Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company

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The Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company ran both passenger and automobile ferry service across the Chesapeake Bay from 1919 to 1952. The initial service was between Annapolis, Maryland on the western shore and Claiborne, Maryland on the eastern shore. In July 1930, a second shorter route was added between Annapolis, Maryland and Matapeake on Kent Island, Maryland. In May, 1938 the Claiborne route was changed to run from Claiborne to Romancoke, Maryland on the lower end of Kent Island, from which passengers could then connect to the Matapeake to Annapolis run. In 1943 service was switched from Annapolis to a new terminal at Sandy Point, on the western shore. Ferry service stopped running in 1952 when the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was completed.

[edit] History

The first Claiborne-Annapolis run was June 19, 1919, with the sidewheeler Gov. Emerson C. Harrington, named for the 48th Governor of Maryland and later President of the Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company. As governor, Harrington had been instrumental in getting the ferry started. In 1915, the State Roads Commission had appropriated $50,000 to establish a state-owned ferry. With the beginning of World War I, planning was put on hold until 1919. At that time a group of businessmen headed by J. P. Mehaham, of St. Louis, and Frank McNamee, of Albany, formed a private company named the Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry, Inc. The state funds were instead diverted toward subsidizing the new private company.

In 1921, the company was in bankruptcy, but Gov. Harrington, his term over, became President of the company and instituted reforms to make it more profitable. In 1928 the company was reorganized and renamed to the Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company.

The Gov. Emerson C. Harrington was retired in 1937 and replaced by the Gov. Harry W. Nice, a double-ender which could hold up to 86 cars. Other boats were to include the "General Lincoln", "Majestic", "Albert C. Ritchie", "John M. Dennis", "Governor Emerson C. Harrington, II", "Governor Herbert R. O'Conor", "Eastern Bay", and the "B. Frank Sherman", the last named for the company's General Manager from 1924-1952.

Serious discussion about building a bridge across the Chesapeake Bay had been around since at least 1907, but did not take hold until the 1930's. Since the bridge would put the ferry out of business, the State decided it had an obligation to the ferry owners to purchase the company. In 1941, the company was purchased for $1,023,000 by the Maryland State Roads Commission (now the Maryland State Highway Administration), and was renamed the Chesapeake Bay Ferry System.

At the time the company was purchased by the State Roads Commission, it had approximately 120 employees.

Service on the ferry was continued until Jul 30, 1952, the same day the new Chesapeake Bay Bridge was opened.