Crossing the Bayous and Rivers

From Sicily Island:  A Partial History, compiled by Mickie Smith:

Ferries were a necessity for travelers crossing the bayous and rivers.  In ward one and two there were several ferries, most of which were public ones, owned by the Police Jury and then leased to operators.  The 'buyers' or operators of the ferries were required to give bond of $1,000.00, which was later lowered to $300.00.  The ferries were at one time auctioned on October twentieth, then later changed to December the first, with the 'buyer' beginning operation on January the first.  The 'buyer' had to "well and faithfully perform his duties as such ferryman and also that he will keep good boats with substantial railings".

In 1875, these were the rates for crossing the Bayou Louis ferry:

5 cents - each mule, horse or an animal of the cow kind
3 cents - each hog, sheep or goat
5 cents - each foot man
10 cents - each wagon, cart or carriage; not more than 2 animals attached, with load and persons



Doty's Ferry crossed the Tensas River from Concordia Parish.  The Police Jury discontinued this ferry in 1873.

Daniel's Ferry, also crossing the Tensas River, was at about where the McIntosh house stands.

Kirk's Ferry crossed the Tensas River at property owned in the 1970s by Mr. A. B. Chisum, Sr.

In 1879, there was a ferry across the mouth of Fool's River.

There was a ferry at the head of Lake Louis, from which Ferry Plantation derived it's name.  

Ferry Plantation, 2011

Bayou Louis Ferry was on the Sicily Island - Harrisonburg Road.  1903 was the last year to cross Bayou Louis on a ferry.  In 1902, the Police Jury let a contract for a steel bridge over this bayou to be located at O. G. Ballard's gin, at a cost of $16,000.00.  This steel bridge, built by George E. King Bridge Construction Co.of Des Moines, Iowa, was to be delivered in a complete state and ready for use not later than January 1, 1903.  Since Mr. Ballard was contracted to turn the bridge and keep it in repair, this indicates that large boats were still coming into Bayou Louis.

The only ferry that was known to be still running in 1926 was Kirk's Ferry, and in this year (1926) it was made a free ferry.

It is not known how many log bridges there were across the bayous, but there was a 'floating log bridge' over Bayou Louis and Billy's Bayou.  The charge for crossing over the log bridges during low water was one half of the amount of ferriage during high water.