SCOTTSVILLE, Va. — For more than 130 years, ferrymen have jammed poles into the James River’s gravelly shallows to push the Hatton Ferry slowly across to other side.

The unique calling now may be days from extinction: America’s last known hand-poled ferry is a casualty of ebbing state finances and politics.

On July 1, Virginia stops funding the Hatton Ferry. Unless private donors, nonprofits or local governments find the cash to keep it open, its last crossing is Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.

— From wire reports