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A death sentence?
Staff writer
sbeveridge@observer-reporter.com
FREDERICKTOWN - A Monongahela River ferry service that has survived for two centuries is expected to be scrapped when a new bridge opens around the bend in three years.
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"My analysis is that you would be very hard-pressed to justify the continuation of it beyond the expressway," Washington County Commissioner J. Bracken Burns said Tuesday.
"My understanding of nature and economics is that it's going to be a relic of the past," Burns said.
The village of Fredericktown has had a ferry service since at least 1790 when James Crawford piloted a wooden shuttle across the river where Fish Pot Road meets Route 88. Another ferry was dry-docked for a decade, beginning in 1963, when Ed and Betty Bercoski started to lose money on the operation.
The boat in operation was built in 1948 and put into service in 1973 through an agreement between Washington and Fayette counties. Fayette County collects the tolls and hires the pilots to work the 35-ton vessel.
The ferry is the only cable-driven boat of its kind in operation east of the Mississippi River, said Fayette Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites.
A motor using a pulley system navigates the boat across the 400-foot channel in three minutes along a steel cable anchored to both riverbanks.
"It's historic," Vicites said. "It's worth preserving."
Burns disagrees, saying the boat isn't attractive or a cultural or historical monument.
"It isn't exactly a thing of beauty," Burns said. "It had a function. If it loses its function, you pull the plug."
The two counties obtained a $950,000 federal grant two years ago to rehabilitate the ferry before anyone realized the bridge was going to be constructed. Another $100,000 has been earmarked for the work from the state, and Fayette and Washington need to each contribute another $85,000 toward the project, Vicites said.
The state Turnpike Commission didn't announce until last year that it would build the $95 million bridge in the Denbo Vesta No. Six area to complete the expressway between Centerville and Uniontown.
About the same time, Burns said, he asked the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to conduct a feasibility study on keeping the ferry after the bridge opens in the spring of 2012. The commission is responsible for recommending to Harrisburg the transportation needs for the nine-county region.
"The whole traffic situation changes dramatically," said Burns, who can't justify now spending any money on the rehab project.
The ferry was transporting about 50 cars a day before 2004 when the new State Correctional Institution at Fayette opened in LaBelle.
Now, as many as 200 cars a day make the trip across the Mon on the boat, ferry pilot Larry Rutherford said last week.
The counties just raised the fare from $1.50 to $2 per car to board the ferry. It is expected to cost a motorist traveling from Fredericktown $1 to pull on and off the new expressway to avoid the ferry. The new bridge also will reduce the ferry detour from Fredericktown to the prison from 32 miles to 10 miles.
A group of men at Bower Brother's Lounge at the Fredericktown entrance to the ferry said Thursday that most of the boat's traffic originates from the south in Greene County.
"They pack them on there," said bar patron Doug Palmer of Fredericktown. "It's something to see."
He said the red and white boat has the capacity to hold eight cars, that vehicles are lined up at a steady pace each workday from 6 to 8 a.m.
"They ought to run it even at a loss," said Scott Bower, a co-owner of the bar. "That would be the right thing to do."
He said local residents and ferry users will likely speak out in anger if the ferry is pulled from the Mon.
"There will probably be a fuss," Bower said.
Take a swim, Burns! : 4/12/2009
"Burns disagrees, saying the boat isn't attractive or a cultural or historical monument." That's because Burns did't grow up along the river. Hey, Bracken, you ain't so damn pretty either -- maybe you need to have your rump roast handed to you next election. You have a very narrow concept of what's historical. It's the only craft of its kind remaining -- do you understand that? That it is functional, you imbecile, doesn't mean it isn't culturally significant -- point of fact, it is those things that are functional that document our cultural history. Burns, you need to get out more often and mingle with the poor folk along the river instead of holding your pinky aloft in the tony circles in which you circulate.
Burns - time for you to go. (TFYTG) : 4/12/2009
We do not need an elected official who does not have enough imagination to recognize an historical asset. We need someone who has the capacity to show some entrepreneurial creative imagination to help create the heritage tourism industry that Washington County has. Time for change in Washington County and it starts with new elected officials who have enough intelligence to recognize this. Commissioners should represent, not dictate or push their own agenda.
Burns is an idiot... : 4/12/2009
20 years from now if Burns is still alive and kicking, people are going to remember you for getting rid of an attraction that could bring tourism dollars into the county. I have been on the Ferry and have taken my children to ride across. Why? Because my dad took me, and his dad took him. I don't expect the county to pour thousands of dollars into something obsolete, but can you think at least for once a little past the right now?
Ferry : 4/12/2009
Mr Burns should start pulling all the plugs. Relics, ugly , things of the past? Start by maybe looking in your own back yard. Unbelieveable comment.Two thumbs down.
Pull the plug? : 4/12/2009
This is for Washington County Commissioner J. Bracken Burns who's comment of "It had a function. If it loses its function, you pull the plug." I'm sure that Washington Co. voters will remember that when you're up for re-election. How dare you say that something that's been around for 200 years has no "historical value"? What's wrong with you? It's people like you that cause us to loose our local history with the "tear it down and build a new one" attitude. Why would you want to get ride of something that is unique and the only one of it's kind east of the Mississippi. It's a shame I don't live in Washington Co. because I would fight tooth and nail to make sure you ARE NOT reelected.
Burns Obsolete & Unattractive to Mon Valley Voters : 4/12/2009
About the same time as the bridge finishes, Burn's term as Commissioner will be up. I will help Mon Valley Voters will retire him if he retires the ferry. Keep funding development around southpointe and let the Velley go to Hell and we will see who is around in 2012. My bet is that the ferry will survive Burns.
The ferry goes.. you go! : 4/13/2009
The ferry has been arround longer then Mr. Burns has, and i hope it is arround LONG after he is gone. They can invest COUNTLESS dolalrs in re doing the couthouse and as the one person above stated... MILLIONS in the southpoint project.... but when it comes to the "dumb coal miner folks" in the valley. they forget.... I for one am very upset over this article.. and the comments that were made by the elected officials of washington county
Pull the plug..... : 4/13/2009
on that old looking mustache and the relic suspenders! NOT THE FERRY YOU MORON! I think you might want to loosen those suspenders a little!
Frederick Ferry : 4/13/2009
I agree, losing the ferry would be a shame. But, Mr. Bower, would you run your bar while making a loss? I don't think so.! ;-)
Pulling the Plug : 4/13/2009
To Mr Burns, It is people like you that have distoryed a lot of the historical places that have been around for longer than you will live. That same road that you say will make it better is also a road that has taken down many a landmark that should have been restored. When I come back to visit where I lived all my life till I turned fifty and had to do it for health reasons.I am so sadden when I try to go and see something that has been destoryed. I wish people like you would stand down and let somebody who knows what how to restore RELICS.I had dumb coal miner floks and also dumb hick framers that put their life intothe valley.. Get Real Mr. Burns , Get Out.
Run at a Loss? : 4/15/2009
In response to the comment about running the bar at a loss - My brother and I have been running the bar at a loss for the past two years. We do this because we think that it is worth it to have a nice place for people to go and enjoy themselves and, maybe soak in a little history. So, the answer is "yes," I would run my bar at a loss - and, if need be, I think the ferry should be run without a profit - whatever needs to be done to keep it running should be done. It's unique and historic. I hope it's there for another hundred years....
