The Ferry System

The Ferry System Over 140 years ago, people used to cross the river on ferry boats. Selkirk These were very important because the Red River separated East and West Selkirk. People wanted to move animals, food, and supplies across the river. Canoes couldn’t move everything! East Selkirk

Why was a Ferry Better? The ferry could move bigger items, like a wagon, or herds of animals. People used the ferries to go to the local post office, school, and church. It only cost 15-25 cents to cross on the ferry.

What Were The First Ferries? The first ferries were built by the Aboriginal peoples. They used “bull-boats,” which were like a small canoe. It had a round wood frame and an animal skin stretched across the bottom.

New Ferries Wooden rafts were built next. They were built by European settlers. The first ferries had long paddles or poles. The second ferries had cables attached to both sides of the river. The ferryman pulled the raft across the river along the cable. When a ship came along the river, the cable would be dropped low into the water so the boat could sail overtop.

The Design The ferries were usually made from wooden 4 x 8 planks. There were guardrails on the edge so people wouldn’t fall off. There were wooden planks at the front and back to help people get on and off easily.

How Did They Know Where To Build A Ferry It couldn’t be built too low or the dock would flood. It couldn’t be built too high or the people couldn’t get on and off.

The Dangers Sometimes it was dangerous to travel on the ferry. In the spring, melting ice sometimes pushed the ferry over. Sometimes cars, horses, and people fell into the river. Sometimes people and horses even drowned.

The Ferryman The ferryman had a dog because he got lonely. Sometimes parties were held at the ferry Sometimes it was used as a dance floor.

The Selkirk Ferry One of the ferries was between Selkirk and East Selkirk. It was called the Selkirk Ferry. Mr. Holdgate was the manager of the ferry. He attached the rope across the river to an ox to pull the ferry across. This was right beside the Selkirk Bridge on MacLean avenue. The ferry was taken apart after the Selkirk Bridge was built in 1937.

Where did all the ferries go? Ferries were disappearing because not as many people wanted to use them. It was not good to move cars on ferries. Bigger and stronger bridges were built. Everyone was crossing the river on the bridge.

- “preserving our community’s heritage one story at a time” – This presentation brought to you by the St. Clements Heritage Advisory Committee! - “preserving our community’s heritage one story at a time” – Information Compiled/Presentation Created by Jared Laberge Bibliography St. Clements Historical Committee. East Side Of The Red. Winnipeg: Inter-Collegiate Press, 1984. Prystupa, Donna. Current Ferries In Manitoba, 1840-1986. Winnipeg: Historic Resources Branch, 1986. http://www.minnehahacounty.org/depts/siouxland/siouxland_museums/exhibits/l_c_gifts_mandan/teachers/artifact_pages/32_buffalo_bull_boat.htm The End