Millersburg Ferry facts for kids
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Millersburg Ferry
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The Millersburg Ferry as viewed from the eastern shore. Note the ferry wall to the downstream side of the boat, midway across the river.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Susquehanna R. bet. Millersburg and Buffalo Township, Millersburg, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 146 acres (0.59 km2) |
| Built | 1817 |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000663 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 2, 2006 |
The Millersburg Ferry, also known as the Crow's Ferry, is a special boat service. It is the very last ferry still working on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. This ferry carries people and cars across the river between Millersburg in Dauphin County and Buffalo Township in Perry County.
The ferry started operating a long time ago, in the early 1800s. In 2006, the Millersburg Ferry crossing was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. Its ferry boat is thought to be the last "wooden double stern-wheel paddle boat" still running in the United States. The Millersburg Chamber of Commerce owns the ferry. The Millersburg Ferryboat Association runs it from May to October, as long as the river water levels are good.
Contents
History of the Millersburg Ferry
Ferries have been crossing the Susquehanna River at Millersburg since the early 1800s. The first ferry was a simple "pole ferry," like a small boat pushed by poles. This ferry was even around before Millersburg was officially founded in 1807. Daniel Miller, who founded Millersburg, kept the rights to operate the ferry for himself.
Early Ferry Operators
Records from 1817 and 1820 show that George Carson or Michael Crow operated the ferry. Michael Crow built a road from the ferry landing on the west side of the river in Perry County. This road connected to a main road, which is now U.S. Routes 11 and 15. The west side landing became known as "Crow's Landing."
Changes in Ownership
For many years, who owned the ferry rights was often debated. These disagreements were finally settled in 1866. The Pennsylvania State Legislature gave Joseph Kramer the right to run the Millersburg Ferry. He had to pay for everything himself. Part of this agreement meant Kramer had to build and keep up the landings on both sides of the river.
From Pole to Steam Boats
In 1873, steam-powered ferry boats replaced the older pole boats. These new boats were much heavier. They needed deeper water to cross the Susquehanna River. To make the water deeper, a special "ferry wall" or dam was built from one shore to the other. These walls are still used today. They are a very important part of why the ferry is a Registered Historic Place.
Over the years, the Millersburg Ferry became more and more important. Ownership changed many times between the 1870s and 1990. In 1990, Robert Wallis, who owned the ferry, sold it to Community Banks, N.A. The bank then gave the historic ferry operation to the Millersburg Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce then created the Millersburg Ferryboat Association to run it.
Why the Ferry Still Runs
Many bridges were built over the Susquehanna River. This caused almost all other ferries on the river to close down. The Millersburg Ferry is still open because it is historically important. It also serves a practical purpose: it is the only way to cross the river for about forty miles between Duncannon and Sunbury.
Transportation and Its Importance
The Millersburg Ferry was a very important way to travel and move goods in the central Susquehanna River Valley. This was especially true from 1866 until 1956. When the railroad came to Millersburg and a station was built, the ferry became even more important.
People from the western side of the river used the ferry often. They would transport their goods from Perry and Juniata Counties to bigger cities. These cities included Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Philadelphia. People on the eastern side used the ferry to visit fun places on the western shore.
Ferry Fleet Over Time
The Millersburg Ferry used to have as many as four boats. These boats would carry farm products, animals, building materials, and people. They also carried horses, wagons, and later, cars. The busiest time for the ferry was from 1905 to 1936. During the Great Depression, the ferry service was cut down to three boats. Today, the ferry company has a fleet of two boats.
Ferry Boats and How They Operate
The Millersburg Ferry uses two boats. One is called the Roaring Bull V. It is a red paddle wheeler built in 1998. The main part of the ferry is about 83 feet (25 meters) long. It is powered by a 57 horsepower Deutz diesel engine. The other boat is the Falcon III. It was built in 1974 and is gray. It is about 8.3 feet (2.5 meters) longer than the Roaring Bull V. It also has a Deutz diesel engine.
Crossing the River
According to Captain Donald Lebo, the trip across the river is about 4,785 feet (1,458 meters). This is about nine-tenths of a mile. The trip takes about 20 minutes. In 2009, about 20,000 passengers used the ferry. Most of these passengers were tourists.
As of the 2013 season, the cost for a one-way walk-on passenger was $3. A round trip for a walk-on passenger was $5. It cost $7 for a motorcycle and rider, and $8 for a car and driver. Other passengers in a vehicle paid $3 each. There are also prices for special vehicles like horse and buggies or golf carts.
When the Ferry Operates
You can reach the Millersburg Ferry from Pennsylvania Route 147 on the eastern side in Millersburg. On the western side, it is reached from U.S. Route 11/15, just south of Liverpool.
The ferry is open on weekends only starting May 1, from 9:00 a.m. until dusk. From June through Labor Day, the ferry runs daily from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. After Labor Day, it goes back to the weekend schedule until the end of September. The Millersburg Ferry does not operate from October through April.
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