Ferry Captain Bill Benson Serves 50 Years at Oxford Bellevue
In Orford Maryland AP report locals describe the Oxford Bellevue Ferry operating a three-quarter mile route across the Tred Avon River. Bartender Al Pope’s Tavern owner lives in Royal Oak and opts for the ferry ride for its calming effect and timing. Bill Benson has piloted the crossing for about nine decades, marking a long private-operational era longer than any other US ferry.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Orford, Md
al Pope
Tred Avon
Royal Oak
Doles
Ater
Showell
Oxford-Bellevue
Bill Benson
Benson
New England
Long Island Sound
Oxford
Captain Benson near end of long Oxford Ferry era
In Oxford Maryland, Captain Benson, 73, reflects on a life guiding the Oxford Bellevue ferry, now replaced by two larger boats with smaller crews. The Oxford Bellevue line, dating to 1683, carried locals and tourists, even appearing in television ads and a Maryland lottery promo, as Benson notes the perpetual rounds and the ferry’s place in the town’s lore.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Benson
Showell
Tye
Oxford-Bellevue
Maryland
White's Ferry
Potomac River
Crisfield-Smith Island
Sara
Oxford
Talbot County Court
Richard Royston
Economics lesson and ferry fare nostalgia in Talbot County
The article recalls wages in 1938 at 15 cents per hour with ferry fares of 40 to 60 cents for Talbot County residents and others. Benson, who once owned a boat, reflects on current fares at 2.75 dollars plus a quarter per passenger and notes boats now support more traffic. He compares past and present boat capacity and profitability while recalling his own small boat with big oars. The piece also mentions bird's nest soup and Swifts nests sourced from caves, and a brief note on Vereeniging and the end of the South African War.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Benson
Talbot County
Gilbert Clark
China
Couple Plans Marriage by Stars in Scituate R I
In Scituate Rhode Island George Parker a 38 year old professional astrologer and his wife Jeannie 42 describe their wedding at 1 am after Venus and Jupiter aligned They planned the date for planetary conjunctions and the moon’s favorable aspects The pair have studied their charts through 2000 to gauge compatibility and possible trouble spots while noting astrology is not fortune telling and should be treated as a weather forecast for relationships
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George
Venus
Jupiter
Glayman
Parker
Jeannie
Also Mentioned on This Page
Tripper Showell
the News
Frederick
Perk
Chaston C. Kalles
Eatire
Dorman
LPN
Tos
Maryland State Board of Exemer
Alee
Maryland Gee
Barry R. Hinghes
Hood College
Home For
Record St
Maryland Licensed Practical Nurse Association
Tls
Mlpna Inc
Chestnut Grove Road
C. Kurt Holter
Aya
Vereeniging
Surr
Scituate
Jeannie Parker
Jeannie Dutcher
Homelite
Chain Saw
270 & Rt
Francis Scott Key Mall
Roy Rogers
Early Rider Breakfast Club
Pete Plamondon
Route 40 West
Pete
Early Rider
Frederick Town Mall
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