Van Wyck in Lancaster in Lancaster County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Ashe's Ferry
Photographed by Ronald Patton, January 5, 2023
1. Ashe's Ferry Marker (side 1)
A ferry nearby crossed the Catawba River between Lancaster County and York County for more than 30 years and was the last state-run ferry in S.C. It was built in 1927-28 by William N. Ashe (1862-1932), owner of the nearby Ashe Brick Company to transport bricks and crops. As a private ferry it charged 25 cents for buggies and 35 cents for cars but was free after it became a public ferry.
The ferry was taken over by the S.C. Highway Department in 1944. It was operated for many years by Early Morgan Brown (1891-1963), a Catawba Indian who lived on the York County side of the river. The ferry, pushed by poles until a small motor was installed in 1955. Closed in 1959 after the construction of a bridge on S.C. Hwy. 5 that spanned the river.
Erected 2014 by Lancaster County Historical Society. (Marker Number 29-31.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.
Location. 34° 51.172′ N, 80° 51.779′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, South Carolina, in Lancaster County. It is in Van Wyck. It is on Rock Hill Highway (South Carolina Route 5) 0.3 miles west of Steel Head Road, on the right
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Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands and in the Olde English District. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: King Hagler's Murder (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Van Wyck Train Passenger Wait Station/Depot (approx. 1.4 miles away); Major Crawford's Home (approx. 3.1 miles away); Birthplace of Andrew Jackson (approx. 3.1 miles away); Andrew Jackson State Park (approx. 3.1 miles away); School Days in the Waxhaws (approx. 3.3 miles away); Welcome to the Andrew Jackson State Park Museum (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Boy of the Waxhaws (approx. 3.3 miles away).
Photographed by Ronald Patton, January 5, 2023
2. Ashe's Ferry Marker (side 2)
Photographed by Ronald Patton, March 31, 2023
3. Ashe's Ferry Marker (side 1)
Photographed by Ronald Patton, March 31, 2023
4. Ashe's Ferry Marker (side 2)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2024, by Ronald Patton of Lancaster, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,223 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2024, by Ronald Patton of Lancaster, South Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
