Hudson River Day Line Introduction
Formation of the Hudson River Day Line - 1860's
Hudson River Day Line - 1860 to 1880
New Steamboats New York and Albany - 1880's
Expansion and Decline - 1920's
Depression Years and Bankruptcy - 1930's and 1940's
Hudson River Day Line
The Depression Years and Bankruptcy - 1930's and 1940's
Passenger traffic started to decline with the beginning of the depression, and the Day Line tried to reduce expenses by selling the steamer Albany. But that was not enough, and in 1933, the company could not pay its bills and was put into receivership. The court authorized a plan that allowed the Day Line to continue operations. Another steamer was taken out of service, and fares were reduced. The Day Line's schedule was cut, the sailing season was shortened, and special harbor cruises were added in an effort to return to profitability.
In 1936, the Day Line filed a petition for reorganization under the National Bankruptcy Act, and on August 20, 1937, the final reorganization was approved by the court. The reorganized company continued to operate without much success until the beginning of World War II in 1942. With the imposition of gas rationing during the War, the Day Line offered an easy way to travel to the Catskills and business increased and was moderately successful.
But this increased traffic disappeared at the end of the War, and by 1948, the losses were unsustainable. The public had abandoned the steamboats for the automobile. The company's directors voted, “. . . to discontinue further operations and to proceed with the liquidation of the company and the sale of its assets.” By December 31, 1948, the Day Line ceased to exist.
In early March, 1949, four steamers and the rights to the name "Hudson River Day Line" were sold to the Hudson River Boat Company. In April, the company was formally dissolved, but the Hudson River Day Line continues today with The New Hudson River Day Line which offers weekend day trips to Bear Mountain and West Point as the original Day Line did for over a hundred years.
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