Steamboat "Sylvan Dell"

Editor's Note: The following text is a verbatim transcription of an article written by George W. Murdock, for the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman newspaper in the 1930s. Murdock, a veteran marine engineer, wrote a regular column. Articles transcribed by HRMM volunteer Adam Kaplan. ​

Image from New York Bay Steam Vessels Drawings by Samuel Ward Stanton.

ast of a fleet of five steamboats known as the “Sylvan Fleet,” the steamboat “Sylvan Dell” was a familiar sight in and about New York harbor for many years; and she eventually became known as the “Queen of the One-pipe Steamboats.”
           
The wooden hull of the “Sylvan Dell” was built by Lawrence & Foulkes at Greenpoint, New York, in 1872. Her keel was 178 feet in length, with an overall length of 185 feet. The breadth of beam of the “Sylvan Dell” was listed at 27 feet; over the guards 46 1/2 feet; depth of hold was eight feet nine inches. Her gross tonnage was 440 and net tonnage was 370. Fletcher, Harrison & Company of New York built the vertical beam engine which had a cylinder diameter of 51 inches with an eight foot stroke.
           
The steamboat “Sylvan Dell” was built for the Harlem and New York Navigation Company- the last of a fleet of five vessels known under the names of “Sylvan Shore,” built in 1856, “Sylvan Grove,” built in 1858, “Sylvan Stream,” built in 1863, “Sylvan Glen,” built in 1869, and the “Sylvan Dell,” built in 1872.
           
Because of her beautiful lines and ability to make speedy trips, the “Sylvan Dell” soon became known as the “Queen of the One-pipe Steamboats” in New York harbor. On October 18, 1872, she made the trip from New York to Albany, without any passengers or stops, in seven hours and 43 minutes, reaching a speed of approximately 20 miles per hour.
           
The “Sylvan Dell” was used on the East river for several years, carrying commuters between Harlem and New York on week-days, and running in the excursion business on Sundays to Newburgh, Glen Island, and the excursion groves along Long Island Sound. In 1879 the elevated railroad was completed in New York city from the Bowery to Harlem, and eventually the commuters who had used the steamboats, transferred to the elevated lines, thus making the steamboats no longer useful. In 1882 the Sylvan fleet ceased operations on the East river. The “Sylvan Shore” was broken up in 1877. The “Sylvan Grove” was placed in service to Rockaway, Bay Ridge, and points on the lower reaches of the Hudson river until sold and taken to Cape Fear River, North Carolina, where she was in service between Wilmington and Carolina Beach under the banner of the New Hanover Transit Company until January 19, 1891, when she was destroyed by fire at Wilmington docks. The “Sylvan Stream” was placed in the excursion business on the Hudson river and Long Island Sound until 1885, when she was sold for service on the St. Lawrence river between Claton and Alexandria Bay in connection with the New York Central Railroad Company. The “Sylvan Stream” was renamed the “Empire State” by the railroad, and was in service until destroyed by fire on June 25, 1903. The fourth vessel of the Sylvan fleet, the “Sylvan Glen,” was in service to Bay Ridge and excursions on the Hudson river,

Then went to Jacksonville, Florida, running on the St. John’s river in winter and traveling north to the Savannah river during the summer months. In 1886 the “Sylvan Glen” was purchased by the Delaware River Rapid Transit Company, who placed her in service between Philadelphia and Gloucester, using her on this route until she was worn out.
             
The “Sylvan Dell,” last of the Sylvan fleet, was used for a time on excursions to Newburgh, Glen Island, and Bay Ridge. In 1886 the Delaware River Rapid Transit Company purchased the “Sylvan Dell” to run in line with her sister ship, “Sylvan Glen,” between Philadelphia and Gloucester. The “Sylvan Dell” was destroyed by fire on July 16, 1906, at Salem Creek, New Jersey- ending a career of 34 years and bringing to a close the terms of service of the Sylvan fleet.        

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Author

George W. Murdock, (b. 1853-d. 1940) was a veteran marine engineer who served on the steamboats "Utica", "Sunnyside", "City of Troy", and "Mary Powell". He also helped dismantle engines in scrapped steamboats in the winter months and later in his career worked as an engineer at the brickyards in Port Ewen. In 1883 he moved to Brooklyn, NY and operated several private yachts. He ended his career working in power houses in the outer boroughs of New York City. His mother Catherine Murdock was the keeper of the Rondout Lighthouse for 50 years. ​

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