USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 39
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Ferrymen were exempted from public and county levies and from all other public services such as musters, constables, clearing highways, being impressed and other things of like na- ture. Any person who should set any one over any river whereon ferries were established for pay except for going to church was liable to be fined for each offense five pounds current money.
The Norfolk County Court on the 20th day of December, 1712, ordered "That Capt. William Craford keep the ferry on his side of the river and that he cause all persons to be ferried over as shall have occasion to pass from his shore to Norfolk Town or to Mrs. Sayer's," and Thomas Crucher was ordered to "keep the ferry in Norfolk Town and carry all persons as shall have occasion to pass from the town to Captain Craford's and to Mrs. .Sayer's and back again, and that each of them shall have 1,750 pounds of tobacco salary every year," and on December 22, 1714. "It is by
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the Court thought fit to allow to Major Sam- uel Boush for keeping of the public ferry here from Norfolk Town to Mrs. Sayer's Point and so likewise from the Town to Captain Cra- ford's and in each place as usual for the sum of 3,000 pounds of tobacco." On November 21, 1,46. the court agreed to allow Col. George Newton and Col. William Craford 6,000 pounds of tobacco each for keeping the ferry over the Elizabeth River the ensuing year.
October, 1748 (Hen. Vol. 6, page 14), -- "Ferries to be constantly kept from Norfolk Town to Saver's Point or Crawford's and from Crawford's to Norfolk Town. From Craw- ford's to Powder Point.'
In 1753 Francis Miller was paid for keep- ing the ferries 6,000 pounds of tobacco and Alexander Bruce 6.300 pounds of tobacco.
Act of Assembly passed in 1757:
Section 1. Whereas it hath been represented to this General Assembly by the inhabitants of the County and Borough of Norfolk. that on the branches of Eliza- beth River and Tanner's Creek in the said County. there are five public ferries, over one of which most of the inhabitants are obliged to pass in order to go to church, court. and general muster and that by expenses of ferriage many people are prevented from bringing their small wares and commodities to the market of the said borough. Be it therefore enacted. &c. that the justices of the Court of the County of Norfolk for the time being. be. and they are hereby empowered. and re- quired, to appoint: contract. and agree with proper per- sons to keep the said ferries, and to levy the expense thereof upon the tithable inhabitants of the said County annually at the laying of the County levy.
Section 2. That every person appointed to keep the , said ferries shall constantly keep such boats and hands as the said Court shall from time to time order . and direct to be kept at the said ferries respectively. and shall give immediate passage over said ferries to all the inhabitants of the sail County without fee or reward. Section 3. That sach ferry-keepers shall and may demand andl receive, from persons not being inhabit- ants of the said County of Norfolk. the following rates. that is to say. for a man, four pence; for a horse the same; on every coach, chariot. or wagon and the driver thereof. the same as for six horses: for every cart or four-wheel chaise and the driver thereof. as for four horses: for every two-wheel chair or chaise, the same as two horses: for every hogshead of tobacco. the same as one horse.
On December 18. 1757, the court ordered that the sheriff advertise that the justices would meet at the Court House on Friday,
January Ist next, between the hours of 10 and 12, to contract with the proper persons that will give most for the privilege of keeping the fer- ries in this county. On January 20, 1764, the court ordered that no ferryman in this county be compelled to ferry any person over the river but from daylight to nine o'clock in the even- ing: public express excepted.
An Act was passed in 1766 authorizing the Norfolk County Court to lease the ferries and apply the money toward lessening the county levy; the inhabitants of the county to be put over to attend court, general musters and church at the expense of the county.
For keeping ferries from January 20, 1769, to January 20. 1770, Stephen Tankard was paid by the county 7,200 lbs. of tobacco; William Herbert 6,000 lbs., value £50; Charles Butler. 6,000 lbs .. value £50; Max. Calvert, 3,600 lbs., value £30: William Baily, 2,400 lbs., value £20.
On the 18th day of March, 1779, the court taking the regulation of the ferries under their consideration, ordered that the prices to be paid for ferriage should be as follows: "For every foot passenger crossing the said ferries I shilling, and for every horse 2 shillings, also for every carriage wheel I shilling. And that the keeper of each ferry shall keep a proper horse-boat, a proper foot-boat and two able hands to keep the same. John Burgess is permitted and appointed to keep the ferries from Norfolk to Portsmouth and back again and from Norfolk to Ferry Point and back again and from Portsmouth to Ferry Point and back again. . Stephen Tankard is per- mitted and appointed to keep the ferries from Portsmouth to Norfolk and back again and from Portsmouth to Ferry Point and back again and from Ferry Point to Norfolk and back again."
