Conneaut Lake Ferry Tales
by
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Wait! Wait!
The ferries had a schedule to keep and, as noted earlier, passengers depended on the boats to get where they were going. Most pilots would wait for somebody yelling loud enough. Going back after the boat left the dock? That was a completely different matter.
Our whole schedule was built around the ferry boat! We had to leave at a certain time so we’d have long enough to walk to the dock to catch it. I still remember everyone crabbing “C’mon, we’ll miss the ferry!” which meant that we had to waste an hour waiting for the next one in the same direction. Sometimes, if we missed it, we’d spend the extra money to go the other way and back so we’d have something to do.
Passenger – 1950s
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If we were running late they’d send the fastest kid in the family running ahead to the dock. They’d get on and ask the driver to hold the boat for the rest of us slow-pokes to catch up.
Passenger – 1960s
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You know what I hated? When some kid would run onto the boat, huffing and puffing from running and then tell you that the rest of his family was “right behind him.” Then you’d hold the whole boat while the others caught up!
Crew – 1970s
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I recall turning the corner from Town down towards the dock and seeing the ferry pulling out. I screamed “Wait! Wait!” and ran as fast as I could and tried to look as lost as possible so the driver would take pity on me and pull back in - which he did.
Passenger – 1960s
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I remember running along the front of the Midway Hotel yelling “Wait, wait!” You didn’t want to miss the ferry to the Park ‘cause, if you did, there was a whole other hour until the boat came back going in that direction. Usually, the boat would wait, but sometimes, it’d go off without you. Probably had something to do with who was driving it.
Passenger – 1960s
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The docks were all different. You backed out of the Park and at Town, and if you were moving, it was a fairly easy thing to pull back in. But Midway, you pulled across the front of the dock. Once you pulled out, there was no going back. I remember being told “never go back to Midway.” I never did.
Crew – 1970s
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About the Book
All good stories start the same four words - “Once Upon a Time.”
Anchored in
The images, stories, and slight exaggerations contained in this book will bring a smile to your face and conjure warm memories of days gone by.
It began simply enough but grew into so much more. There’s love, life, death and rebirth. You’ll find splintered seats, first kisses, and secrets never told. See if you can find you, your parents and your grandparents in
About the Author
Don Hilton grew up on the shores of
His fate beyond his control, he became an unapologetic storyteller. His writing takes its cues from the old folks of his childhood and is rooted in the rhythm of conversation. It may take a while to get to the point, but that’s ok. It’s not good to hurry too much.
Besides, everyone knows a story is better than any sort of explanation.