Sistersville Ferry has been providing the local communities with the opportunity to be on the Ohio River for over two centuries. The ferry services from Sistersville West Virginia to Fly, Ohio started around 1817, at the time West Virginia was in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is now the only operating vehicle and pedestrian ferry in West Virginia. Originally, at trip across the river would cost 6 pence, which is about $.46 in today’s currency. Today, you can take a ride on the Sistersville Ferry for $5.00 per car or $1 per pedestrian. (https://theclio.com/entry/38600)

The Ferry is open for transportation Thursday thru Sunday, 9 AM to 6 PM and offers cruises up and down the river for special events or parties after hour. During October, you can enjoy one of the leaf-peeping cruises have become a fan favorite. The ferry remains open with grants provided by the state of WV, and the Harry E. and Olive T. Barth Charitable Trust, as well as donations, merchandise, fares, and revenue derived from private and public cruises.

Many exciting events are coming up on the Sistersville Ferry including one this Saturday, August 27th. Be transported back to the ’50s & '60s when the Ferry holds a Sock Hop Dinner Cruise on the river. Grab your poodle skirts and roll up those jeans for a night of dancing and fun! They also offer “Music on the Ferry,” musicians play and sing every weekend in September. Coming on October 22nd, they will even be doing a BINGO cruise.

This past Wednesday, Cork Bowen, President of the Paden City Development Authority (PCDA), hosted a luncheon and presentation to highlight the progress on the 8.6-acre Industrial Park. Featured guest speakers were Janet McCabe, EPA Deputy Administrator, and Adam Ortiz, EPA Regional Administrator. In attendance were Rosanne Ferro, Regional Coordinator for Senator Manchin’s office, and Bill Bissett, State Director for Senator Capito’s office. Also in attendance was a broad cross-section of area leaders and stakeholders.

The plan for repurposing the Industrial Park began in 2019 when the PCDA reached out to the Brownfields office in Morgantown. That really got the ball rolling!

Phase I was an Environmental Assessment with the final report published in August 2019 and the Phase II final report published in February 2020.

So much planning and partnership have gone into this project, it’s a real testament to what a rural community can do when we all work as a team and support one another!

What is most exciting to me is the vision that PCDA has for the former Corning Foundry:

1.      Expand existing warehouse & office space.

2.     Attract Retail Uses, think about outdoor rental river outfitters, building materials, or supplies stores.

3.     Create Marker Space Market, utilizing local glass manufacturers and encouraging artists to manufacture ornamental pieces, metal work, pottery, farmer’s market, music venue, and possibly a brewery to anchor the retail market.

4.     Workforce Training, encourage commercial driver’s license training or welding and machinist training.

5.     Attract Light Manufacturing/Industrial Uses, electronic or battery recycling, solar component manufacturing, and energy storage components manufacturing. (Source: Cork Bowen)

Stay tuned. This is just the beginning. The possibilities are endless! 

https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

Press coverage:

The Chamber would like to thank all the organizations that participated in our Pay It Forward event! Additionally, we wish to thank those in attendance. A donation of $5 per ballot increased the final contributions to each winner for their charity.

We also wish to thank Jess Rine, Executive Director of the United Way Upper Ohio Valley who served as the master of ceremonies; Betty’s Believers who provided an amazing array of food; St. Vincent de Paul Catholic that generously made Klug Hall available and our hard-working Events Committee team that pulled it all together!

Well done! 

Winners are as follows:

1st - WATCH Young Writers - $1188

2nd - WV Country Roads Festival - $550

3rd - The Ester Crubly Fund $300