now
The Chain Ferry has held up its title of the last chain ferry in the U.S. People really seem to enjoy it. I've been on it a couple times and it's pretty fun to ride. It’s currently in it’s second design, which was made in the 1960s and has been used ever since. It has made it through with the occasional change of parts. It’s open during the summer and it gets lots of attention from locals and tourists.
I recommend that if you have not already, you go get a ride on it. There probably will be a line but it’s still worth it. It’s only 1 dollar to take the 100 yards across and the operator will blow a loud air horn just so you know that they have the right of way.
I recommend that if you have not already, you go get a ride on it. There probably will be a line but it’s still worth it. It’s only 1 dollar to take the 100 yards across and the operator will blow a loud air horn just so you know that they have the right of way.
Poems
I’m the Chain Ferry
I am part of our city I bring people here I’m like an icon Everyone knows about me I know everyone I move back and forth across I help folk go where they want I make life easy I make a long drive a walk I enjoy my job I am tough as nails I’ve made almost 60 years I’m still standing strong I greet my passengers well They treat me well in return I am quite peaceful Sometimes I make a crash sound But It’s not too bad It never ends in a bang I’m a doer and am proud |
The Chain Ferry now is still a hit
It brings people to Saugatuck just to see it It is still a good way to get to the beach It is open all week during the summer It is the only chain ferry left in the U.S. that makes it pretty special It is fun to ride and it helps our city Take it from me, since I worked on it It is not too hard to crank across You get to meet lots of people working on it It’s like working at a store, there are slow times and fast times It’s almost like the chain ferry decides how it wants to work itself It’s a bad child on some days, always running from the chain It makes a peaceful clank to the dock as it sits It makes the same sound as you shift it across Unless something's wrong It always has a nice meek breeze you will see |
then
The Chain Ferry is a big part of our community now and it was back in our history too. The Chain Ferry was first started in the early 1850s to replace an old bridge that was falling apart. It also made it very easy for boats to move freely up and down the river, whilst the bridge made that very hard to do.
There were two types of the ferry built over the years. At first it was the Chain Ferry which could carry a large amount of people, used until 1947. Then a rowboat was used while the new design was being made. The new design was made in 1968 and has been used ever since. The old Chain Ferry could hold about 50 passengers, and the old rowboats could hold about 9 people. The new one can hold about 45 people, it’s a tad smaller than the last one
To keep it running all week they used a number of Chain Ferry workers. They were paid by the income of the stores on each side of the chain ferry. It transported cars, horses, and people of course. It could also hold a good amount of weight.
One of the known operators was Jay D. Myers, who operated the Chain Ferry for 20 years and was loved by anyone who rode it. The ferry was a large wooden scow which was like a barge, it needed it’s chains replaced every once in a while and it was pretty reliable. It was open from 6 AM to midnight, so it was running for a long time, but people still used it at the later times.
There were two types of the ferry built over the years. At first it was the Chain Ferry which could carry a large amount of people, used until 1947. Then a rowboat was used while the new design was being made. The new design was made in 1968 and has been used ever since. The old Chain Ferry could hold about 50 passengers, and the old rowboats could hold about 9 people. The new one can hold about 45 people, it’s a tad smaller than the last one
To keep it running all week they used a number of Chain Ferry workers. They were paid by the income of the stores on each side of the chain ferry. It transported cars, horses, and people of course. It could also hold a good amount of weight.
One of the known operators was Jay D. Myers, who operated the Chain Ferry for 20 years and was loved by anyone who rode it. The ferry was a large wooden scow which was like a barge, it needed it’s chains replaced every once in a while and it was pretty reliable. It was open from 6 AM to midnight, so it was running for a long time, but people still used it at the later times.
Riding the chain ferry is a fun thing to do
But it has a history that most people never knew
It was installed in the 1850s to replace an old bridge that was falling apart
That couldn’t be fixed by a million spare parts
It transported cars, horses and things of that kind
It was quite fun to ride, I think you’ll find
Crankers would operate it on shifts
All day they would pull, push, and kick
Jay D. Myers was the operator for 20 years
He was one of the first chain ferry pioneers
It allowed boats to move free like a bird down the river
It made it easier to move people and deliver
Ferrymen would make an income from the stores by each stop
The stores were like a one stop shop
The chain ferry back then was a diamond for our city
It was like a star and very pretty
The chain ferry ran forever, it ran from 6am to midnight
It was a robot, up in the dark and in the daylight
In our community it is a huge attraction
People always give it great reactions
But it has a history that most people never knew
It was installed in the 1850s to replace an old bridge that was falling apart
That couldn’t be fixed by a million spare parts
It transported cars, horses and things of that kind
It was quite fun to ride, I think you’ll find
Crankers would operate it on shifts
All day they would pull, push, and kick
Jay D. Myers was the operator for 20 years
He was one of the first chain ferry pioneers
It allowed boats to move free like a bird down the river
It made it easier to move people and deliver
Ferrymen would make an income from the stores by each stop
The stores were like a one stop shop
The chain ferry back then was a diamond for our city
It was like a star and very pretty
The chain ferry ran forever, it ran from 6am to midnight
It was a robot, up in the dark and in the daylight
In our community it is a huge attraction
People always give it great reactions