The Alcove scow probably carried the most traffic of the ten scows in the area. Municipally funded, and sometimes known as McSheffrey's ferry, it transported the three families of McSheffrey's, Rogers, Woodburns, Dowds, Maxwells, and McLaughlins.

The first ferry at Alcove was known as the "School House" ferry, as it linked up with the school on the west bank. After the turn of the century, it was moored more to the south. About 1912-14, it was fixed to an elevated cable.

The cable, "as high as the ceiling" ran from near the Methodist Church to the east bank. When the water was high in the spring it was possible to pull the ferry along the cable by hand, rather than reaching up with a stick. The water was so high one Spring that Alfie Pierce was thrown from his row boat by the cable, but he hung on and was rescued.

The ferry was attached to the cable by two chains with pulleys. The short chain was in the bow and was adjusted from the bottom. Upon disembarking, chains were wrapped around stout posts to secure the ferry. This could be an awkward time for nervous horses, and teams were known to back up unexpectedly, dumping the contents of the express, not to mention the driver, into the river. Generally, men and animals were so well used to the ferry that wheels were rarely blocked, according to one long time resident, though one would be careful transporting a donkey engine.

Livestock occasionally rode the ferry. William Mahon of Farrellton remembers the time he was rowing across with a dozen cattle when they all shifted "and the scow sank to my waist"; They all made it safely to shore.

The Alcove ferry ceased to operate when the River Road was built on the East Side, about 1920, which gave access to the Gendron Bridge.

Nearby Alfie Pierce's scow had an elevated cable and ran over to "the main road to Masham." Just to the south was Jack Donovan's Ferry, used by the Connors and McClintons.

Moving northward, the next scow belonged to the McSheffreys: Joe, John, David and James. Above them was the Jim and Bob Colbert scow and farther up, the scow of Edward Colbert and son George.

About a mile south of the Farrellton bridge was Daly's Landing, where the scow operated on an elevated cable. It served three or four families of Newcombes and Paddy Bradley. John McSheffrey described it as, "a big scow, 25 by 30 feet, sheathed on the underside, tarred and with runners. There were three stringers to carry the floor."

North of the present Farrellton Bridge, about a half-mile, the Wells and Thompsons operated a scow. A few miles above them, Jim Kelly and the Carls operated the last scow before Low. The building of the Farrellton covered bridge, Pont Chenier, in 1914, ended the scow era, though there was a lapse of a few years until all had overland access to it.

The village of Low is noted for the spectacular Paugan Falls, and the Fitzpatricks operated a scow about a half-mile below it. Mrs. Ruggles Fitzpatrick, married in 1915, remembers their scow was the second one built. They shared it with the Nelson Fitzpatrick family, Albert and Walter Wilson and William and George Gracey.

Being located so close to the falls it took two men to operate the oars and in the fall they had to cope with heavy slush conditions. Even when crossing the river by rowboat, an experienced man took the oars.

During the construction of the Paugan Dam in 1928, the river course was altered and the scow couldn't land, as the banks were too soft. At that time a big rowboat was substituted.

When the roadway opened on top of the Paugan Dam in 1928, crossing the river was still exciting. The view from the 135-foot high dam is breathtaking and Mrs. Fitzpatrick recalls, "There was no railing on the roadway which wasn't too upsetting if the horses were quiet."