“This link to the Trans Canada Highway in the early 1950s was the brainchild of Bishop’s Falls businessman Joe Hampton. He designed and built this ferry out of oil drums, then used heavy planking to withstand the heavy loads to be transported across the Exploits River. The ferry was built in Botwood and floated up the Exploits River to Bishop’s Falls. The boat to guide the ferry was about 20 feet long and powered by a car engine,” writes the submitter.

“A very large cable was strung across the Exploits River and anchored at each end. The ferry was attached to the cable with block and tackle, and this allowed the operators to position it while docking and for guidance across the Exploits. Five people operated the ferry: owner Joe Hampton, Joe Hampton Jr., Bob Bailey, Mr. Giles (I think) and Marshall Welsh.

“The ferry could take four cars on each crossing and trucks were taken separately. (It cost cars $4 and trucks $10 per return trip.) This was a very efficient way of transportation. However, there was one mishap that I can recall. A truck was backing onto the ferry and accidentally dumped its load into the Exploits River.”   Submitted By: NULL