Ken Sulak points out a public boat ramp that was not on the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT): Calloway Boat Ramp, a sand-covered concrete ramp owned by Gilchrist County, Florida. Plus a ferry and a cemetery.

Calloway Boat Ramp is downstream from Branford and 2.87 river miles from Sims Landing Ramp. It’s 0.73 miles upstream from Hurst Landing Ramp.

Map: Calloway Boat Ramp in the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT).

It’s at the west end of NW 57th Court, Bell, FL 32619. From Branford, go west on US 27, cross the Suwannee River, turn left on CR 349, left on CR 340, cross the Suwannee River again, left on NW 55th Ave., left on NW 55th St., right on NW 57th Ct., left to stay on NW 57th Ct. to the ramp. Gilchrist County.

Ken, who is an avid historian of bridges and ferries, says “This was the landing of the Townsend Ferry from about 1860 to 1990, site of the Townsend—thereafter Barnes Brothers—turpentine still. The toll ferry operated until 1911 when the Rock Bluff free ferry 3 miles downstream put it out of business.“

So I’ve added Calloway Landing Townsend Ferry to the map.

Ken also says the right bank terminus of the Townsend Ferry from Calloway Landing was a narrow concrete landing a bit upstream of the current Hirsh Landing Ramp.

So I’ve added Hurst Landing Townsend Ferry to the map.

Plus, inland a bit east of Calloway Boat Ramp, is Townsend Cemetery, 5669 NW 55th Avenue, Bell, Florida 32619, west side of the road, between NW 55th St. and NW 57th Pl., in Gilchrist County.

Ken says the Townsend family owned this cemetery as well as Townsend Ferry and the adjacent land.

FindaGrave shows many Townsends are buried in Townsend Cemetery.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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