White’s Ferry, the historic crossing of the Potomac River in Poolesville, Maryland, announced it would cease Monday after a ruling in the circuit court in Loudoun County, Virginia.
The resolution of a decade-long court case brought by a Virginia owner requires that White’s Ferry, the historic crossing of the Potomac River in Poolesville, Maryland, stop using its traditional riverfront landing.
As a result, the ferry operator announced its closure via a Facebook message at 28:00, 28 December 2020.
The ferry has been on the Virginia side of the river for more than two centuries.
A Virginia court has ruled that the ferry could no longer dock on the opposite bank at White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County.
Loudoun County released a statement Monday afternoon stating that the dispute is between two private parties, and that the landowners and the ferry company are working on a resolution.
In fact, Judge Stephen E. Sincavage of the Loudoun County District Court awarded damages to more than $ 100,000 to property owners in Virginia. White’s Ferry continues to use the land. The decision was written at the end of November.
READ THE JUDGE’S OPINION (.pdf): Assignment entered and financial compensation awarded
According to Loudoun Circuit Court documents, the ferry operator has been in court with Rockland Farm, LLC for more than a decade, in the case of Rockland Farm, LLC, et al. v. White’s Ferry, Inc.
NOTICE: White’s Ferry Will Operate Potomac River Ferry Operation by White’s Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland and White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County, Virginia IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE OF LOUDON COUNTY COURT JUDGMENT – White’s Ferry CROSSING pic.twitter.com/KBvQLfNRH2
– Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) 28 December 2020
The owners of the land in Virginia, known as Rockland, have complained that White’s Ferry illegally occupied his land. White’s Ferry pleads for its right to use the landing because it has had customers and businesses on the river side for more than two centuries.
The case has been adjourned and delayed over the years and dismissed before the most recent ruling, written by Judge Steven E. Sincavage on November 23, 2020.
The judge found that the ferry operators in Virginia territory had violated since a licensing agreement was terminated in 2004. The judge considered a number of arguments about the right to public use of the land in Virginia, and returned to a case in 1871.
Sincavage eventually decided that the ferry operators would likely continue to use the land in Virginia without an order, and granted the order to stop the site.
In addition, the judge awarded financial damages to Rockland as a result of what the owners called property damage, along with the unauthorized use of the Virginia property, which amounted to just over $ 100,000 plus interest.
Sincavage agrees that White’s Ferry has been using the land in Virginia for more than a decade without paying rent or a license fee, but the Rockland lease request for more than $ 600,000 was based on ‘speculative’ calculations. Therefore, the judge did not award further damages for unpaid rent.
Poolesville, Seth Rivard, city manager in Maryland. He said he first heard the news when White’s Ferry made his Facebook message.
“According to the city, this is an important link between the two states,” Rivard said. “It enables both residents to use the ferry as a shuttle option, and allows residents to switch to for personal and work-related purposes. It is important for people to cross the river and come to Poolesville to shop or visit or attend events. It is very important for our community that it stays in place. ”
Loudoun County issued a news release Monday afternoon in an effort to make clear that the matter is between two private parties, which is currently being negotiated.
“The decision to discontinue the ferry was a unilateral decision taken by White’s Ferry, Inc., which operates the privately owned ferry,” the province said.
The province has expressed concern over the decision to close the ferry.
“We realize that any impact on the ferry service could affect our residents and people working in Loudoun County.”
It is understandable that commuters and residents who depend on the ferry connection have expressed their disappointment via social media.
One business near White’s Ferry is Rocklands Farm Winery, which said in a statement to WTOP that it was not connected to the landowners who filed the complaint. Rocklands Farm Winery has erroneously received complaints about the lawsuit.
Check the location of White’s Ferry via the map below.