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Editor's note: The following text is from an article printed in the New York Daily Herald issue of August 19, 1848. Thank you to Contributing Scholar Carl Mayer for finding, cataloging and transcribing this article. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.  Image courtesy of "Hear About Here". https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hearabouthere.com%2Fhistorical%2Funited-states%2Fnew-york%2Falbany%2Fcivilwar%2Fgreat-fire-of-1848-albanys-most-destructive%2F&psig=AOvVaw17M8yHdfYPgW4kJGhsi0l5&ust=1740251645396000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCJiPr9681YsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAw AWFUL CONFLAGRATION IN ALBANY. SEVERAL LIVES LOST. Several Millions of Dollars' Worth of Property Destroyed. SIX HUNDRED BUILDINGS BURNT. The Albany papers are filled with accounts of the disastrous conflagration which took place in that city on the 17th inst. We are indebted to Capt. Gorham of the steamboat Hendrik Hudson, for Albany papers, delivered at an early hour on Friday afternoon. The Albany Express gives the following account of the disaster: We scarcely know how to describe the fearful calamity that has befallen our doomed city. I’s is beyond adequate description - beyond, at the time we write, intelligible detail. Soon after a fire was checked that broke out in Quackenbush street, just before noon, the alarm was again sounded, and fire broke out in a small stable adjoining the Albion House, between Broadway and the Pier, on Herkimer street, and occupied by John G White. Of its origin we know nothing; but it burst forth at a most unlucky moment. The Fire Department was weary, scattered, and disorganized. Some of the machines were disabled, and, in consequence of a shameful fight, one of them - No. 9, we believe - was lodged in the City Hall yard, and unmanned, in the moment of danger. The heat was intense, the mercury ranging at 91 in the shade the city dry as tinder, in consequence of the drought, and a gate of wind blowing from the south. Everything conspired against us; and the destroying element immediately getting the upper hand, raged awfully and unchecked for hours, sweeping away full six hundred buildings, many of them new, and of great value, destroying about two millions of dollars worth of property, and rendering hundreds of families houseless and homeless. Truly, this calamity is an awful one - but God be praised that it is no worse! At one time it seemed as if the destruction of our fair city was inevitable. The wind blew fiercely, the flames spread on all sides, the devouring element advanced from block to block and from street to street, buildings were taking fire in several parts of the city - all was terror, confusion, and dismay, and the efforts of man seemed utterly powerless. At this fearful moment the wind lulled, heavy clouds rose in the north-west, and a deluge of rain - grateful, needed, God sent rain - poured from the surcharged clouds, and checked the progress of the conflagration. Amid the roar, darkness, lightning and thunder of the storm, glared the red flames and rolled the vast columns of smoke; while occasionally the shock of a building blown up with gunpowder, added to the terror and sublimity of the indescribable scene. The fury and speed of the flames exceeded anything ever seen. The fire ran, leaped, flew, from building to with the speed of the hurricane that bore it on in its course of destruction. And as it advanced,and grew more and more threatening, the bells re-sounded the alarm, and the people looked on with terror and with despair. There were many narrow escapes from death, and some serious personal injuries; among the latter, Wm. Johnson, his wife and daughter, were badly burnt while escaping from their dwelling, 53 Liberty street. Albany has never before, in her 200 year's history, suffered so dreadful a local calamity as this. The first block burnt was bounded by Herkimer st., Broadway, Bleecker st. and the dock. The fire then went up the Dock and the east side of Broadway nearly to Hudson St., and up the west side of Broadway quite to Hudson st. It passed up Hudson st. to the Park, burnt both sides of Liberty and Church sts. down to Lydius st., went up Lydius to Union st., and up the east side of Union back to Hudson st. Park. Over this large district every building is consumed, except Hagaman & Cowell's four story brick, corner of Broadway and the new steamboat landing; Bortle's new three story brink grocery store, west side of Broadway, and adjoining the district burnt in June; J. K. Wing's four story brick store, corner of Dock and new steamboat landing; Cagger's new three story brick building, running from the Dock to Broadway, and occupied in part by Tweddle & Darlington. All the rest are down, including the Fort Orange Hotel, Cowell's eating house. Quinn's tavern and boarding-house, the United States House, the Eagle tavern, a German boarding house, the Townsend House, the Odeon, many small boarding houses, &c., and an immense number of stores. The fire crossed and burnt the Hamilton street bridge, and set on fire Dow's Western Motel - the first building on the Pier. From this point, every building on the Pier, up to and across State st., and thence to the cut at the foot of Maiden lane, was destroyed, including emigrant hotels, forwarding houses, groceries, steamboat, canal boat, and freighting line offices, and all the floating craft in the Basin, including 30 to 60 canal and lake boats, 15 to 20 large tow boats, some sail vessels, and the steamboat William Seymour.  