by Mrs. Vivian Briggs
John Bissell appears to have begun the operation of a ferry about 1642. The ferry was used principally to shuttle animals and farmers from the west side to the pasturelands of the east side [of the Connecticut River]. The first ferry was located considerably north of the Scantic River. The second ferry appears to have been located at the south side of the Scantic River at the approximate location of the Bissell home. The early ferries were simple flatbed scows attached to a rope or cable, which was strung from one side of [the river] to the other. By changing the angle of the ferry with reference to the rope, the swift Connecticut River pushed the ferry from one side to the other. The ferry operated continuously until 1922.