In the winter of 1971, BAY TIMES writer Ralph Hoyt wrote a series of articles about the ferry systems that operated across the mid-Chesapeake Bay in the first half of the 20th century.
Ferries for foot and horseback travelers had been part of the Chesapeake region’s commercial environment since the earliest days of the colonial era, but with a growing increase in car ownership and an expanding national highway system, a need for vehicular bay transport was a sure sign that the passenger and cargo vessels of the 1800’s steamboat era were destined to soon be part of that past.
According to Hoyt, the first ferry built for the “purpose of transporting motor vehicles,” was the Governor Emerson C. Harrington. (“$4.50 for a model T”, said B. Frank Sherman, the general manager of the Chesapeake Bay Ferry System from 1928-1952, and the first president of the Historical Society of Talbot County). The Gov. Harrington‘s ran between Annapolis and Claiborne, located between St. Michael’s and Tilghman Island, from 1919 through the early 1920’s, but demand turned out to be less than anticipated, and the operation was taken over from a private out-of-state company by a group of forward-looking Marylanders.
In 1925, as business improved, the group purchased a 194’, 75-80 car, 1200 passengers, diesel ship built around 1883, modified it into a double-ender to accommodate cars, and rechristened it the “Governor Albert C. Ritchie. The Gov. Ritchie began service on the bay on July 22, 1926, and for years was considered the pride of the fleet.
The Gov. Ritchie was followed in 1929 by the launch of the newly built John M. Dennis, the line’s flagship.
In 1930, the ferry company began service between Annapolis and Matapeake on Kent Island. Many locals, including my grandfather, Frank Lewis, were employed by the system.
“Kent Island was now a stone’s throw from the Western Shore,” Hoyt wrote. “Business people of the Island were enthusiastic in their praise of the new service, and looked forward to increased revenue and prosperity.”
“Local merchants along the route brightened up their storefronts , and new gas stations sprung up overnight.”
My maternal grandparents, Grover and Virginia Clough, owned one of those gas stations until it burned down around 1938.
The Annapolis to Kent Island route was shorter, so the Claiborne leg suffered for passengers, and another terminal was added to the southern tip of Kent Island at Romancoke. The Annapolis to Romancoke ferries then went on to service Claiborne on the Governor Harrington II, which was replaced by the Governor Harry W. Nice in 1938.
In 1942, the Chesapeake Bay Ferry System was taken over by the state of Maryland.
On July 30, 1952, the day the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge opened, the Chesapeake Bay ferries ended their service. The five remaining boats were auctioned off, and after thousands of trips and tens of thousands of passengers over three decades, the era of the bay ferries was over.
“Most hearts were heavy (that day),” wrote Ralph Hoyt, “they knew that they were about to make their final docking.”
easternshorebrent 
I really enjoyed your posts on the Ferries and your postcards. I have a large collection of Annapolis, bay steamer, Baltimore and other postcards and I am building my Kent Island and Eastern Shore collection. Would love to share and look forward to meeting you. I am a board member of KIHS and always looking for historical documents. John Conley
Thanks for taking the time to comment, John! Glad you enjoyed the post. Would love to get together sometme. I, too, was on the KIHS board for a few years!
Since my Mom and Dad met on the Ferry Boat, I have heard many stories over the years. It was good to be able to put faces to some of the names. We used to get Christmas cards from Jack Higgins and Pat Higgins over the years but don’t remember ever meeting them. I think I have seen the pic of my Dad & Ms Ruth Holden before. Thanks for the memories
That’s awesome, Bonnie! Thank you for taking the time to comment!
My Grandfather, George E. Rew, was Purser on the Princess Ann which went from Old Point Comfort to Cape Charles, in the 40’s.
Thanks for commenting. If I find a pic of the Princess Ann, I will share!
I love this!!! I grew up in Claiborne, and for a long time didn’t understand why there was a ferry dock! Later, I learned about the ferries, but seeing the faces and names puts a beautiful perspective to that era!
Glad you enjoyed! Thank you for taking the time to comment! Hope you continue to follow easternshorebrent!
I really love this!! I grew up in Claiborne & Talbot County. This really puts faces and names to that era with a level of detail I hadn’t seen before. Thanks!
Thank you!
Love this! We want to do the “Walk the Bridge” in honor of the Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Co…..the bridge put my grandfather, several uncles, and cousins out of work! Capt G. F. Higgins/grandfather – Capt. Greely Higgins/Great Uncle, Capt John D Higgins, uncle, cousin – Pat Higgins….I could go, but as my mother always referred to the “John M. Dennis”, a big part of her life, family working on it, leaving just down the street in Claiborne, the best of times, on the “Mightly John M”. Wish I could find a super clear picture of the Dennis – what to get tee shirts made. Enjoyed your article.
So glad you enjoyed! Thank you for commenting, and hope you continue to enjoy!
I have two cousins pictured here, Robert and Bryan Walters. I remember riding the ferrys as a kid to see my Grandmother in Baltimore.
That’s awesome! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
My grandfather . Dewey Collier worked the ferry ,off and …. As a trade, he was a …Waterman ….He lived in Grasonville
Md. On Coursey Rd. His wife was named Ethel . Just before, the Ferry shut down, he took me on a ride off from Kent
island , over to Sandy Point and back ….When the Bay Bridge opened in 1952, it changed the whole Eastern Shore.
Thanks for taking time to leave your memories! I remember your grandparents by name. My cousins were the Thompsons who lived on the corner of Coursey Rd and Main Street. I unfortunately never got to ride the ferries because I was born after the bridge, but I would have liked to seen the Shore as it once was.