Millersburg Ferry
The Millersburg Ferry, also called Kramer- Crow Ferry, the last in operation ferry along the Susquehanna River. They crossed the river between Millersburg in Dauphin County and the Buffalo Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was taken at the beginning of the 19th century in operation. The river crossing was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. The ferry is probably the last driven by a double paddle wheel at the stern ferry in the United States. The ferry is one of Millersburg Chamber of Commerce and operated by the Millersburg Ferryboat associations between the May and October if the water level allows.
History
Ferries crossed the Susquehanna River at Millersburg since the beginning of the 19th century, earlier than Millersburg was founded. The at this point one miles wide river was first crossed by ferry, which was punted forward. The founder of the settlement Daniel Miller complaining that the right to operate the ferry and fishing for Alosa for itself
Records from 1817 and 1820 show that the ferry was operated by George Carson and Michael Crow. Crow should build a road that would lead from Fährlandeplatz on the west bank in Perry County to the so-called " Great Road ", today's U.S. Highways 11 and 15 and Carson was responsible for the ferry service. It is unknown if Carson ever receptive to operate, but Crow made an entry in 1819, according to a statement that it had completed the road. The tax records for 1820 showed that Crow was assessed for the operation of a farm, a sawmill and a ferry. The western landing place was called " Crow 's Landing ." A 1826 conducted by the sheriff foreclosure ergabm that the ownership of the eastern landing site for U.S. $ 60 by Daniel Miller David Kramer has been transferred.
From the 1820s to the ownership of the ferry and the rights to translate passengers were called controversial. These conflicts have been settled until 1866, when the General Assembly of Pennsylvania ruled on the Fährlizenz. Joseph Kramer, the son of David Kramer, received on March 21, 1866 by Law 358 of the State of Pennsylvania the right to operate on their own account the ferry. The scheme provided that Kramer renewed the landing sites at both and entertained. The old ferries were replaced by steam-powered 1873. These were difficult and required so deeper water. Therefore, a weir was built from the shore to shore, which still exists today and is an important criterion for the classification of the ferry as a historic site is.
The ferry won over the years in importance to traffic. Between 1870 and 1907 the plant owner moved about a dozen times. From 1907 to 1968, she was operated by Thomas Radel and his family. Then they operated Robert and Bud Wallis Jim Zeiders, to Robert Wallis in 1972 was the sole owner. In 1990 he sold the ferry service to the community, Banks, NA of Millersburg. The bank donated the ferry then the Millersburg Chamber of Commerce, and the Millersburg Ferryboat Association founded to operate.
The construction of bridges over the river led to the discontinuation of the ferry service to other parts of the river. The ferry in Millersburg outlasted the time of their historic significance and also for practical reasons; it is approximately 65 km between Duncannon and Sunbury, the only way to cross the river.
Traffic
The ferry was 1866-1956 crucial for the development of transport in the central portion of the Susquehanna River Valley. The construction of a railway through Millersburg and its train increased the importance, as the inhabitants of the western shore, the ferry used regularly to bring their goods from Perry County and Juniata County to the Harrisburg, Lancaster and Philadelphia. For the people on the eastern side of the ferry was used mostly to achieve Ausflusgzielen on the western shore.
During the period of their greatest use 1905-1936 up to four ferry were eingesetztzt to ferry goods, livestock, building materials, people and their horses and carriages and then automobiles between the two shores. During the Great Depression, only three boats were used.
Fleet and ferry service today
The ferry is operated with two boats. The Roaring Bull V is a 1998 built red driven by a paddle wheel ferry boat with diesel engines. The barge is 25 m long and the drive unit 15 m. The second boat, the Falcon III was taken into operation in 1974. She is gray and about 2.5 m longer than the Roaring Bull V. The impeller is driven by a Farmall tractor machine.
The ferry is located between the Pennsylvania State Route 147 on the eastern shore and the U.S.. Highways 11 and 15 on the western shore, just south of Liverpool.