Red area of map showing the area of the fire. Image courtesy of "Hear About Here" https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hearabouthere.com%2Fhistorical%2Funited-states%2Fnew-york%2Falbany%2Fcivilwar%2Fgreat-fire-of-1848-albanys-most-destructive%2F&psig=AOvVaw17M8yHdfYPgW4kJGhsi0l5&ust=1740251645396000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCJiPr9681YsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAS Burning vessels floated against the Columbia street bridge and set it on fire. Thence the fire was communicated to the Columbia street Market, which was burned, together with a number of dwellings in the vicinity. The exact bounds of the district burnt in this quarter we have not been able to obtain. Vessels of all kinds on the outside of the pier floated out of harm's way. The loss of household goods of all kinds is immense. Great quantities that were strewed in the streets were ruined by the rain. Carts, wagons, drays - everything on wheels - were in constant requisition, but could not accomplish a tenth part of the work required. Five, ten and twenty dollars were offered for carrying a single load. There was nothing like organization of effort. The authorities, the fire department, and the citizens were scattered, isolated, and acted too much without concert. Still, much was done. Almost superhuman personal efforts were put forth, and thousands of citizens worked with all their might. Our firemen, under the circumstances, did all they could. We received timely and invaluable aid from East and West Troy, Greenbush, and Schenectady. Numbers of persons were rendered powerless by heat, fatigue and cold water. Buildings, sheds, &c., took fire repeatedly, as far north as Wilson and Lumber streets. The whole city was in danger. M. J. Smith's Free Sail Banner office, and James Duffy's job printing office, were burnt. At one time the offices of the Atlas, Knickerbocker, and Express, as well as Van Benthuysen's and Munsell's extensive printing establishments, were threatened with destruction. Thousands of citizens packed up their goods, &c., and the stores were everywhere closed. A number of buildings were blown up, under the direction of the authorities, in the vicinity of Hudson street. It is impossible, at the time we write, to get at any correct estimate of the loss sustained, or the condition of the insurance companies. Our Albany companies have suffered terribly. Individual losses must be very great, and there will be much distress and suffering. It will be a long time before Albany will recover from this awful calamity. Seventeen whole blocks, the pier, the Columbia street market, two bridges, and near one hundred boats, are destroyed. Most of the boats were heavily laden. We regret to learn that several lives have been lost. Two men were drowned in the Basin, near the foot of Maiden lane. They were floating on a raft, and in the midst of conflagration, fell off and sunk. The owner of the steamboat William Seymour, Benjamin Wakeman, is missing. A man named Hardely, an Irishman, died from over exertion. A man named Johnson, and several others, are missing. Some 8,000 or 10,000 barrels of flour, were burnt on the pier. The loss of property in the Basin was immense. The loss is roughly estimated at two millions of dollars. We fear our local insurance companies are overwhelmed. The property on the pier was insured abroad. The Swiftsure and Eckford Towboat lines lose tremendously. Hundreds of our business men are utterly ruined. Four buildings were blown up with powder. At midnight the fire was burning in forty places, but it is completely under control. There is no wind, and the rain has ceased. The Argus says: - No estimate of the value of property is yet attainable. We hear of two forwarding lines that estimate property under their charge to the amount of $90,000, all consumed. Another line suffers to an amount of from $60,600 to $80,000. The loss of flour afloat and in store, is not less than 10,000 barrels. The area of the fire embraces many acres, perhaps fifty or sixty, of the most compact and valuable part of the city. It includes at least twenty squares. Amidst the ruins which every where meet the eye, it is difficult to trace the outlines of the former state of things; but those familiar with the city will perceive the extent of this most calamitous visitation, by a few generalities. Broadway, from the intersection of Herkimer, to the south corner