Historic White’s Ferry, the last remaining ferry service to travel between Virginia and Maryland across the Potomac River, announced on Monday that it would end its operations.
DCist reported that the ferry service, which has been in operation since the late 1700s, was closing due to a centuries-old legal dispute over the Virginia river landing site. The website said 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 properly marked on the map.
“White’s Ferry regrets informing the public that it will end its Potomac River ferry operation between White’s Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland and White’s Ferry Road in Loudoun County, Virginia, with immediate effect,” wrote the ferry service on its Facebook page . “The Loudoun County Court, Virginia, has ruled, in the case of Rockland Farm, LLC, et al. V. White’s Ferry, Inc., that no public landings exist on the coast of Virginia at White’s Ferry Road and the ferry is prohibited from land at that location in Virginia. “
Herb Brown, whose father relaunched the ferry service in 1946 after a ten-year hiatus, said his family decided to end the service because a court order would have forced the service to close next week.
“We knew there was an injunction that we couldn’t land in Virginia, so we made the decision. It wouldn’t make sense to open for a week, ”he told DCist.
Last month, Judge Stephen Sincavage ruled in favor of Rockland Farm, writing that there was no certainty as to whether the landing was really on public land.
“The evidence that the ferry landing was ‘in the same place’ for a long period of time, even in 1871 may have a persuasive value in the broader question of location, but it does not provide reasonable certainty regarding the more specific question of that site, “Sincavage wrote.
One of the owners of Rockland Farm, Lily Devlin, told DCist that her family had no intention of ending the service and had tried to reach several agreements in advance.
“The owners decided that they would simply abandon the business. We didn’t close the ferry. We tried everything to keep it running,” she said.
Brown said the deals offered were too expensive for the ferry to continue operating. He did not say whether he thought the ferry service would work again.
DCist noted that many local politicians had an opinion on the closure of the ferry.
Virginia, Del. Danica Roem wrote on Twitter: “This needs to be fixed immediately. White’s Ferry keeps so many vehicles out of 15, 495 and 270 every day. It is an important part of our transportation infrastructure.”
This needs to be fixed immediately. White’s Ferry keeps many vehicles out of 15, 495 and 270 every day. It is an important part of our transport infrastructure.
In addition: if you picked it up (backups aside), it is usually a peaceful and tranquil experience to float around the Potomac. https://t.co/PzGSTliioI– Del. Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) December 28, 2020
Commissioners from Poolesville, Maryland, said in a Facebook statement: “The commissioners from Poolesville are actively working with Montgomery County and Maryland authorities in an attempt to keep the ferry operational.”