (backup aside), it’s usually a peaceful, tranquil experience floating around the Potomac. https://t.co/PzGSTliioI– Del. Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) 28 December 2020
The commissioners of the Poolesville, Md., Said in a statement on Facebook: “The commissioners of the Poolesville are actively working with officials from Montgomery County and the state of Maryland, in an effort to keep the ferry in operation.”