of Hudson street, on the west side and to Van Schaack's variety store, on the east side, nearly half a mile, is, with all its structures and stores, including the Eagle Tavern, the Townsend House, and the United States Hotel, level with the earth. From Broadway to the river, including the ranges of lofty stores on Quay street, throughout nearly the entire space above mentioned, all is a heap of ruins. All the cross streets entering Broadway, Herkimer, Bleecker, Lydius, Hamilton, Division and Hudson, west as far as Union and Dallius streets, are swept away. Amazing effort preserved Goold's great carriage and coach establishment; every thing on the surrounding streets being demolished. North, the flying cinders, with which the air was filled, caught the Columbia street market, and of that large structure nothing remains. The adjacent buildings were saved by the prompt efforts of the two Schenectady fire companies. But the scene of the most striking and absolute desolation is the pier. Scarcely a vestige of it remains. Throughout its entire length, from Hamilton street to the cut opposite the Boston depot, it is utterly consumed, including the wharves, warehouses, nearly all the shipping in the Basin and outside the pier, tow boats, barges, canal boats, huge floating ware house arks, with all their valuable and vast contents of goods and products, the three bridges at Columbia, State and Hamilton streets, lumber yards, flour stores, in short, every thing that floated or teemed with life and value in that great mart yesterday morning. The scene in State street beggars all description. Thousands, flying from the conflagration pressed every conceivable vehicle into their service, depositing goods, furniture, families, children, every thing animate and inanimate. Every point in that wide street - at the Exchange, at the City Bank, at the corners of all the intersecting streets, in front of St Peter's Church, all along the parks, and finally at the State Hall and City Hall - were crowded with bales, boxes, furniture, goods, of every description, &c. No point was deemed too remote from the devouring element. The stores every where were closed, or were only opened to the flying citizens and their effects. Two buildings were blown up, in the hope of arresting the progress of the fire - one belonging to Mr. J. I. Boyd, in Broadway, and the other to Mr. John Knower, corner of Hudson and Liberty streets, but with little effect. All the insurance companies suffer largely, if not ruinously. Among the shipping destroyed, was the schr. Cotuit, of Boston, arrived yesterday morning and the schr. Eliza Matilda, also of Boston, seriously damaged. Some twenty vessels, below the Basin, were hastily drawn out in the river and preserved. The Isaac Newton and Rip Van Winkle steamers were also rescued, with much difficulty. The conflagration of the Pier, so utterly sweeping, was as rapid as it was unexpected. It was supposed to be safe, owing to the intervening Basin. Its only danger was from the flying cinders; and every store had its look-out and its buckets. When all danger was supposed to have passed, a spark caught under a clap-board on the east or river side of the Pier, and in a few moments the flames were beyond all control; and throughout the entire length of the Pier, such was the rush of the flames that many of the merchants, cut off from escape from the Basin side, abandoning all hope of saving property, hastily threw their books and valuable papers into boats, and put out into the river. The roofs everywhere, throughout the city, were thronged with occupants, anxiously guarding their property from the falling cinders. Nearly the entire Troy and West Troy fire departments were on the ground. Their aid was promptly and most efficiently rendered. Last evening they tendered, through the telegraph, the aid of three additional companies, which came down and served as a relief guard. One or our oldest residents, familiar with our fire department, estimates the loss by fire here since March last, as exceeding the entire loss for the previous forty-one years. This conflagration - in broad day - altogether surpasses, in every form of loss, any with which the city has ever been visited. Stanwix Hall and City Hotel were several times on fire. The suffering among the inhabitants is severe, and many demand the sympathy, commiseration, and charity of those who are so fortunate as not to have been among the immediate sufferers. Many, in affluent circumstances yesterday, are ruined. Thousands are houseless. Destitute families and numerous children, without shelter or bread, are all around us. Aid cannot be too promptly afforded. The Union Mutual Insurance Company will not lose one cent by the Albany fire. Albany, August 18 - 9 P. M. The losses in the various streets were as follows: - On the pier, 33 buildings; the principal losers are Lay & Craft, Reed & Rawls, E. A. Durant & Co., Wadhams & Co., Godard & Co. In the Basin - 2 Boston schooners; 5 towboats belonging to Swiftsure line, and float; 