Many of our residents still remember crossing the North Saskatchewan River by ferry. This method of crossing the river ended in 1950 ‑ our first bridge replaced the ferry that year. Our earliest settlers crosÂsed the river on the Hopkins Ferry which was built in 1908. It was situated three and a half miles west of our bridge site. A second ferry was put into operation in 1913 just about where our bridge is loÂcated. This ferry was in operÂation for 37 years. A few years after this ferry was built, the one at Hopkins was relocated about nine miles west. It was then known as the Spencer ferry.
Crossing the river by ferry was often a frustrating expeÂrience. Often you arrived just as the ferry had left for the south shore. This meant a long wait. At the best of times, it proved to be a slow method, but unfortunately it was the only available way and we had to accept it. Ferries generally operated from 8 a.m. to about midnight. You had to plan your trips acÂcording to this schedule.
Our first ferries relied on the river current when crossing the river. A heavy cable was strung across the river and the ferry had another sliding cable attached to it so it wouldn't take off up the river. In later years a motor was installed on the ferry making it more maneuverable.
There was always an interÂruption during spring breaÂkup and again during freeze up. During this period the ferry could not be used. PeoÂple crossed the river in a cage connected to the overhead cable. Many people did not like this method of travel and switched their business to other towns south of the river. It always meant a deÂcided drop‑off in business to our local businessmen.
Our first bridge was built in 1950. In 1981 an oil tanker went out of control and burÂned on the north end of the bridge, making it unsafe. A temporary ferry was installed while bridge repairs were beÂing made. Once more, we had to cross the river by ferry. Today there are very few ferries still operating in AlÂberta. Due to a large increase in traffic, the Province has reÂplaced the ferries with bridges.
