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03/28/2024 01:19 PMPress Release from Friends of Gillette Castle State Park
When the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, the Selden III, makes one of its first 2024 round trips across the Connecticut River at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, there will be a group of supporters there intending to make the occasion special. Those supporters are the members of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park organization.
“We celebrate the start-up of ferry service to Chester every year,” said Lynn Wilkinson, president of Friends of Gillette Castle State Park. “This year is extra special, since the boat itself was built 75 years ago!”
The Selden III is a 65-foot-long diesel run ferry with capacity for nine cars and up to 49 passengers. It was purposely built for the Chester-Hadlyme route and designed by a shipyard in Stamford. The boat was originally commissioned in 1941, but steel shortages of the World War II era meant that it wasn’t completed until 1949.
To start the celebration, the Selden III will first load on the Chester side and make its five-minute run east to the Hadlyme landing adjacent to Gillette Castle State Park, where the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park group be gathered.
There is access to the western landing on Route 148 at Ferry Road in Chester. The eastern landing is on park property at the base of Seventh Sister Hill with a road and footpath leading up to Gillette Castle—the eccentric, century-old home of the late actor William Gillette.
“This annual gathering is always loads of fun. There are a lot of locals who hold great affection for our ferry, and it is an important part of the history of the region,” Wilkinson said of the gathering, which is being held free of charge. “We will also enjoy refreshments from our good friends at the Hadlyme Country Market.”
A ribbon cutting is planned, along with visits by regional dignitaries, prior to a 15-minute scenic cruise for all visitors. To be informed of a potential weather-related rescheduling of this event, sign up for the newsletter of the Friends of Gillette Castle at www.gillettecastlefriends.org.
In addition to being a continuation of scenic Route 148, the initiation of ferry service is an important lifeline between Chester and Hadlyme, Wilkinson said.
“The ferry offers a wonderful alternative traffic route, and it helps ease the pressure of traffic during closures of the East Haddam Swing Bridge, which carries Route 82 over the Connecticut River,” Wilkinson said. “It also gives park visitors a fun and photo-friendly way to get to the castle.”
The ferry is expected to operate through Nov. 30 and will be closed Thanksgiving Day. Additional ferry information may be found online at portal.ct.gov/DOT/Traveler/ferries/Chester-Hadlyme-Ferry.
Current rates to ride the 65-foot diesel-run Selden III include a walk-on charge of $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists, $5 for vehicles on weekdays, and $6 for vehicles on weekends. A $3 commuter rate requires pre-purchased coupons priced in a book of 20 for $60.
A book detailing the history of Connecticut ferries is available for purchase at the Gillette Castle souvenir shop.
The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry began service in 1769 as Warner's Ferry and is one of the oldest continuously operating ferries in the United States. It is also Connecticut's second-oldest ferry service, after the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry, which began in 1655.
A steam-powered barge began to serve the ferry crossing in 1879 and was named the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry in 1882 while it was operated by the Town of Chester. In 1917, the Connecticut Department of Transportation took over the service, and the current boat has been in operation since 1949.
The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park is a non-profit, all-volunteer group dedicated to the preservation, conservation ,and educational activities of the building and its grounds. More information may be found at www.gillettecastlefriends.org.