Rocky Hill - Glastonbury Ferry
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The Rocky Hill - Glastonbury Ferry is a seasonal ferry crossing the Connecticut River between the towns of Glastonbury, Connecticut and Rocky Hill, Connecticut and is part of Route 160. The river crossing has an annual average daily traffic of 400.[1]
The ferry is the oldest continuously running ferry in the United States,[2] only shutting down in the winter when the river freezes over.[3] Started in 1655 it actually began before the foundation of the towns of Glastonbury and Rocky Hill, both towns then being part of Wethersfield, Connecticut at that time.[4]
Originally a raft that was poled across the Connecticut River, it was then for a while powered by a horse on a treadmill before being upgraded to a steamship in 1876. Today's ferry is a 3-car barge named the Hollister III towed by a diesel towboat named the Cumberland.[2]
The ferry is the only river crossing accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists between Hartford and Middletown, preventing what would otherwise be a thirteen mile detour for them.[5]
Operating between May 1 and October 31, the toll for cars is $3 and for cyclists & pedestrians is $1.[2]
[edit] See also
- List of crossings of the Connecticut River
- Chester - Hadlyme Ferry, the second oldest continuously running ferry in the U.S. operating just 25 miles downstream.
[edit] References
- ^ 2005 Traffic Volumes State Maintained Highway Network (Traffic Log) (PDF) p.134. State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.
- ^ a b c Rocky Hill - Glastonbury Ferry. Connecticut Department of Transportation. State of Connecticut (2005-10-20). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Oglesby, Scott (2006-10-22). Routes 160-164. Connecticut Roads. Kurumi. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ The Rocky Hill - Glastonbury Ferry. Places of Interest in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Rocky Hill Historical Society. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Sokolowski, Kenneth E. (2005). Rocky Hill Glastonbury Ferry Now 350 Years. Wethersfield.NET. Kenneth E. Sokolowski. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
[edit] External links
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