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Take the Bleriot Ferry across the Red Deer River
Starting in the early 1900's, the prairie district was faced with a steady flow of new immigrants. This influx of newcomers meant that ferries were not only used to transport vehicles, livestock, and people, but also provided a meeting place for people. Ferry docks were places where people could gather to gossip, and for the townspeople to hold social events such as dances. They were often used for berry picking trips on Sundays after church.
Andre Bleriot settled in the Munson area around 1901. In 1910, he returned to France to marry. Upon his return to Munson, he built the first ferry.
The first ferry, knows as the Munson ferry, was
commissioned in 1913 and carried over 1,200 vehicles that year. In 1966 the Munson Ferry
was renamed to the Bleriot Ferry in memory of the first ferryman, Andre Bleriot.
This original ferry was constructed as a current
ferry. The ferry was a wooden, flat-scow type, with a deck made up of wood planks. A high
cable ran from one side of the river to the other, and was fixed to a cable tower on
either bank. The cable was attached to the ferry by a lead cable and guided the craft
across the river. Attached to the underside of the craft was a board with a lever. This
board could be switched to an angle that would catch the river current, propelling the
ferry across the river. Due to the increase in traffic, a motor was installed on the ferry
in 1958. 
The Bleriot Ferry crossing is still in operation today and carries around 24,000 vehicles every year.
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