Swearingen's Ferry and Pack Horse Ford
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 39° 26.276 W 077° 47.803
18S E 259308 N 4369108
Starting in 1755, a ferry operated here between the banks of the Potomac River until replaced with a bridge in 1849.
Waymark Code: WMM92Z
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 08/14/2014
Views: 5
Marker text:
Thomas Swearingen began operating in 1755 a ferry where Rumsey Bridge now crosses the Potomac. It was about half a mile upstream from Pack Horse Ford. During the Revolution the ford and ferry served the Continental Army; British and German prisoners frequently crossed the river here, being marched from Virginia to Maryland prison camps at Frederick and Fort Frederick. Ferry was discontinued in 1849, when a covered bridge was erected.
Maryland Bicentennial Commission
and
Maryland Historical Society
Marker Type (optional): ----
County (required): Washington County
Location (required): MD 34 (Shepherdstown Pike) at Canal Road, southwest corner, 1200 ft. east of Potomac River
More info about the site/marker (optional):
The ferry at Packhorse Ford was established first, but then as traffic grew a second ferry was set up here by Swearingen to provide better connection between the major cities of the region. Just under a century later, further growth in commercial traffic exceeded the capacity of the ferry, so the location was sold to the Virginia and Maryland Bridge Company construct a toll bridge. Now a public bridge allows free passage across the Potomac between the two states.
Website for more info (optional): [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
A photo of yourself and/or your GPS with the marker should be uploaded with each visit. The marker must be visible. If the marker is in a location that may be unsafe to pull over and stop, the best image you can provide (assuming you obtain the rest of the relevant information) should be sufficient.
If you submit a new waymark that gets accepted into the category, feel free to log a visit on it!