Ste. Genevieve Ferry

The railroad ferry was still operating in 1955. See http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/history_m-i.html.

I'm almost 60 and have lifelong memories of the ferry. When I was a kid it was owned by a guy named Ardell Curratt. His nickname was Snap. Although I don't think he owned them at the same time, he was also was the propiortor of the old tavern in Modoc, which was at that time called Snap 'n Jules. Jules was Ardell's father-in-law. Snap later became the sheriff of Randolph County. The tavern was a local hot spot in the days of old cars with running boards and loose laws. It was owned at some point earlier by my father-in-law, Orville Albert who later came to own the ferry around 1965. He was a local man of French and Indian heritage born and raised in Rocher. His mother, Mary(nee Pelate) spoke only French until she entered school. Orville was a business man with earth-moving machines. My husband, Randy Albert used to pilot the ferry to Ste. Gen on Sunday afternoons around 1968, although he never had a license as a riverboat pilot or whatever...oh well...those were the days. Randy was a locally famous musician and one of the bands he formed was called Modoc Ferry. We...I mean he, stole all the signs leading to the ferry for the band. Orville used to tell the story of a former owner of the ferry, name untold, who took a car across the Mississippi on one late afternoon, the last trip to Missouri before docking for the night. The car held a man and his wife. Halfway across the river the man started the car, crashed through the chains and drowned them both in the Mississippi, leaving seven orphans. A suicide note was later found declaring his intent because he had discovered his wife had been unfaithful. I have no verification of this story but most local stories have some basis in fact. The region is the oldest in the state of Illinois and one steeped in history. Check out the Lewis and Clark Expedition and you'll see. Randolph County is home of the oldest settlement in Illinois.

Yes, but it was'nt where the ferryis today, check out the website my dad and I have, we have pictures of the abuntments going out to where the ferry used to be.

http://www.moshortline.com/index.html

In the 30 odd years I've known about it, this has always been a car ferry. Don't recall any rr tracks crossing the Mississippi here. Be sure to check out Modoc Rock Shelter in Illinois before you go to St. Gen to see the marvelous old town. Ferry itself is small and one that sits low in the water--a bit more scary on the on and off ramps than the one at Cave-in-Rock, Illinois.

Was this one thime a rr ferry ? if it was what rr is it?