Ferries were once the primary way to cross the Chattachoochee River. There were two places to get across the river on foot, where the water was shallow enough for this to be possible. One crossing was at the Shallow Ford, just west of the Roswell Road bridge across the river. The other was the Island Ford, where the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area at Island Ford is today. This article will cover a few ferries, but does not include all the ferries of the Chattahoochee River.
Martin’s Ferry was located between the Shallow Ford and the Island Ford. This ferry began operating in 1829. Reuben Martin, who was one of the original members of Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, ran the ferry. His home was along what is now Grimes Bridge Road.
Elisha Copeland started a ferry service in 1831. This ferry was east of the Island Ford and near the intersection of Eves Road and Riverside Road. His property was south of the river.
Around 1840, Theophilus Jett established a ferry about a half mile from where Copeland’s Ferry was located. Copeland’s Ferry was no longer operational by this time. Jett’s home was near the intersection of Eves Road and Terrace Club. Later, the ferry was operated by Adam Jett and his home was along Riverside Road. Jett Ferry Road is named after the old ferry.
Established about 1824, Brooks Ferry was near the Shallow Ford. Jacob Brooks, who was also a state legislator and senator, owned Brooks Ferry.
Gates Ferry was located about two hundred feet downtream from where Holcombe Bridge Road crosses the Chattahoochee River. In 1827, it costs twenty five cents for your horse and cart to cross the Chattahoochee River by way of Gates Ferry. If you wanted to bring along a hog, goat, or cow, that would cost an extra one cent. If you were traveling alone on foot, it would cost you six and ¼ cents.
The Nesbit Ferry, for which there is also a road name today, was established in the 1840’s by Sylvester Nesbit. It was between the locations of the Jett Ferry and McAfee’s Bridge. McAfee’s Bridge was an old covered bridge that ran parallel to present day Holcombe Bridge. A stone column remnant of the old bridge is still visible. Nesbit’s Ferry was located behind what is now Horseshoe Bend Subdivision.
Wing’s Ferry, located near the Shallow Ford and run by Jehu Lowery Wing, was located at the eastern end of the ford and about two hundred feet upstream from the old Brook’s ferry. The Wing home was to the west of the intersection of Dunwoody Place and Roswell road. Dunwoody Place used to continue past Roswell Road, down past Jehu Wing’s home and on to the ferry site at the river.
With the construction of McAfee Bridge in 1843 and the Roswell covered bridge in 1857, ferries were needed less. They were still used by locals for a few years.
The primary source for this article is “The Chattahoochee River Crossings of Roswell, Georgia” by Michael D. Hitt.