Water Levels Improve for Historic Ferry

GLASTONBURY, CT — As of Friday, the historic Connecticut River ferry between Glastonbury and Rocky Hill was running — just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

With that announcement, state Department of Transportation officials also cautioned those wanting to use the shortcut across the river to check ahead just in case water levels rise again.

The ferry normally begins running on April 1, but wet weather and snow melt to the north produced extra high water levels. In turn, ramp angles on the barge made loading and unloading impossible, DOT officials said.

The increased currents brought dangerous floating debris, DOT officials said.

The nation's oldest continuously operating ferry service crosses the Connecticut River between Rocky Hill and Glastonbury. The ferry dates back to 1655.

In 2017, the ferry operates on a tug-and-tow system with a small tugboat — the Cumberland — pulling a barge — the Hollister III.

The rig accommodates three cars and about 15 motorcycles.

The original ferry was a small raft pushed across the river using long poles. In 1876, the ferry was “modernized” into a steam-driven craft, DOT officials said.

The Cumberland was commissioned in 1955 and there have been three versions of the Hollister. The tug is propelled by a 6-cylinder John Deere engine.

Click here for fare and normal operating schedules.

The ferry is scheduled to run Memorial Day and Open this Monday and open for remaining Monday’s as the staffing issues seem to have been resolved, DOT officials said.

Patch File Photo