Deltaville Dollies
A Daunting Task Made Easier
Many Deltaville boats were built in backyards and barns away from the water. When the boat was finished, the builder was faced with the daunting task of launching it. Prior to the advent of travel lifts, boat builders launched most of their new craft at the end of the county road next to Lewis Wright's Lover's Lane home and boat shop on Jackson's Creek, near what is now the Deltaville Town Dock. They used one of the four sets of boat wheels, or "Deltaville Dollies", shared among Deltaville boat builders.
Built For The Job
A set of boat wheels, or "Deltaville Dollies", consisted of a pair of two-wheel, multi-ton axles. The front axle had a tow bar that attached to a towing vehicle. It also had a pivoting channel beam that accommodated the narrow bow of the boat being hauled and allowed the axles to follow the tow vehicle as it turned. The rear axle had rear tow bar and tow chain that attached the rear axle to the front axle at a distance appropriate for the length of the boat being hauled. The rear axle had a built-up wooden bunk that easily could be reconfigured to receive a variety of bottoms and keels. The dollies were very maneuverable, and could handle boats of varying sizes and weights. When they weren't being used to haul a boat, they stayed with the builder who last used them, then were passed on as needed.
Erected by The
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 37° 33.107′ N, 76° 19.504′ W. Marker is in Deltaville, Virginia, in Middlesex County. It can be reached from Jackson Creek Road (Virginia Route 660) 0.2 miles north of Orchard Lane, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 287 Jackson Creek Rd, Deltaville VA 23043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
