Grove Park. They constructed a bandstand for concerts and installed a water slide complete with water pumped to the top, so swimmers could surf down the slide using a board and land in the river.
In the 1920s the first editions of the current boats, the "Roaring Bull" and the "Falcon", were launched. These stern wheel boats had a pilot house, a roof over the passenger deck, and a barge alongside to carry vehicles.
The 1920s and 1930s was a golden era of the ferry system and as many as four boats were required to keep up with demand for service. The closest bridge is either 15 miles south or 30 miles to the north.
The ferry stayed in the families of Hunter and Radel until 1968 when it was sold to Bud and Robert Wallis and Jim Zeiders. In 1972 Robert Wallis became the sole owner of the Millersburg Ferry.
Modern Day
In 1990, Community Banks, N.A. of Millersburg purchased the ferry from Robert Wallis and give it to the Millersburg Community, which then formed the Millersburg Ferry Boat Association, a board of nine members from various community organizations, who oversee the seasonal operation of the boats while preserving the historical value for future generations.
In 1998 "Roaring Bull" was rebuilt for the fifth time and its gasoline engine was replaced with a diesel engine and the paddle wheel was upgraded to a hydraulic drive.
After
35 years of work, the Ferry system finally achieved National Historic Register status in 2006 just prior to [the] Millersburg Bicentennial.
The Ferry Boat Association is under the purview of the United States Coast Guard and as such, the pilots and boats must be Coast Guard certified.
The Ferry transports nearly 20,000 passengers per year including bicyclists and Amish buggies. Local lore has it that celebrity passengers have included Thomas Jefferson, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison.
[Photo captions, left to right, read]
· A group of well-dressed citizens prepares to cross the Susquehanna River in an early 22 foot pole boat.
· Ramsey Moyer and family enjoying a Sunday afternoon on the good ship "Enterprise" during the 1890s.
· Passengers disembark from the "Pointy Boat" on October 10th, 1905. The side-wheel boats were steam-powered.
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