Horne’s Ferry… Is it the End of An Era?
“I give and bequeath to my son Coleman Hinckley and my son in law Demetreus Spinning… all my right title and interest in the farm where they now reside at the ferry on the south side of Wolfe Island… together with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging…” Samuel Hinckley, Jefferson County Clerk Office, 1849
We went across every day, no matter what the weather. The mail had to get across.
Captain William E. Horne Jr.
Young George Darrel Horne would have just turned 4 years old when his father’s new ferry boat – driven by his uncle Bill and his dad Darrell – swung off the lake and into his life. Standing on the wooden pier, Rachel Horne held 2 year old Bruce in her right arm and held fast to her oldest son who threatened to run right aboard as the ferry turned left into her dock coming smartly port side to. It was a beautiful, sunny day with a calm sea that late May morning on the south side of Wolfe Island in 1952. The instant the car ramp was down, the excited boy broke away and jumped aboard. Hugging both dad then uncle Bill the youngster dashed away and was everywhere on the spotless boat. Up to the varnished wheelhouse with the huge, polished spoked steering wheel, the cabin with the wooden bench seats, then the stairways, seeing everything at once. It was love at first sight for the youngster. He promised he’d never leave her.
It was a pleasant September morning when mate Colin Smith reported for work aboard the impeccable seventy two year old William Darrell, when he realized something was wrong. Very wrong. Not aboard the boat, but the captain. George wasn’t about puttering around. Or was he out on his lawnmower either. Not that Colin needed supervision, far from it. “There was a level of trust with him by now,” Colin said. It was just weird that the ol’ man wasn’t out and about like he always was. Customs officers had arrived at their post by the pier and it was close to loading time. Still no sign of the captain. Colin dreaded walking toward the white cottage just up from the pier.
Captain George Darrell Horne, master mariner, 76 years of age, had passed peacefully during the night in his chair in the front room. Overlooking his boat. The ambulance and fire trucks were on their way.
The Horne family of Wolfe Island have been involved in the ferry business from Wolfe Island, Ontario across to Cape Vincent, New York, a distance across of three quarters of a nautical mile. It was a business that a father, uncle, and two sons knew their entire lives. In all manners of wooden craft, both sail and oars. And catching fishing minnows for market. And milking nearby cows. And cutting, raking and baling hay to cut, for the barn in the very busy summer season. Young George and Bruce were part of it all since they were able to walk. Daughter Jackie was born shortly after, and would contribute to the business as she grew older as well.
The business partners G. Darrel Horne Sr. and Captain William Horne Jr. were sons of William Horne Sr. He, William Horne learned his trade from his father, Thomas D. Horne who married Angeline Spinning. She inherited the ferry service from her father Demetrius Spinning who had married Olivia Hinckley. Coleman Hinckley, after learning of his inheritance with Demetreus Spinning, concentrated his chief interests aboard lake and river sailing, leaving the operations of the ferry to his sister and brother in law. Meantime, Tom Horne drowned tragically in a storm and was never found. Mother Angeline carried on with son William Horne. Thus the Hinckley/Spinning/Horne family – all related - came to inherit the last, international ferry crossing between two nations, Canada and the United States. In almost two hundred years.
George Pyke grew up on the south side of Wolfe Island just down the road from George Horne. “George was a different guy in Daytona, Florida, especially at the races,” Pyke remembered. “This was during the off season from the ferry.” The two grew up together, went to school together and later raced together. “George around then started sailing and acquiring sea time on the east coast,” Pyke continued. “He got me on a ship as well, but he was serious. In ’75 he was first mate foreign going on the tanker Sea Transport and later on the SS Cape Breton Minor. At one time we were in sixty foot seas. Boy, but nothin’ to him. Yeah, he took his exams and studies very serious, especially every spring, passing them along the way. Then he came back for the summer and worked the ferry with his brother Bruce and Captain Bill, his uncle. He just loved it, loved that boat. You know, he finally got the sea time and dedication to pass his final exams for Master, Foreign Going. That’s Master Mariner today. Boy, he got it too. Never said nothin’. Just grinned when asked.”
“I always felt safe with George on the ferry,” said Lousie Pyke. “After the older ones, Darrell sr. and Captain William jr. were gone and it was just George and Bruce, George just smiled. Bruce was the talkative one. Both were great.”