2 lake boats, 2 barges, belonging to Eagle towboat line; and several canal boats. Quay street, 38 buildings- most of them three and four story brick stores. Broad- way, 139 stores and dwellings, including Eagle Tavern and Townsend House, United States Hotel, Columbia Hotel, &c. Church street, 44 buildings. Diagonal Street, 2 buildings. Union street, 34 houses, Hamilton street, 24 houses. Division street, 15 houses. Hudson street, 4 houses. Elizabeth street, 52 houses, Denniston street, 2 houses, Lydius street, 30 houses, Bleecker street, 13 houses, Herkimer street, 3 houses, Dallius street, 6 houses. Total, 439. The loss by the different fire insurance companies, as far as can be learned, is as follows Albany, $175,000; Firemen's, Albany, $75,000; Mutual, Albany: $60,000; N. Y. Mutual Safety, $60,000; North American, New York, $25,000; National, do, $15,000; Equitable, do, $14,000; City, do, $4,600; Hartford, $30,000; Ætna and Protection, Hartford, $25,000; North Western, do, $15,000; Camden, N. J., $20,000; Lexington, Ky., $8,000; Columbus, Ohio, $27,000; Protection, N. J. $9,600. Total, $568,200. A city meeting to adopt measures of relief, is to be held this evening. If you enjoyed this post and would like to support more history blog content, please make a donation to the Hudson River Maritime Museum or become a member today!
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Editor's Note: Originally published November 23, 1922 in the "Milton Messenger"; republished August 14, 1969 in Perspective section of "Southern Ulster Pioneer" newspaper. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.  Milton, NY Ferry and Horse Boat 1860. Hudson River Maritime Museum All the description of the boat or vessel used as a ferry that we have is that it was a dude scow or barge of some kind, with sails and oars which ran most of the time on signals. It carried teams, cattle and passengers, and it was said that at times when the boat was crowded horses were tied behind and swam over. It is thought to have been the same kind of boat as the one then running at Troy. It must have been strongly built for it made trips in stormy weather but not during the season when ice was in the river. The sides could be let down and it was entered in this way. There is no tradition that there ever was an accident or loss of life by means of it. To be sure there must have been started soon after this at different boats at various times of the old ones gave but, the description of all was about the same. Very little if any, shelter was provided and it was only temporary when it was. In heavy storms the vessel lay at its dock. The landing on the east side must have been in the vicinity of Barnegat for the ferry carried quantities of lime and lime rock this side. This was one of the supports of the ferry. The lime business at Barnegat was commenced soon after the close of the Revolution and it is claimed lime was burned there during the war or even earlier as people used lime before that time all about here and the surrounding country. Soon after the war we had lime kilns on the west side and they must have burned lime at Barnegat as there has never been lime rock about here and the rock was brought here and burned. I find in our ancient records in the laying out of road, as follows: "A Return of an Open Public Road as follows: We the Commissioners for the Town of Marlborough in the year 1790 in the Month of June. By a Petition from the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Said Town for a Publick Road or Highway from Latting Town to the Hudson River, have laid it out as follows: *** Said Road is to Extend four Rods Down the hill from the upper side of the Road as it now runs down to Lewis Lime Kiln, the Said Road to go Either Side of Said Elijah Lewis Dwelling house where ever it Shall be thought most Convenient for the good of the Publick Down to low Water Mark to Extend four Rods up and four Rods down the River from the Lime Kiln. The Powells also had lime kilns and Quimby and presumably others. The stones for these kilns came from Barnegat. By the map of Dr. Benj. Elsey and Henry Livingston above referred to, there are designated twenty kilns at Barnegat. I cannot find that a company owned them and they were owned by in or else preaching was held in the schoolhouse. A Methodist exhorter from here held services there. In an ancient Gazetteer of the state, I find as follows: "Marlborough, a small township in southeast corner of Ulster county, on the west shore of the Hudson opposite Barnegat." There was maintained at one time an official company of militia. Men from here belonged to it, and a company from there served in the War of 1812. During navigation it was said there was hardly a time that one or more sloops were not there loading lime and at one period a line of sloops carried the lime rock from there to New Brunswick, New Jersey, to burn it here Tom Gill and his father burned lime at Barnegat. One kiln was near the house and a grist mill which has been recently torn