Larry Mercier purchased the Chappy Ferry when he was only 21 years old. He sold it when he was 25 years old. Of the eight owners since the ferry consisted of a motorized barge, he was both the youngest purchaser and the youngest seller. He turned the ferry over to Jerry Grant just a few years before Chappaquiddick became a household name and the ferry service experienced the most rapid growth in its entire history.

After I had owned the ferry for a few years, I asked Larry if he regretted selling the ferry just prior to its boom years. He replied, “Never look back, young fella. Never look back.”

I expressed my admiration that he demonstrated a high degree of bravery for a 21-year-old to take on the responsibility for the ferry. He compared bravery and foolishness as often being indiscernible from one another. I always appreciated that he shared his wisdom, gained by long experience.

One time at a select board meeting, I was apprising the board of the need to halt vehicle service on the ferry in order to accomplish a comprehensive slip repair. We had chosen the school’s spring vacation week as the quietest time for the service curtailment. One of the members suggested that perhaps there was a better time. Larry just happened to be present at the meeting. As highway superintendent in the ‘70s, he was responsible for the upkeep of the ramps and slips. One of the board members turned to him and asked for his opinion. “There’s never a good time to do maintenance on the ferry slips. You just want to make sure to do it at least a day before something breaks.”

I feel a kinship with Larry regarding running the ferry. The difference is that I was both the oldest purchaser and, so far, the oldest owner. I can affirm that bravery and foolishness are more often than not indiscernible from one another.