WEST WHEELING FERRY
Model by John Bowman

The side-wheel ferryboat “West Wheeling” was built at the McNaughton & Dunlevy Yard at West Wheeling, Ohio in 1860. Rebuilt many times, she served the Wheeling area off and on for thirty-five years into 1895. Phillips & Co. of Wheeling built her double boiler steam machinery. Here, she is seen docking at the Wheeling wharf in the 1890s. The barge was also built at the McNaughton & Dunlevy Yard. There was a “Mail Pouch” thermometer on the barge shed.
The ferryboat was a convenience for passengers, freight and wagons pulled by horses. Judge John Cochran writes in his book: “Bonnie Belmont”, my mother would leave home at 1:30 a.m. catching the ferryboat at Martins Ferry to Wheeling and setting up her produce stand at 3:30 a.m. at Wheeling, Virginia’s Second Ward Market in the lower building. As John states “The South Market (Centre Market) was not yet established”.
Betty Zane Clarke at that time lived with her husband and daughters on her Sunset Heights farm just off Ferryview Road, Martins Ferry, Ohio in what is now the Westlawn Ave. area. Betty would often make the same trip as John’s mother.
The loading barge was moored to the Wheeling Wharf just north of the Crockard & Booth Wharfboat. A similar loading barge was located at Martins Ferry and one at a dock at First Street in North Wheeling.

WEST WHEELING FERRY at WHEELING’S WHARF