down to make room for the new factory buildings. There is a tradition about the Gills. It is that when Gen. Vaughn went up the river and burned Kingston, a corporal and two of his men went ashore in a rowboat to burn the mill on the site of the present mill. Then the owner Van Kueren begged them to spare the mill, and said to the corporal whose name was Gill, that if he should not burn the mill he could come and marry his daughter after the war, at the same time pointing out an attractive girl. The mill was spared and the corporal afterward returned, married the girl and became the owner of the property. It is claimed to this day the corporal was the father of Tom Gill who will be remembered by very old people. Barnegat at one time had stores, a schoolhouse, a church. There were two roads leading to Barnegat – one from a southerly direction and from an easterly or northeasterly direction, which were used years before any roads about there were regularly laid out. As a child I heard old men telling of having worked at these kilns and crossing on the ferry when they were young. They received one dollar a day which at that time was considered princely pay and such was work then sought for. Farm laborers were receiving fifty cents or less a day. Lime carried by this ferry was used not only in the Town of Marlborough and Plattekill but in the Towns of Paltz, Shawangunk and now Gardiner. Numerous houses all over these towns are still standing that were built with Barnegat lime. The tradition is that the lime was considered a very superior quality but the rock was either worked out or a better article found elsewhere, as for many years no lime has been produced there. The roads on both sides of the river were used as highways at least fifty years before they were laid out and recorded by the highway commissioners. There is a tradition about another ferry which I cannot reconcile. It is that in 1777 when Gen. Vaughn's expedition went up the river, Samuel Hallock, the old Quaker minister, went out in a row boat to meet the fleet, and when taken on the flagship, said to Gen. Vaughn that he was a noncombatant, a Quaker and was opposed to the war and at the same time pointed out to the General his ferry boat along the shore, and asked that it should not be burned. Vaughn gave orders not to disturb the Quaker or his boat and the vessel was spared. But Mr. Hallock may have had the ferry as this was in 1777 and we have seen that Lattemore had the ferry in 1789. It is possible it may have been a boat used for some Landing afterwards, Sands Dock, and other purpose, but was spoken of as a ferry boat in the traditions. Mr. Hallock at this time owned Brushes and he most likely carried on business from there with a boat. At the dock from which the ferry was operated, there was an ancient stone house, almost a fort as the walls were so thick and strong. It was used for a store, tavern, freight house, etc. It was being built in 1777 when Gen. Vaughn went up and was fired at. It was taken down when the West Shore Railroad took the land. There was quite a history and many traditions about the old house. There had previously been a house on the same site and other buildings were about there. In March, 1849, the Milton ferry was established by Captain Sears. It ran just about the time the Powell dock at Milton ferry was established by Captain Sears. It ran from just above the Powell dock at Milton to the Gill dock. Sears ran the ferry for three years and then sold to Jacob Handley who conducted it until about 1862. The boat used for its motive power four mules, who turned a tread wheel. It ran regularly and was a great convenience to the entire neighborhood and for miles back in the country on river road. It also carried the mails. At one time the Gills through whose land the road leading from the ferry and the railroad station to the post road, had attempted to close it by claiming it was a private road, but it was afterward arranged by them or the town authorities so that it was continued as a public road. It would appear that the ancient Precinct of New Marlborough had means of crossing the Hudson river for fifty and perhaps sixty years before there was an established ferry at Poughkeepsie and people from there came this roundabout way across this ferry to get to New Paltz and the surrounding country in case they wished to cross with horses, cattle, etc. in fact, to carry on all necessary intercourse that could not be done with a rowboat or sloop. If you enjoyed this post and would like to support more history blog content, please make a donation to the Hudson River Maritime Museum or become a member today!