On March. 18. 1784. the court ordered "That Willis Wilson and George Dyson be ap- pointed ferry-keepers for one year from Ports- mouth to Norfolk, from thence to Ferry Point and from thence to Portsmouth and that they
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keep two foot-boats and one horse-boat and six hands ; that John Burgess and Sam Pryor be appointed ferry-keepers from Norfolk to Portsmouth, from thence to Ferry Point, from thence to Norfolk and that they keep two Rot-boats and one horse-boat and six hands ; tha' Edmund Allmand be appointed from Ferry Point to Norfolk and Portsmouth, to keep one foot-boat."
December 19. 1787 (Hen. Vol. 12. Page 513) ;-- "An Act authorized the Norfolk Coun- ty Court to let out annually the ferries to the highest bidder and apply the money to lessen- ing the county levy.'
On January 18. 1796, the court ordered "That the sheriff advertise that the public fer- ries of this county will be let on some day dur- ing the sitting of the Court before the Court House door, that two ferry-boats with two hands to each and also one horse-boat be kept at Norfolk and the same number at Ports- mouth: that the said boats be let out in the following manner, to-wit: One foot-boat and one horse-boat from Norfolk to Portsmouth be let out first to the highest bidder and then the other foot-boat to be let out to the highest bidder and that the boats in Portsmouth to be let out on the same terms, also that a foot- boat and one horse boat be kept at Ferry Point and be let out together to the highest bidder. which said boats are to ply to and from the above mentioned places respectively." On No- vember 23. 1796, the court ordered "That the keepers of the several ferries pay unto the overseers of the poor of the Parishes of Eliza- beth River, St. Bride's and Portsmouth, each. one-third of the money due from them to the Court for the rent of the ferries."
On the 18th day of November. 1799. the court ordered "That the ferries across the Elizabeth River be immediately set up to the highest bidder in the following manner:
"One foot-boat and one horse-boat with two able hands in each boat to be kept at Ferry Point : two foot-boats and one horse-boat with two able hands in each to be kept at Ports- mouth, and the same at Norfolk Borough.
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which several boats shall ply between any of the places before mentioned; and that the said ferries are to be free on Court days for all persons going to and returning from Court, . regimental and battalion musters, and for the officers conveying prisoners to and from the goal of the said County." Overseers of the poor were also to pass free on their meeting days.
On the 16th of November, 1813, the com- missioners reported to the court that Holt Wil- son was the highest bidder for the ferries across the Elizabeth River and its branches at the price of $4.900. which was confirmed.
A law was passed January 30, 1817. au- thorizing the court to lease the ferries for a term of years not exceeding seven. At the auction on November 17. 1817. Willis Wilson was the successful bidder for the ferries at $5,000.
On the 6th day of December, 1821, a team- boat was launched from the shipyard of Will- iam Dyson in Portsmouth intended for the ferry between Norfolk and Portsmouth. The "horse-boat" was a ferry-boat propelled by men, large enough to carry over horses and vehicles. A "team-boat" was a commodious ferry-boat propelled by blind horses as wheat- threshers and mid machines were formerly run. On the 16th of July. 1821. William Wil- son and Robert B. Butt leased the ferries at an annual rental of $3.000 for five years from January 1. 1822, agreeing to run a team-boat between Norfolk and Portsmouth, and on the 17th day of September, 1821. they reported to the court that a hurricane had swept away the bridge or landing at Washington (now Berk- ley ), and also the drawbridges across the East- ern and Southern Branches, in consequence of which a new landing would be required at Washington and a team-boat would be necessary to transport horses and vehicles on account of the destruction of the draw- bridges. They offered to rebuild the Wash- ington landing at its actual cost to the county and supply a team-boat if their lease could be extended to seven years, and the
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court agreed to their proposition. Upon the petition of the lessees, the court in- creased the rate of ferriage on the 19th of March, 1827, from five cents to six and a quarter cents ; at the expiration of this lease they re-leased them for three years a: $3.000 per year. At the auction held on the 5th day of February, 1831, William Wilson and John Tunis leased. the ferries for seven years at an annual rental of $3,000, agreeing to run a good steamboat for the conveyance of passengers, horses, vehicles and freight between Norfolk and Portsmouth, and this was the advent of steam ferry-boats on the Elizabeth River. The first steamboat was named the "Gosport," then followed the "Portsmouth," the "Union" and the "Norfolk."
