Early ferry service in the 1930s wasn’t always an easy crossing, especially in the spring when the river rose and the river was filled with driftwood.
The opening of the new bridge over the Mississippi River brought an end to ferry service in St. Charles Parish.
Since the 1800s, when minimal ferry service was provided by private citizens until later years when the state/parish made ferry service available on a regular basis, crossing the river on the “ferry boat” was a time consuming and often times dangerous ritual which tried the patience of all. In October of 1983, the service was discontinued.
Automobile and pedestrian ferry over the Mississippi River at Luling. Vehicles could cross the river here and at Destrehan, while pedestrians also used a small boat going between Norco and Hahnville. (Courtesy of The Herald)
Charles Troxler of Taft and friends in 1936 on the Shell skiff. Many citizens used similar vessels to criss-cross the Mississippi River from east to west banks and vice versa!By the 1950s, ferry service had improved with a more modern Luling/Destrehan ferry.
The pedestrian free ferry on the Mississippi River. (Source: St. Charles Parish Resources and Facilities publication, 1961)The Ferry Inn offered some comfort to the thousands who waited patiently for “the next ferry.” (Photo courtesy of Ruby Reeves)
The Luling/Destrehan Ferry disaster in 1976 is one of the worst maritime accidents in history. (Photos courtesy of the St. Charles Herald, Patrick Yoes, and Chip Zeringue)
George Prince Ferry Memorial - Image
George Prince Ferry Memorial - Image
The George Prince Ferry Memorial was dedicated on October 17, 2009.
