It’s happening once again. The future of the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry is under assault and once again it might be saved only by the intervention of interested citizens willing to speak up. The good news is, there is an opportunity to do so. The Hadlyme Public Hall Association has scheduled a public meeting for Thursday to discuss the importance of the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and to ask state officials to find ways to assure its continued service to the communities it serves on both sides of the Connecticut River.

The state Department of Transportation has included the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry on a list of possible transportation services that could be curtailed or eliminated next year.

“We understand that the state faces some serious financial problems in the coming years,” said Association President Curt Michael, “but this ferry has been running since before the United States even existed. It’s an historic treasure and its service is essential to businesses and tourism on both sides of the river. We want to find ways to work with the state so that Connecticut doesn’t lose this important part of its history.”

Michael said state legislators and selectmen representing the communities served by the ferry have been invited to attend the meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Hadlyme Public Hall, One Day Hill Road, Lyme.  Representatives from the Connecticut DOT have also been invited, as well as tourism and economic development officials.

The Hadlyme Hall Association has collected more than 1,000 signatures on petitions urging the state to retain the ferry service, according to Michael. The petitions will be presented to state officials at the meeting. The Hadlyme Public Hall Association is a nonprofit community organization. It is located on Rt. 148 at the intersection of Ferry Road, Day Hill Road and Joshuatown Road, one mile east of the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and half a mile west of the intersection of Routes 148 and 82.