Editor's Note: Originally published November 23, 1922 in the "Milton Messenger"; republished August 14, 1969 in Perspective section of "Southern Ulster Pioneer" newspaper. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.  Example of a horse-powered ferry. https://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e8883301156ffd0ea1970c-pi The Milton Messenger – November 23, 1922 Local Historian Tells of Old Milton Ferry. Capt. C.M. Woolsey Gives Interesting Story of Ferry Dating Back Over 150 Years. Having read that a ferry service is to be started between Milton and Rudeo, as told in Tuesday's, as told in Tuesday's "Freeman" Captain C. Meech Woolsey of Milton contributes the following history of previous similar enterprises in the same locality. The early history of this ferry is tradition. About 1740 there was a ferry established across the Hudson river from a point on the west side a quarter of a mile or more south of what is the present steamboat landing at Milton, N.Y. to some point at or near what is the Gill place or known as Barnegat. What kind of vessel was then used cannot now be determined, but it was supposed to have been a row and sail boat of some kind. It was adequate to carry wagons, teams, cattle and produce. The country which now comprises the towns of Marlborough and Plattekill and some lands on the south was early settled by English people many of whom had previously settled in what is now Westchester county and Long Island, and children of such settlers. After 1730 and up to Revolutionary times large numbers of settlers poured into this part of the country. They brought their families, teams, cattle and all their worldly goods with them. They crossed from the east to the west side of the river by means of this ferry. They also kept intercourse for many years with those they had left behind. This, I think, is the reason the ferry was established so early – a means of crossing was needed, so some rude vessel was provided that answered the purpose. After this means of crossing was in operation, people naturally came here to use the ferry for miles up and down the river on either side. My great-great-grandfather Richard Woolsey was among these early settlers. He was born about 1697, came here when a young man and purchased an original patent of land granted by Queen Anne, of many hundred acres lying adjoining this ferry on the south, parts of which patent are now owned by me. He and his descendants left numerous traditions about this boat. It was used by Richard Woolsey up to the time of his death about 1777: and at that time lime was burned at Barnegat and brought over by this ferry. Nicholas Hallock, the oldest man in the town until his death a few years ago, said he well remembered when a child, hearing his great uncle Edward Hallock and his grandfather Hull tell about this ferry, how it was built, the way it was entered and other facts. I can not find any charter for it or who was the first owner. In our ancient town records of road districts for the year 1779, I find as follows: Nathanial Harker's District No. 3 Beginning at Major DuBois's north line runs to Zadock Lewis's house at the cross road leading to the ferry." And William Woolsey's District No. 5, beginning at Lattemore's ferry at the river, running south of Jeremiah Beagles in Latting Town" Benoni Lattemore owned the ferry at this time and had been the owner for some years previous. Afterward and sometimes prior to 1789 Elijah Lewis owned it. He had a dock and also at one time Theopolis Anthony owned it. An ancient map dated 1797 made from the surveys and field book of Dr. Benj. Ely by Henry Livingston of Poughkeepsie for Stephen Nottingham, Supervisor of the Town of Marlborough. It is given as Powell's dock and ferry. Jacob and Thomas Powell who had a store and tavern at the old stone house south of Milton dock ran this ferry and also a line of sloops to New York City which carried wood, produce and other commodities for the farmers for a wide extent of country, and brought back supplies to the farmers. The Powells were here several years. Thomas Powell about 1800 moved to Newburgh, became very successful and acquired a large fortune. The steamers Thomas and Mary Powell were named for him and his wife. It has been claimed that his first money was made here by this ferry and his other enterprises. At a later date Benjamin Townsend operated this ferry and carried on business. I can find no mention of it after about 1810, and presume it was then discontinued, as none of the old inhabitants of this neighborhood can remember the ferry, though they had heard of it from their parents and grandparents. A ferry had been established at Poughkeepsie about 1800, and by 1810 the Barnegat lime business had commenced to decline and emigration from Westchester County and Island had ceased so much of the usefulness of the ferry had ceased by 1810. People journeyed by means of this ferry from Massachusetts and Connecticut to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the West. During Revolutionary War Continental soldiers crossed here to and from the eastern states: currency and provisions for the army were also carried. Washington's troops crossed on many occasions on this ferry. If you enjoyed this post and would like to support more history blog content, please make a donation to the Hudson River Maritime Museum or become a member today!
