Stone throw draws a crowd

FREDERICKSBURG — Legend has it that George Washington was able to throw a silver dollar across the Rappahannock River when he lived at Ferry Farm.

About 50 members of the community tried to reproduce that feat Saturday, as part of the George Washington Foundation’s celebration of George Washington’s birthday.

In this year’s contest, anyone who could get a stone from City Dock all the way across the Rappahannock River to the Ferry Farm bank would earn a $100 savings bond, compliments of the Peoples’ Community Bank in Stafford.

Participants of all ages accepted, even as young as 2-year-old Samuel King.

The stones to be thrown were “very, very, very important rocks; they came from Ferry Farm,” announced Alma Withers, head of the education department at the George Washington Foundation.

The participants lined up at City Dock, and as each person reached the head of the line, he or she chose three rocks out of the buckets of Ferry Farm stones. Each participant received three tries to throw the stones to the Ferry Farm side of the river.

Several myths on how to choose a stone were passed around, compliments of past participants and visitors.

“Choosing the stone is very important,” said Franklin Daniels, Jr., of Stafford. “A lot of physics is involved.”

“You want a smooth rock, not too heavy, but not too light either. It’s tough to find the right one,” said Ryan Harder of Gaithersburg, Md.

“It’s a long throw. It’s tough. I came close, but I don’t even know if I was close,” added Harder. His wife, Jennifer Harder, said, “I just love how everyone can participate, ages 3 to 60. It’s a lot of fun.”

Tim King of Falmouth, a long-time participant in the contest, said, “…The atmosphere is great. It’s just good to get out and participate.”

“My son’s just learned about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in school, and we thought this would be a great way to get him involved and excited about our founding fathers,” said Kristine Probus of King George.

Her eight-year-old son Timothy Probus said the stone throw was really fun.

Characters Mary Washington, George Washington’s mother; Betty Lewis, George Washington’s sister; fellow members of George Washington’s Young Friends and Col. George Washington himself came from Ferry Farm, where they had recently finished two breakfasts with George Washington, to watch the stone throw.

This year, no stones made it all the way across the river.

The last person to make it across the river was Sam Gribel in 2006. Gribel was a baseball player at James Monroe High School at the time.

Before Gribel, the last person to toss a stone across was C. Franklin Powell, another JMHS student, in 1950. In the 1930s, Walter Johnson, a professional baseball player, made it all the way across.

It appears that George Washington’s strength and stamina would still be impressive today — the river is thinner and narrower now than it was when he was a boy at Ferry Farm.

Stafford resident Teresa Moore said that she and her family would be back next year.

She then joined her daughters, who had already begun practicing for next year’s contest.

Megan Sweeney is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun. She can be reached at info@staffordcountysun.com.