White’s Ferry, the historic Potomac River crossing in Poolesville, Maryland, announced that it is ending operations on Monday following a circuit court ruling in Loudoun County, Virginia.
The resolution of a decade-long lawsuit filed by a property owner in Virginia demanded that White’s Ferry, the historic crossing of the Potomac River in Poolesville, Maryland, stop using its traditional landing across the river.
As a result, the ferry operator announced its closure via a Facebook post at 10am on December 28, 2020.
For more than two centuries, the ferry docked on the river side in Virginia.
A Virginia court ruled that the ferry could no longer dock on the opposite bank of White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County.
Loudoun County released a statement on Monday afternoon noting that the dispute is between two private parties and that landowners and the ferry company are working on a resolution.
In fact, the judge, Stephen E. Sincavage, of the Loudoun County Court, awarded damages to Virginia owners in excess of $ 100,000, agreed that White’s Ferry had been breaking in since the end of a licensing agreement in 2004 and therefore through an injunction, prevented White’s Ferry from continuing to use the land. The decision was written in late November.
READ THE JUDGE’S OPINION (.pdf): Writ of mandamus and financial damages granted
The ferry operator has been in court with Rockland Farm, LLC for more than a decade, according to Loudoun Circuit Court documents, in the case of Rockland Farm, LLC, et al. v. White’s Ferry, Inc.
NOTICE: White’s Ferry WILL Cease Operation of the Potomac River Ferry between White’s Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland and White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County, Virginia IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE due to the decision of the Loudoun County Circuit Court, Va – White’s Ferry CROSSING pic.twitter.com/KBvQLfNRH2
– Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 28, 2020
Virginia landowners, known as Rockland, complained that White’s Ferry was illegally occupying their land. White’s Ferry defended its right to use the landing due to having customers and commercial operations on that side of the river for more than two centuries.
The case was postponed and postponed and closed over the years before the most recent decision, written by Judge Steven E. Sincavage on November 23, 2020.
The judge concluded that ferry operators have been invading Virginia land since a licensing agreement ended in 2004. The judge considered a series of arguments about the right to public land use in Virginia, returning to a case in 1871.
Sincavage finally decided that ferry operators would likely continue to use the land in Virginia without an injunction, and granted that injunction to stop docking.
In addition, the judge awarded Rockland financial compensation for what the owners called property damage along with unauthorized use of Virginia property, totaling just over $ 100,000 plus interest.
Sincavage agreed that White’s Ferry had been using Virginia land without paying a rent or licensing fee for more than a decade, but Rockland’s request for overdue rent of more than $ 600,000 was based on “speculative” calculations. Therefore, the judge did not award additional damages for unpaid rent.
The municipal administrator for Poolesville, Maryland, is Seth Rivard. He said he heard the news for the first time when White’s Ferry posted on Facebook.
“The city sees that this is a vital link between the two states,” said Rivard. “This allows our residents to use the ferry as a transportation option and allows residents to cross for personal and work-related purposes. It is important that people cross the river and come to Poolesville to shop, visit or attend events. It is very important for our community that this continues to work. “
Loudoun County released a press release on Monday afternoon in an attempt to make it clear that the process is between two private parties, which are currently in negotiations.
“The decision to stop the ferry operation was a unilateral decision by White’s Ferry, Inc., which operates the privately owned ferry,” said the county.
The county expressed concern about the ferry’s decision to close.
“We recognize that any impact on the ferry service can impact our residents and people who work in Loudoun County.”
Understandably, passengers and residents who depend on the ferry connection have expressed their disappointment through social media.
One company near White’s Ferry is Rocklands Farm Winery, which, in a statement sent to WTOP, said it is not affiliated with the landowners who made the complaint. Rocklands Farm Winery has been receiving complaints about the process in error.
This is a developing story. The WTOP reached Loudoun County and the government of Poolesville, Maryland.
See the location of White’s Ferry on the map below.