Editor's note: This article is from the "Chambers Journal" Rand Daily Mail (Johannesburg, South Africa) August 22, 1911. Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding and cataloging the article. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.  Image from https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F80220437085586999%2F&psig=AOvVaw36abe_rcAPuPPlu_zDGKnh&ust=1739998474350000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCPDIvNWNzosDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ HOW OTHER PEOPLE BATHE New York at the Sea. Situated as it virtually is, on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, its sea-bathing facilities are, without doubt, unexcelled by those of any city of the world. Within a distance of fifteen miles from the financial and industrial heart of that immense area now designed [sic] New York there are clean, well-kept white, shelving sandy beaches by the score, and all easily and quickly reached by the many means of transport available. The better known of these beaches, and consequently the most popular, are Rockaway, Brighton, Manhattan, Midland South and, last -- but to the masses the most important of all -- incomparable Coney Island, of which each recurring summer the announcement is made tha "everything is new but the ocean". Lying, as these beaches do, open to every breeze of the wide Atlantic, and being in such comparative proximity to a centre of population of nearly six million (this includes Jersey City, Weehawken, Hoboken, etc., on the western bank of the Hudson River, the numbers patronising them daily throughout the summer are almost incredible. By an actual count of persons visiting Coney Island alone by trains, trolleys (tramcars), and excursion steamers, and estimating those reaching the resort by other vehicles, it has been found that on several of the most sultry days last summer a number closely approximating five hundred thousand enjoyed the sea-breezes, bathing, and other attractions there, and to the number of nearly fifty thousand preferred to sleep on the sand and otherwise al fresco rather than return to their stuffy tenements in the city. CONEY ISLAND *** Prior to the incorporation of Coney Island with Greater New York, the place suffered from a bad name and not without reason. Lacking proper police protection, with a licence law honoured in the breach rather than the observance, and with its many houses of doubtful repute, it was undesirable and even unsafe for unprotected women and children to visit it. Now, however, under the stricter supervision of New York's city police and other officials, respectable men, mothers of families with their children, and unprotected women need have no hesitation in visiting Coney Island by day or night, or, if necessary or desirable, spending the night on the beach under the many temporary structures erected as shelters from the sun or sudden storms. Though the ocean is undoubtedly the main attraction, there are many others which cater to the tastes of its cosmopolitan guests; in fact, New York's Coney Island is the father of innumerable Coney Islands of smaller dimensions in every section of the American continent, and it may be in others. Refreshment rooms, round-abouts, shooting-galleries, bowling-alleys, dance-halls, music-halls, vaudeville theatres, loop- the-loops, aerial-railways, and scores of other "shows"; are provided, and are liberally patronised by a none too discriminating public. Rockaway, Manhattan, and Brighton Beaches are situated east of Coney Island, and are patronised by people of larger means, who are less transient than the visitors to Coney Island. Rockaway is unique in respect of its city of tents, inhabited by families, the members of which spend the entire summer by the sea. In this way are avoided for a period of something like five months the unaccountably high rents charged in New York, and the immeasurable advantage gained of a residence within a few feet of the broad Atlantic. At Manhattan and Brighton Beaches are immense permanent hotels of the highest class, occupied for the most part by well-to-do-people for the entire summer season, and in some cases the year round. WELL BEHAVED PEOPLE On none of the American beaches are seen moveable bathing-houses such as are so prominent a feature of European watering-places; these being unnecessary because of the fact that the rise and fall of the tide is so slight that the water can be reached over clean white sand and even at low tide without difficulty. These beaches, too, situated as they are in such close proximity to the immense population centred in New York, are surprisingly free from flotsam and jetsam, which is often so disagreeable a feature of the bathing facilities offered in some British and Continental watering- places. Nor is there in evidence, even at Coney Island, where such an immense quantity of light beer is consumed in ridiculously small measures called "glasses", it must be confessed, any noticeable drunkenness. To the disgrace of some of the most popular