SUMMERS COUNTY W.Va. (Hinton News) – Ferries were of great importance in our area back in the early days because of the three rivers that ran through Summers County. They made traveling and transporting less complicated.
There were several in the county to accommodate the residents: The Hinton Ferry was established in the late 1800s; Shanklin’s Ferry at Crumps Bottom; Pack’s Ferry at the mouth of Bluestone River; Richmond’s Ferry at the mouth of Laurel Creek; The Meadow Creek Ferry; One at Warford; The Foss (Bellepoint) Ferry at the mouth of the Greenbrier River; The Talcott Ferry was established in 1891; And the Graham Ferry at Lowell. Two operated with wire cables, one at Hinton and one at Foss. Packs Ferry was the first ferry in the county.
Rates for ferries were: .05 for foot passengers; .10 for a horse; .05 for each additional horse; .15 for horse and rider; .05 for cattle; .20 for sheep per score; and .05 for every 100 lbs of freight.
Modern bridges came to the county in the early 1900s, and ferries were soon placed out of business.
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