Why is Ferry Point called Ferry Point?

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

“Why is Ferry Point called Ferry Point?” we wondered as we passed by the sign for the Atlantic Marina at Ferry Point off Mill Creek in Arnold where the popular Point Crab House and Grill is located. For residents from nearby communities like Severna Park, going to the Point Crab House by land or by water is a short trip to the “near away” – an inviting locale on the south side of the Magothy River that is local to Severna Park.

As we turned into the marina, we recalled that, prior to 2019 when acquired by the Edgewater-based Brick Companies, the facility was owned by Cliff Silbiger and John Kurtz and known as the Ferry Point Marina and Yachtyard. Its history is more involved, however. Ferry Point is believed to have been established in the 1940’s.

Curious to know when and why the location was coined Ferry Point as we turned into the marina and looked for a parking spot, we tried an internet search by smartphone From prior research, we knew that ferries, canoes, barges, workboats and steamboats had been primary modes of transportation along our local waterways before railroads were established here in the late 19th Century.

According to information on the Historical Marker Database, ferries were a critical link in the colonial road system. The ferry crossing at London Town in Edgewater, for example, was part of a larger transportation network that extended from Virginia to New York, moving people and goods to market along with the news of the day. By the 1730s, nearly every road in Anne Arundel County led to a ferry crossing or a boat landing.

There were no landing docks, so early ferries were shaped like rectangular boxes with a flat bottoms and flat vertical sides like the one represented in the drawing above. They were easily built and could be as long as 60 feet but were often far narrower; from 8 to ten feet wide.  (A photograph in a Severna Park Reflections book from Bay Media shows one at Whitney’s Landing on the Severn that is much like the one in the drawing above.)

The book Ferry Boats of Colonial America noted that there were four basic methods of propelling a ferry across the shallow waters of a river: poling, rowing, sail, or stretching a line between banks. 

Skirting the marina, which was chock-a-block with boats, we headed toward the docks surrounding the restaurant.

Pausing to enjoy the gentle breezes coming off Mill Creek and admire the placid scene before us, we walked along those docks and tried to visualize what Ferry Point would have been like in the 18th and 19th centuries when there were no docks and a ferry would have been important for moving timber or tobacco down the Magothy River to market.

Still, looking for information on how Ferry Point got its name, we messaged Bay Media, Inc. president and publisher Patricia Troy who, amazingly, had an answer for us.

“There was a ferry that ran from North Ferry Point in Pasadena (where Magothy Marina, the second of Atlantic’s three properties is located) to South Ferry Point at Mill Creek in Arnold,” Troy told us.

The vistas at Ferry Point were quite picturesque. To the north, the creek opened to the wider Magothy River and, opposite us, to the west was the spit of land above Twin Oaks. To our south, along Mill Creek, a sailboat slipped by under power, came about, and tied up alongside the Crab House. Its occupants scrambled out and went inside in quest of a table.

After a day filled with phone calls and paperwork, strolling the grounds was the perfect way to unwind before heading into The Point for some more great views and good food.

For many locals, a trip to The Point is a long-held family tradition. It’s always fun whether you arrive by boat traveling up the Magothy from Annapolis like the folks we’d just watched, by kayak or paddleboard from Cypress Creek or Cape Arthur, or by automobile from as far away as Baltimore. From mid-Spring through mid-Autumn, the sliding glass doors opposite the water are open to the elements and the marina is bustling so there is plenty of activity – lots to see. A favorite time for impromptu get-togethers is noon on a winter’s day when the interior of the Crab House is lit with gold as the sun streams through the sliding glass doors.

As is often the case, we saw people waiting for a table as we entered the restaurant and headed past them to the bar where we ordered drinks and caught up with the latest news with a longtime bartender. He mentioned that the cooler weather we’ve been experiencing was a blessing because the restaurant was once again busy. The crowds had been down during July’s sizzling hot weather.

We found the bar quite crowded but there was ample space to stand overlooking the water and the scenic properties along the banks of the creek.

It was great when a table opened up and we could look at some menus and order some food. One frequently runs into people one knows when visiting The Point but, even when you don’t, it’s fun to observe the crowd while waiting for your meal to arrive.

We observed that lots of restaurant patrons were ordering crabs which were going for up to over $100 per bushel. Since we’d be unable to consume an entire bushel, we decided to forgo that pleasure and ordered Nanny’s Deviled Eggs as appetizers and House Favorites including The Point Burger and Pork and Atlantic Cod Tacos. We lingered over after-dinner coffee long enough to observe people from the boat we’d seen arrive climb back aboard and slip away.

Having coffee gave us just enough energy to check out the yachtyard where we found some of the boats impressive and judged that the work being done would be done well.

Atlantic Marina at Ferry Point provides all levels of boat repair, yacht management, and marine services and is a one-stop source for custom electronic, mechanical, engineering, and fabrication projects through its onsite repair partner, Engle Marine.

The presence of ferries, steamboats and other once familiar conveyances is no longer alive on the Magothy or Severn. But, if you go to a place like Ferry Point and let your imagination flow, you can see the ghosts of our ancestors going about their daily business while you relax and enjoy the day.

Trivia Night Fundraiser to benefit Baldwin Hall on August 22

We received word from Janice Ann Crowe that Historic Baldwin Hall is in need of a new roof and the Severn Cross Roads Foundation (which is responsible for the preservation of the property) has come up with a novel idea to raise funds. SRC’s Trivia Night Fundraiser will be held at Baldwin Hall at 1358 Millersville Road on Friday, August 22nd. The doors will open at 6 pm and the trivia game will begin at 7 pm. Pizza from Benny’s Woodfire will be available for purchase and the trivia will be provided by Charm City Trivia. Teams will be limited to eight people per team. Winners will receive gift certificates donated by area businesses. Tickets are $25 and include one drink ticket. For tickets or more information, visit the Historic Baldwin Hall page at Facebook or call (410) 923-3438.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility whilereducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

And Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena, A family- owned business with four locations (Annapolis, Pasadena, Laurel and Wheaton). With 40 years’ experience and the backing of a national brand, they are committed to earning customers’ trust by offering the expertise, value and responsiveness drivers expect – “every time they visit us.”