watering-places of England, it can with truth be said that more drunken men and women can be seen in them in one day than in an entire summer at Coney Island. And when one realises at how small an expense for transportation these beaches can be reached from New York and other surrounding cities and towns, together with the attractions and incentives to celebrate not wisely but too well, it is marvellous how such a desirable condition of affairs exists. CHEAP FARES Comparing excursion fares from London with those from New York to and from seaside places, it is obvious that New Yorkers can reach the sea at almost 50 percent less cost than Londoners. There is advertised in New York to-day an excursion running every Wednesday to and from a watering-place, necessitating one hundred and ten miles of travel by train and boat, for a fare of seventy-five cents, or three shillings. An English railway advertises a day excursion from London to Eastbourne and back, about one hundred miles, for five shillings, and this, too, in a country where four shillings and twopence has a much higher purchasing power than a dollar in America. Any resident in New York desirous of spending a day at Coney Island, or in fact at any of the watering-places specified, can reach his destination and return at a cost for travelling of not more than thirty cents (fifteen pence), and in most cases for ten cents (five cents). From this it will be seen that even the poor of New York need not deny themselves the pleasure and benefit to be derived from an occasional trip to and dip in the broad Atlantic. On the New Jersey coast there are still more desirable bathing-beaches extending almost without intermission from Sandy Hook to Cape May, a distance of about one hundred and twenty miles. These beaches are almost ideal for sea-bathing, as they are farther from the immense population of New York and vicinity, are patronised largely by wealthier people, permanent summer residents, and are without the usual accompaniments of noisy, nerve-racking, cheap attractions of the roundabout and loop-the-loop variety. There is usually a handsome bathing-pavilion, provided with a refreshment-room and innocent amusements, in which bathing-rooms can be rented for the season, month, week, day or hour. A SPLENDID ROAD Sandy Hook, being a Government reservation, has no civilian residents; but commencing at Seabright, and continuing in an almost unbroken line for twenty-five miles, are magnificent residences, seemingly of endless design, but all maintained in the best of taste, and surrounded by lawns of the deepest green sloping to the ocean; whilst immediately at the back of these residences runs a driveway which in the summer season exhibits a panorama of perfectly appointed vehicles -- motor, horse, and others probably equalled by no other road in the world *** RELIGIOIUS LIFE About twenty miles from Sandy Hook, and sandwiched between Asbury Park on the upper and Bradley Beach on the lower side, is that unique and widely known American Methodist summer centre of religious life, Ocean Grove. *** FOR THE POOR For the comfort, benefit and amusement of New York's poorest inhabitants are provided, at suitable intervals on each of the rivers bordering the city, free floating baths. Bathers may bring their own bathing-suits, or may rent for a nominal sum those supplied by the authorities. Situated, as these free baths are, literally at their doors, the inhabitants, who are in so many instances, crowded in loathsome tenements in the midst of industrial buildings, seize such facilities with avidity - with such eagerness, in fact, that long lines of sweltering people are formed into queues by policemen, and thus made to wait their orderly turn for a dip in the water, which, though not at all times particularly clean, affords them a ready means of "cooling-off". Fresh-water bathing, for which also ample facilities exist, can be indulged in on the western bank of the Hudson River under the lofty and precipitous "Palisades", on in the many other streams flowing into the ocean in the neighbourhood. Many families select here and elsewhere an open spot, with or without the consent of the owner, and pitch their usually primitive tents for the summer. Such are New York's watering-places and bathing facilities -- ample in number, convenient of access, and patronised during the almost tropical days of summer by a larger ratio of its population than is any other watering-place by the people of any other city of modern times.  Coney Island circa 1910. Image from https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fseeoldnyc.com%2Fconey-island-1910s%2F&psig=AOvVaw0OCgniE9faqwbmxXCfPMmE&ust=1739998935784000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCID8wKePzosDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE If you enjoyed this post and would like to support more history blog content, please make a donation to the Hudson River Maritime Museum or become a member today!
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