Near Sharpsburg in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Ferry Hill Place
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 28, 2007
1. Ferry Hill Place Marker
Blackford owned stock in the C&O Canal Company. When the canal came through in 1834 he had easy shipping access for his farm products to market.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1810.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 26.29′ N, 77° 47.886′ W. Marker was near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in Washington County. It could be reached from Shepherdstown Pike (Maryland Route 34) when traveling south. Located on the grounds of a Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Park Administrative area. The entrance to the area is on the opposite
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in the Baltimore Metro Region and in Western Maryland. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The People of Ferry Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Swearingens Ferry and Pack Horse Ford (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blackfords Ford (about 400 feet away); The James Rumsey Bridge / The Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg (about 400 feet away); A View into the Past (about 600 feet away); Shepherdstown (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Blackford's Ford (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Ferry Hill Place (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sharpsburg.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Ferry Hill (was here, next to this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. The marker has a background using a picture of Ferry Hill as it existed in the 19th Century. A portrait of John Blackford carries the caption, John Blackford, shown with one of his children, operated a diversified farm at Ferry Hill until his death on January 15, 1839. A portrait of Henry Kyd Douglas is captioned, Henry Kyd Douglas lived here with
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 12, 2011
2. Ferry Hill Place Marker
Also see . . .
1. A Study of John Blackford's Operations at Ferry Hill Place. Documenting the American South website entry (Submitted on August 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Henry Kyd Douglas. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on February 24, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Henry Kyd Douglas
Douglas is one of those individuals who seem to be at all the important events of the Civil War. He is noted for writing, "I Rode With Stonewall" detailing much about the staff of both Generals Jackson and Lee. He is often cited as the most likely culprit in the "Lost Order" incident during the Antietam Campaign.
Just before the war in 1859, Douglas helped a man, named Isaac Smith, cross the covered bridge here at Ferry Hill Place on a rainy day. Douglas went as far to help Smith's wagon up the muddy slope of the Shepherdstown Pike. Later Douglas learned Smith was in reality John Brown, and the wagon had been loaded with pikes used in the seizure of Harpers Ferry later that year.
— Submitted 
August 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 28, 2007
3. Ferry Hill Place
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 20, 2020
4. Grave of Henry Kyd Douglas
Located just across the Potomac River in Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV.
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 28, 2007
5. Lock Number 38
Seen from the Rumsey Bridge, which crosses the Potomac near the site of the ferry. Contrasting with the text of the marker, other sources state Blackford had issues with the C&O Canal, fearing it would take business from his ferry operations. Regardless, the issue became moot later when a covered bridge was built across the Potomac just to the south of the present day Rumsey Bridge.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 28, 2026
6. Ferry Hill Place Marker Removed
In May of 2026 this marker stand is empty.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 28, 2026
7. Ferry Hill Place Marker Removed
The empty marker stand faces Ferry Hill Plantation and the 'People of Ferry Hill' marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,977 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 12, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on August 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on March 15, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5. submitted on August 3, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on March 30, 2026, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
