Hatton ferries were in danger of being shut down, so people in the community have set to pounding the pavement to raise money to keep them going. So far, they have been surprised by the success they have achieved. There have already been more than 75 donors and about 20-25 percent of the money needed to keep the ferries running in 2010 has been raised.

The ferry on the James River is the countries only operating pole ferry. It was meant to be shut down last month, but the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors reached an agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation to keep it running.

Continuing operations of the ferry for the next three months will cost between $5280 and $9340. It operates from 9am to 5pm Friday through Sunday. So far $13 000 has been raised. The plan is to raise $21000 per year then do the best they can to make that amount work and raise a bit more as needed. The short term goal will be to raise enough to band aid the next short period. The long term goal will be to enable the ferries continued running on a long term basis.