« Programs Home
Previous event: Annual Meeting
Next event: 1st Quarterly Meeting, 2010

January Hatton Ferry Update

Location:

Date:

Early in 2010, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society is poised to take control of the Hatton Ferry on the James River. In December, the Society established a new subsidiary corporation called Hatton Ferry, to receive ownership of and to oversee operation the historic Hatton Ferry. The initial directors are Steven G. Meeks (Society President) and E. Marshall Pryor, III.

The future of the ferry was placed in jeopardy when the Virginia Department of Transportation announced in May that it would no longer fund the ferry and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors said the county didn't have enough money to pick up the tab. At this point the Society stepped forward to continue a long tradition of support of the nation's last hand poled ferry by offering to raise the needed funds to continue operation of the ferry.

By the end of the 2009 ferry season, VDOT made a decision to divest itself of the ferry entirely and offered it to Albemarle County. It was latter determined, according to the Code of Virginia, the County was not authorized to operate a ferry. Again, the Society stepped forward and offered to receive ownership of the ferry to give it a new lease on life. The only other option would have been for VDOT to have had declared the ferry surplus and sold it for scrape. At the January 6th meeting of the Albemarle Supervisors, VDOT will officially transfer the title to the ferry to the County and the County will immediately hand it off to the Society.

In the ensuing months, the Hatton Ferry board will be working with VDOT to formalize the renewal of operation of the ferry. Work will also commence on long range plans, activities and events to support the ferry. Planning will include representatives from both sides of the James River, i.e. Albemarle and Buckingham Counties. The ferry will continue to operate operate on weekends from mid-April to mid-October, except when the river’s water level is too high or low. Fundraising efforts will continue to insure the ferry's continue operation far into the future. Donations can be sent to the Society or to Hatton Ferry, 10120 Hatton Ferry Road, Scottsville, VA 24590.

Additional Info:
Follow the Hatton Ferry on Facebook! This past weekend, Martha Louis, president of Historic Buckingham, Inc., presented directors Steven Meeks and Marshall Pryor a check for $1000 for the Hatton Ferry Fund. (photo below)