Скачать или смотреть VDOT - 100th Anniversary of the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry

JAMESTOWN — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) commemorated a century of service for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry on Feb. 26, bringing together past and present ferry staff, families, and longtime passengers to celebrate this enduring connection across the James River.

The anniversary commenced with a ceremonial ferry ride from Surry to Jamestown, retracing the inaugural voyage of the ferryboat Capt. John Smith, which first set sail on Feb. 26, 1925, under Captain Albert Jester. The ferry’s early days came to life as a convoy of Model T and Model A automobiles, like those transported a century ago, loaded aboard, carrying Jester’s descendants, former ferry crew and community members, symbolizing the bridge between past and present.

Following the ferry ride, guests gathered at the Jamestown-Settlement’s Education Center. Christopher Hall, district engineer for VDOT’s Hampton Roads District, delivered opening remarks recognizing the ferry’s pivotal role in connecting communities and facilitating transportation.

“The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry is more than a mode of transportation; it’s a living link between Virginia’s past and present,” Hall shared. “For 100 years, it has carried passengers across the James River, forging connections, preserving history and supporting the local economy. Today’s celebration honors the people—past and present—who have made this ferry what it is.”

Virginia Commissioner of Highways Stephen C. Brich, highlighted VDOT’s commitment to preserving and maintaining this vital link between Surry County and James City County for future generations.

Additionally, Al Jester, great grandson of the ferry’s founder and first captain Albert Jester, also shared personal anecdotes and reflections on his family’s legacy which is intertwined with the ferry’s history.

In a nod to the ferry’s early days, ham sandwiches provided by the Edwards family, were served to guests in honor of S. Wallace Edwards, Sr., Captain Jester’s son-in-law, who began selling ham sandwiches to ferry passengers in 1925, a venture that later grew into the renowned Edwards Virginia Smokehouse.

A curated exhibition of historical memorabilia and archival photos of the ferry were on display offering guests a connection to the ferry’s storied past, courtesy of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Surry County Historical Society, who operate a museum in Surry featuring the restored deck house of the original Capt. John Smith ferry vessel.

As Virginia’s only 24-hour, state-operated ferry, the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry remains a free and vital transportation link, carrying nearly 1 million vehicles annually across the James River. The fleet—including the Williamsburg, Surry, Powhatan, and Pocahontas—continues to serve both residents and visitors, ensuring that this historic crossing remains an enduring cornerstone of Virginia’s transportation network.