| Delbert Gottke operated the ferry in about 1958-59. Your Dad (Frank C. Jr.} trained him and every time someone took the Coast Guard Test, mother (Gommy) had them give her the questions as good as they could remember them. She wanted to make sure everyone passed the test. |
| Two other operators were Tim Oliphant who lived on the first house on the Fayette City side as you go up the street from the wharf. Another was Buddy Ferris. |
The "Dead Line" was the cable line on the right side of the ferry. It was used to keep the ferry running in
a straight line. (The right side is the side as you look at the ferry, the south side.) During high water and
ice--we not only had to take the line out of the water and wrap it on a huge spool but the other line,
also.(The one that went through the housing and motor). The ferry was then moved along side the
shoreline north of the wharf and tied to trees to keep it out of the current. When it was safe, it would
then be moved back to its running position. Both lines would be replaced at that time. When laying the
"Dead Line", it took 1 man to hold the spool to "feed" it. The skiff had to be kept in a straight direction, so
it would go straight. Two guys rowed. They also used blocks of wood with slots to pass along the lines
to clean debris off it.
During foggy weather, there was a big "ring" on the wharf on the Fayette City side which passengers
would slam against the "brick wall" to let the ferry operator hear that someone was there. The ferry
operator signaled with the horn during foggy weather before leaving the wharf. If you did not get an
answer from a boat, it was clear to cross. While traveling across the river you prayed and hoped a boat
wasn't coming to run into you. The pilot of the boats probably couldn't see the kerosene lanterns on the
corners of the ferry.
We had a huge spotlight, searchlight, that was used to see if there was a passenger on the Fayette City
side after dark when the ferry was operated from the inside of the little building. After the motor was
placed on the ferry it was no longer used. We had "pry" bars which were used to push the ferry off from
shore if the operator ran the apron up too high onto the wharf while landing.
a straight line. (The right side is the side as you look at the ferry, the south side.) During high water and
ice--we not only had to take the line out of the water and wrap it on a huge spool but the other line,
also.(The one that went through the housing and motor). The ferry was then moved along side the
shoreline north of the wharf and tied to trees to keep it out of the current. When it was safe, it would
then be moved back to its running position. Both lines would be replaced at that time. When laying the
"Dead Line", it took 1 man to hold the spool to "feed" it. The skiff had to be kept in a straight direction, so
it would go straight. Two guys rowed. They also used blocks of wood with slots to pass along the lines
to clean debris off it.
During foggy weather, there was a big "ring" on the wharf on the Fayette City side which passengers
would slam against the "brick wall" to let the ferry operator hear that someone was there. The ferry
operator signaled with the horn during foggy weather before leaving the wharf. If you did not get an
answer from a boat, it was clear to cross. While traveling across the river you prayed and hoped a boat
wasn't coming to run into you. The pilot of the boats probably couldn't see the kerosene lanterns on the
corners of the ferry.
We had a huge spotlight, searchlight, that was used to see if there was a passenger on the Fayette City
side after dark when the ferry was operated from the inside of the little building. After the motor was
placed on the ferry it was no longer used. We had "pry" bars which were used to push the ferry off from
shore if the operator ran the apron up too high onto the wharf while landing.
| S T O R I E S |
Back to home
| As told by Joanne Jacobs Gottke and Delbert Gottke, my Aunt and Uncle April, 2004 More to come....... |
