South Yorkshire Times December 27, 1947

“Ferryman” Is Woman

Kilnhurst Don Crossing in Unusual Hands

Celebrating her 60th birthday on Sunday was Mrs. Maria Smith, “ferryman ” at Kilnhurst Ferry.

Succeeded Husband

Mrs Smith came to the ferry in 1917 with her husband. Mr. James William Smith, who was appointed ferryman by the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company in that year. When her husband died in 1941 Mrs. Smith was approached by the Company to take over the job. and has been there ever since.

The ferry does not get many passengers during the winter, and only pedestrians during the summer. At one time it was important for ferrying company horses across the River Don but the last of the horses was ferried across the river in 1940.

Asked by a “South Yorkshire Times- representative what was her most memorable moment, she answered, “I think It was last winter’s floods. They came right up to my door, and of course I could not ferry anything across the river.”

But Mrs, Smith has one worry. With the Government taking over Transport in January. 1948, she is wondering what will become of her position. She lives in hope that the Nationalisation scheme will make no difference at all,

On a notice board outside the ferry-house are the following prices for ferrying:

“Horse and man not hauling a boat, one penny: Man hauling boat by hand without horse one penny: Ferry-man taking boat line over river with ferryboat, one penny.”