An Act of the General Assembly was passed on the second day of April, 1839, per- mitting the site for the ferry-landing to be changed by the Norfolk County Court from North street, Portsmouth, "to the lower end of any other one street in that town which it may deem proper for the time being to select, and may appropriate so much as may be necessary to the purpose of conveniently carrying on and landing thereat the public ferry." The court was also authorized to change the loca- tion of the ferry-landing from Washington Point to any other landing on that side of the Southern Branch, and on the 10th day of December, 1839, an Act. was passed allowing the court to lease out or run the ferries by agents with power to borrow $S.ooo for the ferries.
On December 20, 1852, the court reduced the ferriage to three cents for each person.
The next legislation upon the ferries will be found in the Act incorporating the city of Portsmouth (Acts 1857-58, Page 174) .-
3rd Section. The ferries which now ply by author- ity of law between the said City of Port-mouth and the City of Norfolk and Washington Point, known as "Norfolk County Ferries" shall continue to run as authorized by law, and shall be the joint and equal property of said City and County.
They shall be regulated by a committee of six. three of whom shall be. appointed by the Court of said
County, and three by the Council of said City. pro- vided that nothing herein contained shall render null and void or vitiate any arrangement heretotore made by which said ferries have been leased or rented out, and the profits of which shall accrue equally to said County and City.
4th Section. It shall be the duty of the agent or lessee of said ferries to pay the proceeds thereof. as re- quired from time to time, to the Treasurer of Norfolk County, who shall receive the same, and be responsible for this disbursement under his official bond, as pro- vided for in this Act.
5th Section. The said Treasurer shall from the time that the incorporating of the City of Portsmouth, hereinbefore referred to, shall take effect ( from ratifica- tion of said Act by the People of Portsmouth ) appro- priate and pay annually at least one-third of the net proceeds of said ferries in liquidation of the debt as- certained to be due by said County, up to the period herein specified, one-half of which shall be credited to the City of Portsmouth: and in case a further amount should be required to meet the demand consequent upon the said debt, the Council of said City shall pay over to said County Treasurer one equal proportion with the County Court, or one-half of said further amount, un- til the entire debt shall be liquidated.
6th Section. The said Treasurer shall also appro- priate and pay annually one-third of the proceeds of said ferries, in equal parts and proportions, to the Treasurer of the School Commissioners of Norfolk County and the Treasurer of the School Commissioners of Portsmouth, to be applied as the law now directs : and if from any cause the public schools of the said County shall be discontinued or vacated for more than fifteen months, the amount herein appropriated to said County schools may be otherwise appropriated during such vacancies for County purposes by the County Court. and if from any cause the public schools of said City shall be discontinued or vacated for more than fifteen consecutive months, the amount herein appro- priated to said schools in said City shall be subject to the order of said City Council.
7th Section. The remaining one-third of said ferry proceeds shall be paid over as follows: One moiety. or half thereof, to the order of the Court of Norfolk County, and the other moiety or halt to the order of the Council of said City.
Sth Section. When the County debt hereinbefore referred to, shall have been liquidated. the one-third proceeds of said ferries appropriated by this Act to that purpose shall be paid by said County Treasurer. one- half thereof to the order of the Court of Norfolk County and one-half to the order of the Council of said City.
The 9th section provides for the divis- ion of the real estate accumulated during the union of the city and county, and says that "no wharf or other property belonging to the Nor- folk County Ferries now established by law, or purchased for its use, shall be sold or other- wise disposed of, without the concurrent con-
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sent of the County Court and Council of the said City of Portsmouth."
An Act was approved December 19, 1870, authorizing the committee of the Norfolk County Ferries to borrow a sum of money, not exceeding $30,000, for the purpose of com- pleiing such boats as were then in the course of construction for the use of the ferries and for the repair of boats then in use and building such new boats as might be necessary or ex- pedient to have, and for the repairing and equipping of the wharves, docks and other ap- purtenances of the ferries. This Act also al- lowed the joint committee with the consent of the County Court and the Council of the city of Portsmouth to secure the payment of said money by deed of trust on boats, wharves, tolls, etc.
