[WPTA] Sisterville Ferry Run

[Ross, Lawrence]

Sistersville Ferry Run
June 16, 2018
by Rick Brown

James Madison was president; the Union consisted of 19 states; Abraham Lincoln was eight years old; and the Erie Canal was still just a dream. It was at this time in 1817 that ferry service began across the Ohio River between Sistersville West Virginia and Fly Ohio.

Today there remain only four ferries serving the 981 miles of the Ohio River. The Sistersville Ferry is the only one operating on the upper 427 miles, providing two centuries of continuous transportation service.

Our run will start in the parking lot of Denny’s Restaurant, 1395 West Chestnut St. (Route 40) in Washington Pa. Come off I-70 at Exit 15, merge onto Route 40 East for ¼ mile, and turn left at the traffic light. The driver’s meeting will be at 10:15, and all cars will be gone by 10:30. Come early for breakfast if you like. Our route is the definition of a relaxing, back road drive
on well maintained, winding roads. Not much but trees, hills and the occasional farm. In fact, our rest stop (at 1:15 into the run) is in the only town we see during the 78 miles
between Washington, PA and New Martinsville WV -- and it doesn’t even have a traffic light.

After crossing the Ohio on the ferry (be sure you have $4 or $5 cash for the toll), we will end up at a small restaurant called Marv’s Place in Sardis Ohio. This historical building from 1894 has been used as a department store, shirt factory, assembly point for Model A Fords, casket factory, and poolroom. No liquor license, but it does have Hershey’s ice cream and music from the 1950’s. We expect to arrive at Marv’s Place between 1:15 and 1:30.

If you’re driving from Ohio or points west of Pittsburgh, you can meet up with the group at the Ferry
crossing sometime between 12:45 and 1:15.

Let’s all hope for good weather on June 16.






Larry Ross


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