The fare in 1948 was “foot passenger� 5 cents and autos 10 cents.
We raised prices to 10 cents and 25 cents later on.
The passengers were extremely angry over the increase.
The story that comes to mind: During high water when the ferry
could not run we rowed the passengers over and back. One afternoon, I rowed
21 mill workers across during the flood in the "Big Bertha" (a skiff). I got a
5-cent tip from one guy!!! While rowing to Fayette City during flooding, you
rowed up-river quite a distance before you went out into the middle. The current
pulled you down to the wharf on the Fayette City side. Going back was harder
as you were going against the current, which was pretty swift during flooding.
The skiff was wood, as you may remember, 25 ft. long. If you were lucky, one
of the passengers would help you row!!!
Another frightening story was: One night, almost midnight, your dad, (Frank
C. Jacobs, Jr.), was working on the ferry. One of the big river boats caught the
line and pulled the ferry down the river toward Charleroi. I knew 4 blasts on the
horn meant help, so I got in my Metropolitan (small car) auto and raced down to
the edge of the wharf and started blowing for all I could. The boat finally realized
there was a problem and stopped as the ferry got stuck in the sand bar on the
Fayette City side toward Charleroi, quite a distance away. The boat pulled the
ferry back to the wharf and after several days, replaced the cable. During the
"down" time the passengers were rowed back and forth.
We raised prices to 10 cents and 25 cents later on.
The passengers were extremely angry over the increase.
The story that comes to mind: During high water when the ferry
could not run we rowed the passengers over and back. One afternoon, I rowed
21 mill workers across during the flood in the "Big Bertha" (a skiff). I got a
5-cent tip from one guy!!! While rowing to Fayette City during flooding, you
rowed up-river quite a distance before you went out into the middle. The current
pulled you down to the wharf on the Fayette City side. Going back was harder
as you were going against the current, which was pretty swift during flooding.
The skiff was wood, as you may remember, 25 ft. long. If you were lucky, one
of the passengers would help you row!!!
Another frightening story was: One night, almost midnight, your dad, (Frank
C. Jacobs, Jr.), was working on the ferry. One of the big river boats caught the
line and pulled the ferry down the river toward Charleroi. I knew 4 blasts on the
horn meant help, so I got in my Metropolitan (small car) auto and raced down to
the edge of the wharf and started blowing for all I could. The boat finally realized
there was a problem and stopped as the ferry got stuck in the sand bar on the
Fayette City side toward Charleroi, quite a distance away. The boat pulled the
ferry back to the wharf and after several days, replaced the cable. During the
"down" time the passengers were rowed back and forth.
| As told by Joanne Jacobs Gottke and Delbert Gottke, my Aunt and Uncle April, 2004 More to come....... |
Back to home
Most of the time, when the line broke, we had to get another one. It took two
men to guide the cable as it dropped from "Big Bertha" to the bottom of the river.
Another person rowed. It required a tremendous effort and really was a
horrendous job. Daddy and Windy, Delbert's Father, your Dad and maybe one
of the ferry operators helped. It was always a time of panic when this happened
as the passengers were disgusted that they couldn't get across the river.
men to guide the cable as it dropped from "Big Bertha" to the bottom of the river.
Another person rowed. It required a tremendous effort and really was a
horrendous job. Daddy and Windy, Delbert's Father, your Dad and maybe one
of the ferry operators helped. It was always a time of panic when this happened
as the passengers were disgusted that they couldn't get across the river.
When the line broke Billy was called upon to splice it and Delbert's Dad helped
doing that. No one else knew how to do it. Billy also spliced the big ropes when
they broke or when we got a new one. They were huge!
doing that. No one else knew how to do it. Billy also spliced the big ropes when
they broke or when we got a new one. They were huge!
A man named "Jerry Weiss" stepped off the apron and was drowned after being
run over by the ferry. He stepped over the chain and went to the edge of the
apron then committed suicide.
run over by the ferry. He stepped over the chain and went to the edge of the
apron then committed suicide.
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