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An Act approved March 11, 1873, made it the duty of the joint committee for the regu- lation of the Norfolk County Ferries to fur- nish to the County Court of Norfolk County and to the Council of the city of Portsmouth an accurate statement of all moneys borrowed by them, and an itemized statement of their receipts and disbursements for the last year preceding. This Act also made it the duty of the County Court and City Council, if the said annual reports were approved by them, to certify the same to the board of supervisors of the county of Norfolk on or before the Ist day of December of each year .- [Code of 1873, Page 614. Sec. 9.]
"The Court of Norfolk County may lease out the ferries across Elizabeth River and the branches thereof or may cause the same to be kept by an agent appointed by the Court ; such lessee or agent shall, if required by the Court, give bond to the county, with one or more sureties, in such sum and with such condition as the Court may prescribe."
An Act was approved February 26, 1876, providing that the Norfolk County Ferries should continue to run as then authorized by law ; and should be the joint and equal prop- erty of the city of Portsmouth and Norfolk County; that they should be regulated and
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managed by a committee of six, three to be ap- pointed by the judge of the County Court and three by the judge of the Hustings Court of Portsmouth. It also directs how the profits shall be disbursed and repeals all Acts and parts of Acts in conflict .- [Acts 1875-76, page IIo, Sec. II. ]
It having been ascertained that the joint owners of the ferries could not lease out the same under the laws in force, the legislature on February 7. 1884, passed an Act authorizing the Council of Portsmouth and supervisors of Norfolk County, if deemed to be the best in- terests of the owners, after advertising for 30 days. to lease them out at public auction, and on February 23, 1898. an Act was passed amending and re-enacting Section 1371 of the Code of Virginia, further providing for regu- lating the schedule of trips.
The ferry committee on October 15, 1841, reported to the court that the ferries had cleared $4.138.21 from April Ist to September Ist of that year. George Chambers was elected agent of the ferries October 18, 1852, and re- signed July 1, 1854,-Harrison Ferebee was elected in his stead: James Jarvis was elected December 17, 1855; Thomas B. Ballentine, November 17, 1856, and Patrick H. Cooke on February 21. 1861. The Federal government took possession of the ferries on the evacua- tion of this section by the Confederate troops and held them until April 20, 1866. After the war Joseph H. Porter was the first agent; he was succeeded by Capt. William H. Murdaugh, Capt. Thomas M. Hodges, John L. Porter. Esq., and Capt. William H. Murdaugh. On the Ist of April, 1889, the ferries were leased by F. D. Gill and Cornelius Thomas for 10 years at an annual rental of $16,250; at the expiration of this period they were again put up at auction and bid off by Harry L. May- nard, T. J. Wool, John L. Watson and A. J. Phillips at $61,600 annually for a term of 10 years. L. H. Davis was made manager and Capt. A. E. Etheridge treasurer. The start- ling increase in the value of these ferries in- dicates the rapid development and growth of
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the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth and the town of Berkley. There are now three steam ferry-boats plying regularly between Norfolk i and Portsmouth, Norfolk and Berkley and Portsmouth and Berkley. The rates of ierri- age are :
A foot passenger, single ticket 8 cents; two or more tickets each 212 cents.
Man and horse, single ticket 8 cents: two or more tickets each 7!2 cents.
Bicycle and rider, single ticket 5 cents; two or more tickets each 5 cents. Vehicle with one horse and . driver (N. & P.), single ticket 10 cents; two or more tickets each 10 cents.
Vehicle with two horses and driver (N. & P.). single ticket 18 cents; two or more tickets each 1772 cents.
Vehicles with one horse and driver (N. & B., P. & B.), single tickets 8 centa; two or more tickets each 75 cents.
Vehicles with two horses and driver N. & B., P. & B., single tickets 13 cents; two or more tickets each 1212 cents.
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Additional horses five cents each and extra persons in vehicles pay extra fare. Cattle, each. 1 cents; hogs and sheep, each, 2 cents; hand cart or hand carrage, 5 s;, wheelbarrow. 5 .cents; trunk or box, barrel or hamper basket, 5 cents.