Cousin Jim Hastings grew up at Horne’s Ferry. “George was involved in everything on the point. The farm, the ferry. Going swimming or hanging out in the village on the crazy weekends. We’d go to Alex Bay on weekends. There was so much going on in the 60’s and 70’s. Lyall Dougan’s pilot boat, hauling for minnows, wow. Something going on 24 hours a day.
“George moved into the cottage when his uncle Bill died,” George Pyke said. “Their dad Darrell died in 1970. He was an engineer and customs officer on the boat.”
“I grew up there every summer and I started working with George and Bruce in 1998, mowing lawns and as a deckhand,” said Colin Smith. “I got the call in the winter of ’97 when we lived in Ottawa and I was more than excited – I was thrilled,” he said, “I always wanted to work on the ferry. It was tough at first, as you know George isn’t one for words. But he was a great teacher in his own way if one could handle making mistakes. Eventually, George started to let me drive and showed me how to dock the ferry in different winds. To let me take the helm was probably the biggest honour for me because he didn’t like doing that.”
Cape Vincent Mayor Jerry Golden has known Captain George for most of his life. “George was passionate about his job. He could be moody, even grumpy, but man he loved that boat.” With 35 years in local law enforcement, Gerry is a good judge of character and he liked the Horne brothers. “It was always a welcome when the boat got running again in the spring. The whole town seemed to come alive. Everyone was drawn to the boat and the water. I even helped George with inspections on this side.”
In October 2012, Captain George suffered a heart attack departing Cape Vincent during a routine crossing. He woke in a Watertown hospital later learning a van had fallen over the side of the ferry after hitting the ramp open. Van recovered and no passenger fatalities but close for the captain. He recovered over winter and was back on the job the following year. Back to his moody self. “In those days it was busy every day,” Colin said. “The only way George could communicate was by yelling above the wind and excitement of all the passengers. He didn’t so much show you how to do things as much as he would definitely let you know that he didn’t like how something was done. He would test me; see what I was capable of, and that was just fine with me. In later years, if I received a Bud Light at the end of the day it meant he was really impressed and that he valued my presence on the boat. It meant that I had reached a level where George no longer had to keep an eye on me.”
Just up the road from their family home, farm and ferry dock Bruce and Jacquline still reside on Horne’s Point, Wolfe Island. Frontenac Islands Mayor Judy Greenwood-Speers well remembers the Horne family, George and sister Jacquline Bird. Mayer Greenwood-Speers can’t reiterate enough the importance of the Horne family continuing the business, the ferry’s own name ‘William Darrell’ and the company carrying on this coming spring. “I see Horne’s going through a transition period,” she said. “Nothing more. They’ll (Bruce and Jackie) manage it. I have every faith. A deepwater port is already in Cape Vincent NY waiting for transiting cruise ships with passengers waiting to cross and utilize our huge beaches on Wolfe Island. The possibilities are endless. George played an essential part of our Wolfe Island community. A very important part.”
“It’s so important for us to keep the ferry running, coming up next year,” said Cape Vincent Mayor Golden. “Especially after those lean, Covid pandemic years. George was so dedicated and good at what he did. He died loving what he did. I’m sure he went peacefully.”
“I always loved working with George. Just me and him,” said Colin Smith. “I would stay on the boat after school and work while the sun set and then tie up. At the end of the day I made sure everything was ship shape and tied up well. We (George and me) would discuss the wind overnight… and when I would be back the next day…” Colin continues after a minute.
“When I get my captain’s certificate soon, maybe early next year, I plan on keep running ‘William Darrell’ like George did… maybe with a bit of time off.” Until then, the silent ferry boat is waiting for spring.
Brian Johnson, Retired ferry captain, Wolfe Islander III
Brian Paul Johnson was one of five captains of the Wolfe Island car ferry Wolfe Islander III. He worked for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation for more than 30 years, recently celebrating 20+ years as captain. He also recently retired as a captain of the Canadian Empress. Click here and here to see many of Brian’s contributions!
[Editor's note: As soon as I learned we had lost ferry Captain, George Horne, I contacted fellow Wolfe Islander, Brian Johnson who kindly offered to pay tribute to his friend. As I read this one I am smiling, as this history - of a family, a local business and most importantly a man who provided a unique service to islanders until the very day he died - has been told. We have lost another champion, but his memory will live on.]
Posted in: Volume 19, Issue 11, November 2024, History, News Item, People, Places, Current
Please click here if you are unable to post your comment.