The Dunkirk Ferry

The year is 1862, high water and storms pound the small river valley in central Virginia. The Civil War rages all around Virginia and the date is in May. The storm waters cause the current to increase in speed the depth increases. The ferry strains against the rising tide and faster current with now bank full waters. Finally the forces of nature overcome the concepts of man. The ferry breaks free in the storm and is taken down stream.

The year is 2005, the day July 4th and a group of sea kayakers just doing a lazy float down the river. One of the group notices something that looks like a dock built in the middle of nowhere. Eyes widen as the group now skulls over the mysterious form that lies beneath the waters. The group discusses what it can be and later its ascertained as some sort of boat and not a dock.

The mystery is discussed at the takeout and palns are made to come back at a later date after some preliminary research of historical records.

Phone calls are made to different historical societies and associations. Not much except a brief commentary in a book called "Greenmount" mentioning the ferry. More research and the mystery gives more clues. The Sea kayakers are also divers of the Northern Neck of Virginia Shipwreck Survey. Plans to go back are made to dive the shallow water site. Equipment is assembled and tanks are filled. The dive boat is inflated on a landing site as the divers of this survey explore lesser known sites and use a variety of craft, all of which dive with a purpose to record the historical sites underwater of Virginia's History.

The trip upriver to the site takes a short while while last mintue discussions as to how to begin the survey.

Arriving on the site the divers slip over the side and recording and note taking begins.

The river slowly reveals its secrets, the length on the bottom is some 68'-4" and her beam from the embedded shore line to channel is a 25'-8" the construction is plank and some forged steel rim. A flatbottom scow ferry perhaps keeled in 1843 yet much remains a mystery as to the exact date of its appearance.yet the fact remains for what ever reason she lays basically intact except for the port side revealed to show her skeleton to those willing to dive in the 8' water at high tide and 4' in shallow water. The lean to shore says much about the determination to reside as part of the river in which she transported travelers and commerce across the river.

As things often do in history the settlement of Dunkirk disappeared into the dust with only parts of its presence ever known to but a few and the recordings in obscure history books or novels. Much of heritage is left to be discovered the discovery of the "Dunkirk" opened many discussions in seminars as to wrecks on smaller rivers. To some divers the idea of diving shallow sometimes perhaps limited visibility is a waste but to the divers of the Northen Neck Shipwreck Survey each shallow water wreck holds a clue to the Nautical History of Virginia and each new unknown opens the matrix of the patterns of maritme past.

This page is a presentation of the Northern Neck Shipwreck Survey , visit our other blog site here on Blogger.com, Policies of the Northern Neck Shipwreck Survey require that we not disclose the locations of sites in situ or give any data as to exact location.

Wreck Diving and Underwater Archaelogical Survey require specific dive techniques as does SCUBA or Hookah Diving. Diving requires specific training in areas such as Dive Physiology, ascent and Descent Techniques, Diver training is not something that can be mastered by a book but requires both classroom and pratical training excercises under a qualified SCUBA Diving Instructor.

For more information in your area as to Dive training check out the PADI.COM or NAUI.COM, or Local Dive shop in your area. Remember never DIVE ALONE or on someone's loaned gear if you have not received formal dive training. Lee Chamberlain

Best Source for complete Dive training and equipment in the Richmond Area:
http://www.thediveshoprichmond.com/
Great Source for outdoor equipment, a Virginia based company specializing in outdoor equipment:http://www.gmsportinggoods.com/
For great deals on everythign to do with paddling, from Kayaks to Canoes and accessories http://www.paddleva.com/

UPDATE August 14th 2006....

The retrun to the ferry was something today, the extreme low tide revealed much of her, the silts and sediments so easily distrubed and in the course revealing another clue to her construction. She sits there dignified and noble and in some ways sad and in others resounding the determination to hold to form.

The dive during the tidal changes was something in itself, the revealations of form and the intracies of her construction and design. making somewhat the addage that uild it good it will last. The island forming off her deck and the ramp at the upstream end tell us much. To the uniquely spaced pins and spindles much of her cahracter remains, embedded within the bank. The water cooler than normal I suppose with the temperature changes and a chance to recover some last minute imkages on the blank film of memory. The revealtions of configuration and pondering the means and manner of her form on the river. Searching up stream for tell tales of old roads and ferry portage sites. Hard to believe that this magnificent craft has lasted so long with so much in tack.

The research at Dunkirk goes on and so does the supposition and then later retro thinking as to the craft that lies here beneath the surface and embedded in the bank..

Dive plans for tomorrow to beat the storm and get last minute detailed imagery and footage of the craft that now sits as a monument to an era passed....