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The third steam ferry-boat was appropri- ately named the "Union." as a link uniting the twin cities by the sea. Capt. William Chiles was for years engineer; two negroes, each with one leg. steered her. and acted as deck hands. One had a right leg and the other a left leg. so they always bought shoes in part- ners, one pair supplying both men.
HOSPITAL ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.
This magnificent hospital is located on the corner of Wood and Church streets, Norfolk, having spacious grounds of about six acres, filled with an abundance of shade trees; com- manding a view of the city, its suburbs and the harbor: is well drained, causing the building to be dry at all seasons of the year. Aside from this the spacious wards, rooms and halls are always cool, both day and night, through- out the entire summer.
St. Vincent's Hospital was established March 3, 1856. The nucleus of the present
establishment was a private residence, the prop- erty of Dr. James H !. Behan and his sister, Miss Ann P. B. Herron. Miss Behan was the adopted daughter of Walter Herron, who for- . merly owned the property where the hospital now stands.
The history of this hospital is one of more than local interest. The original structure was a fine specimen of the colonial mansion house. It was erected by Walter Herron. one of those enterprising gentlemen of that school of mer- chants who laid the foundation of Norfolk's commercial prominence.
The land upon which the hospital stands was formerly the property of a Mr. Plume and was known as "Plumeville." At the death of this gentleman the property was heired by his nephew, Mr. Walter Herron, and at his death by Miss Behan, his adopted daughter. When that dreaded scourge, the yellow fever of 1855, decimated the cities of Norfolk and Ports- mouth, when the sick and dying were counted by hundreds, many without shelter and more without attention, Miss Ann P. B. Herron threw open the doors of her stately home to the distressed. and while helping them fell herself a victim to the plague. Her dying charge was that the property should be dedicated to hospital purposes. This charge was, in 1856, carried out by her brother, Dr. James H. Behan. These good people, knowing neither sect nor section, established in that beautiful home a refuge for the sick. Gradually and by dint of self-sacri- ficing labor they converted it into an imposing structure capable of caring for hundreds. From a capacity to treat about 100 patients an- nually in its inception, it grew to a capacity for the treatment of 1,473 at the time of its de- struction by fire in September, 1899.
The annual report of 1900 shows a total of 1,473 patients treated during the last year, , of whom 176 paid absolutely nothing and a very large number of the remainder were re- ceived at greatly reduced prices, out of con- sideration for their limited means. Of this total of 1,473 patients, 513 only were from
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ENTRANCE TO THE NORFOLK COUNTY FERRIES AT PORTSMOUTH, VA.
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ARMORY AND MARKET BU LDING, PORTSMOUTH, V.A.
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Virginia, and the remaining 960 represented 61 other States and countries. In addition to the foregoing. 2.490 people were treated gratis in the irce dispensary. This great work was accomplished by the industry, zeal and devo- tion of this order of unselfish charity workers.
The hospital structure, a view of which ap- pears on page 208, was destroyed by fire on September 21, 1899. The people within a few days after the terrible conflagration set to work at once to rebuild the hospital, and the new . building is a splendid structure.
The hospital has a training school for nurses which is so well and favorably known that applications for admission are received almost daily and from nearly every State in the Union. The sister superintendent holds classes and quizzes for the pupils and also directs them in the proper discharge of their duties in the different departments of the hos- pital.
Russian and Turkish baths can be secured in this hospital. The structure contains 170 rooms and 23 wards. The old or "L" build- ing contains two wards. The entire building has accommodations, for about 350 people or about-double the capacity of the destroyed hos- pital building.
The staff is in charge of Sister Bernard, who has for hier assistants 22 Sisters of Char- ity, IS, female nurses and six orderlies.
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF NORFOLK,
Both new and old, are a pride to the city. The new buildings present all that is new, advanced and up-to-date, in both design, interior ar- rangements and appointments, while the old buildings are impressive by reason of the purity and beauty of their classic lines.
The City Court House is of the Roman- Dorie style of architecture. The massive col- minns at its front are suggestive of solidity and the structure is crowned by a handsome dome.
The Federal building, where Uncle Sam has his postal and revenue office and holds his
courts, is of the Corinthian style. The new Federal building, on Plume street, is now nearing completion. It will cost when com- pleted about-$350.000. The Post Office will be removed to this building when it is ready for occupancy.
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