At certain places on the Sabine River, I try to keep an eye out for evidence of the ferries that once allowed people (and wagons and livestock) to cross the river before bridges became an option.
If the water in the Sabine wasn’t so brown and murky, you could probably locate some of the old ferries decaying on the riverbed, where they sank after being abandoned in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I heard about them from my friend and collaborator Jacob Botter, whose ancestors operated a ferry at the end of what is now Waldons Ferry Road, a dirt trail in rural Harrison County. His great-great-great-great-grandpa (give or take a great or two) ran a rope from one side of the river to the other and used the rope to pull himself across whenever a paying customer wanted passage.
I’m not sure when that ferry ceased to exist, but Gaines Ferry, the last ferry on the Sabine River, operated until 1937. It transported travelers along the old Camino Real, where Texas Highway 21 meets Louisiana Highway 6. The ferry was replaced by a bridge, which was inundated by the creation of Toledo Bend Reservoir a little more than half a century ago.
I was reminded of the Sabine River ferries when my friend Sean Kimmons shared photos from his recent crossing of the Rio Grande. Sean and his parents loaded their car onto a ferry in Los Ebanos, Texas, and were pulled across the river by a team of men tugging a rope stretched from one bank to the other.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the Los Ebanos Ferry is the only remaining hand-pulled ferry on the Texas-Mexico border.
The Los Ebanos Ferry is a popular tourist attraction since it is the only remaining hand-pulled ferry on the U.S.-Mexico border. It can accommodate only three cars and 12 pedestrians at one time.
The crossing is also known locally as Los Ebanos-San Miguel Camargo, Ferry Gustavo Díaz Ordaz and Ferry Díaz Ordaz-Los Ebanos.
Although the crossing has been in operation since the 1950s, the current ferry has been operating since 1979. It was recognized with a state historical marker in 1975.
And here’s a photo of a Sabine River ferry taken in 1916.
Here’s a random video that shows how the Los Ebanos Ferry works.
22,149 responses to “Hand-pulled ferries across the Sabine and Rio Grande”
I personally find that great platform with useful analytics — it made my crypto journey easier. The mobile app makes daily use simple.
Actually no matter if someone doesn’t understand then its up to other viewers that they will help, so here it takes place.|
Yes! Finally something about keyword1.|
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this article plus the rest of the site is extremely good.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always interesting to read through content from other authors and use something from other sites.
May I simply say what a comfort to find an individual who actually knows what they’re discussing on the net. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people ought to look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular since you certainly possess the gift.
I every time emailed this weblog post page to all my friends, as if like to read it after that my contacts will too.|
I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I really hope to check out the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own site now 😉
Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem together with your website in internet explorer, may test this? IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a huge portion of people will leave out your wonderful writing because of this problem.|
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
I cherished as much as you’ll receive performed right here. The cartoon is tasteful, your authored material stylish. however, you command get bought an shakiness over that you want be handing over the following. in poor health for sure come more beforehand once more since precisely the similar just about very incessantly inside of case you defend this increase.
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I
stumbleupon every day. It will always be helpful to read articles from other
authors and use a little something from their web sites.
I do accept as true with all of the concepts you’ve introduced for your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very brief for starters. May just you please prolong them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.|
Somebody necessarily lend a hand to make severely posts I might state. That is the very first time I frequented your web page and to this point? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this particular publish incredible. Great task!
I have noticed that over the course of building a relationship with real estate homeowners, you’ll be able to come to understand that, in every real estate contract, a commission is paid. Eventually, FSBO sellers tend not to “save” the percentage. Rather, they struggle to win the commission by simply doing the agent’s occupation. In completing this task, they devote their money in addition to time to accomplish, as best they can, the obligations of an real estate agent. Those jobs include disclosing the home by marketing, offering the home to buyers, creating a sense of buyer urgency in order to make prompt an offer, making arrangement for home inspections, managing qualification assessments with the loan provider, supervising fixes, and facilitating the closing.
I personally find that i’ve been active for several months, mostly for cross-chain transfers, and it’s always stable performance. The updates are frequent and clear.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Great work!
Thanks for your strategies. One thing I’ve got noticed is banks in addition to financial institutions understand the spending habits of consumers and understand that many people max outside their credit cards around the breaks. They correctly take advantage of this kind of fact and commence flooding your current inbox along with snail-mail box having hundreds of no-interest APR credit card offers shortly when the holiday season comes to an end. Knowing that should you be like 98 of all American public, you’ll soar at the possible opportunity to consolidate credit card debt and shift balances towards 0 rate credit cards.
Thank you, I have recently been looking for info about this subject for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?
Thanks for your article. I would like to say that your health insurance specialist also works well with the benefit of the coordinators of the group insurance cover. The health insurance broker is given a directory of benefits desired by individuals or a group coordinator. What any broker does indeed is find individuals or even coordinators which often best complement those requirements. Then he presents his recommendations and if the two of you agree, the broker formulates binding agreement between the two parties.
Saved as a favorite, I love your web site!
I was skeptical, but after recently of fiat on-ramp, the quick deposits convinced me. The updates are frequent and clear.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later on. Many thanks|
I truly love your website.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you build this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own website and would love to learn where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Thanks!
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thanks, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody else getting similar RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx.
Hey there, You have done an excellent job. I?ll definitely digg it and individually suggest to my friends. I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
There is definately a lot to know about this issue. I love all of the points you’ve made.
I could not resist commenting. Exceptionally well written.
I’m gone to say to my little brother, that he should also pay a quick visit this weblog on regular basis to take updated from most up-to-date news update.|
You could certainly see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Admiring the commitment you put into your website and in depth information you provide. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Thanks for your write-up. I also believe laptop computers are becoming more and more popular currently, and now are usually the only kind of computer employed in a household. This is due to the fact that at the same time that they’re becoming more and more very affordable, their processing power is growing to the point where they can be as powerful as pc’s coming from just a few years ago.
The best choice I made for using the bridge. Smooth and trustworthy service.
This excellent website truly has all of the info I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
There is definately a lot to learn about this issue. I really like all the points you made.
This web site really has all of the information and facts I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Ie.
It’s hard to come by knowledgeable people on this subject, however, you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I believe that you should publish more on this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t speak about these issues. To the next! All the best!
This is a topic that is near to my heart… Thank you! Where can I find the contact details for questions?
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you are talking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also consult with my website =). We may have a hyperlink alternate agreement among us!
Furthermore, i believe that mesothelioma cancer is a rare form of cancer malignancy that is typically found in all those previously exposed to asbestos. Cancerous tissues form in the mesothelium, which is a protective lining that covers the majority of the body’s internal organs. These cells generally form in the lining of the lungs, belly, or the sac that really encircles one’s heart. Thanks for revealing your ideas.
The portfolio tracking tools are fast transactions and easy onboarding.
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after going through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently.
Someone essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish incredible. Fantastic job!
You’ve made some good points there. I looked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.
I do accept as true with all the concepts you’ve offered in your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too quick for novices. May just you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.
I blog frequently and I really appreciate your content. This article has truly peaked my interest. I will book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your Feed as well.
naturally like your web site but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I will definitely come back again.
I want to to thank you for this good read!! I definitely loved every bit of it. I have got you bookmarked to look at new things you post…