Elijah White would have wanted goods being transported on the ferry to be as close to the ferry as possible to make the shipping process easier and faster.
Using LIDAR imaging— a technique that provides super-precise 3D mapping made by bouncing laser light off the ground to show the shape of the land and objects on it— we are sometimes able to see disturbances of earth where old roads or buildings once stood. When reviewing LIDAR imagery over the ferry site, roads, creeks, and the Potomac River appear obvious. However, what is less obvious is any sign of an old warehouse building on the Virginia side. My hope is that a reader with more LIDAR experience than myself is able to make better observations.
Ultimately, the question I return to when it comes to White’ s Ferry, is why does any of this really matter? Yes, it’ s closing has
impacted the community, but in the disrespect to our Loudoun Coun-
here in the Ag Reserve. I mean no
grand scheme of ty leaders, whom I think have done things, is that impact really worth believed that the best way to keep
many things well. I’ ve just always the seemingly endless back and forth side we love, is to cherish the his-
the Ag Reserve the rural country-
drama over the toric assets within this land and crossing? To me— share its stories with others. In this and likely other way, the closing of the ferry has residents of the Ag felt like the premature and unfortunate closing of an incredibly im-
Reserve— the ferry is much like our portant chapter in the Ag Reserve’ s other historic assets: homes, barns, collective story.
roads, cemeteries, Born and raised here in the Ag Reserve, etc. The ferry is a Kenny Sholes can be frequently found unique historic asset making up the a board member for the Montgomery
exploring local history and serves as
story of this place Countryside Alliance and the Historic we call home. When Medley District. Kenny has an undergraduate degree in Economics from the we look across the river into Loudoun County, many of us see an example of the kind of development and a graduate degree from Princeton
US Military Academy at West Point,
and sprawl we hope to prevent University.
A Ford on White’ s Ferry, 1921.( Photo: Courtesy of C & O Canal Trust)
26 plenty I spring sowing 2026