The Keansburg ferry service company was founded in 1910 by William Alvin Gelhaus as a means of providing transportation for New Yorkers who were interested in buying homes or vacationing in Keansburg. Gelhaus understood that transportation is the cornerstone of any great city. Keansburg at this time was a tranquil place of beauty but the roads leading to it were circumspect at best. In many ways the ferry service ushered in the modern era for the town, spurring a period of economic growth.
In 1893, Gelhaus helped found the New Point Beach Company. This real estate venture was established to attract wealthy people from the city, to buy vacation homes and perhaps, permanently settle here. New York City was becoming quite crowded at this time with industrialisation and waves of immigration. (See Point Comfort Real Estate)
During this period the town known as Granville, mainly served as a conduit for grain and fresh produce to the bustling city via Tanner's Landing (where Main Street terminates at the beach). In 1906, the company owned a large parcel of land in town with Jesse Sculthorp and Howard Roberts as partners. Together, they laid out Beachway Avenue from Carr Ave and terminating at Pineview Avenue. This promenade constituted the hub of this beach community with a view of sea and the great city beyond.
In 1909, the company bought its first steamboat, the Accomack in Norfolk, Virginia. The company began regular service on July 1st of that year and would usually complete the trip in the unbelievable speed (at that time) of an hour and ten minutes. The initial purpose of the service was to attract buyers for the real estate venture they had begun. Keansburg Heights Development, another real estate developer saw the wisdom of this service and purchased $1500 worth of tickets valued at 34 cents a piece. This company owned another parcel of land that roughly encompassed Beachway Avenue from Pinewood Place west, towards Laurel Avenue. Soon, people from NYC were visiting the bayshore town daily as a retreat from the bustling city.
The Keansburg Steamboat Company owned several ships during its tenure. A great many of them lost or damaged due to storm damage and ice. Among the ships owned by the company were the "Keansburg" (different ship than the "City of Keansburg"), the "Mobjack" and "Pocahontas". Pictures of these ships can be seen below and a complete list of ships is available at the end of the article.
However, the flagship of the line was undoubtedly The City of Keansburg. She was the only steamboat that was built specifically for the Keansburg Steamboat Company. Built in Newburgh, NY in 1926, she was 231 feet long. The ship worked the NYC ferry route until a hurricane destroyed the Keansburg pier, one final time in 1962 (Hurricane Donna). The Gelhaus family sold the boat in 1968 for $65,000. The boat then operated until 1971 on the Raritan Bay and lower Hudson river under various operators. In 1974, the historic ferry sat in drydock in Perth Amboy, waiting to be auctioned off for scrap metal. A similar fate befell the historic Waackaack Rear Range Light (See Lighthouses of Keansburg )
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The construction of the Garden State Parkway along with the development of commercial airports allowed people to travel farther afield from home than ever before. Unfortunately, this development signaled the end of golden age of the Jersey shore. Keansburg would be one of many small towns to suffer the loss of income as people began to travel farther from home for vacation and winter retreat.
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| Steamer Keansburg built in 1878 in Chelsea, MA., at 174.4 feet in length. Destroyed by fire in 1928. |
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| Steamer Mobjack built in 1899 in Newburgh,NY., at 180.2 feet in length. Dismantled for scrap in 1939. |
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| Mobjack |
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| Mobjack |
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| Mobjack leaving Battery NYC for Keansburg |
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| Steamer Pocahontas |
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| Ferry Service Schedule for 1932 |
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| City of Keansburg While Still in Service (1960) |
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| City of Keansburg in Dry Dock |
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City of Keansburg Waiting To Be Scrapped in Perth Amboy
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| Keansburg Ferry Pier with Miniature Train 1950's |
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| Keansburg Ferry Pier with Miniature Train 1940's |
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| Keansburg Ferry Pier before minature train was available 1930's |
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| Keansburg Fishing Pier in 2011 |
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| Keansburg Fishing Pier after Hurricane Sandy 2012 |
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| Map of Modern Ferry Service to NYC from Belford & Atlantic Highlands |
STEAMBOATS OWNED BY THE KEANSBURG STEAMBOAT CO.
CHRYSTENAH
Built in Nyack, NY 1866. 196.5 feet long. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. in 1912. Sank, crushed by ice, winter of 1919-1920.
Built in Nyack, NY 1866. 196.5 feet long. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. in 1912. Sank, crushed by ice, winter of 1919-1920.
CITY OF KEANSBURG
Built in 1926 and launched 1926 May 27 at Newburgh, NY. 231 feet long. In 1938 the company advertised three departures each way from New York and Keansburg and moonlight sails from the Battery. The ship was still in operation in May of 1944, but was sold by the company in 1968 for $65,000. Early in 1974 it had been purchased to be used as a restaurant in New York City, but the plans fell through and the ship was in drydock in Perth Amboy in November 1974, waiting to be auctioned off.
Built in 1926 and launched 1926 May 27 at Newburgh, NY. 231 feet long. In 1938 the company advertised three departures each way from New York and Keansburg and moonlight sails from the Battery. The ship was still in operation in May of 1944, but was sold by the company in 1968 for $65,000. Early in 1974 it had been purchased to be used as a restaurant in New York City, but the plans fell through and the ship was in drydock in Perth Amboy in November 1974, waiting to be auctioned off.
CITY OF NEW YORK
Built around 1926. Destroyed by a hurricane in 1953
Built around 1926. Destroyed by a hurricane in 1953
KEANSBURG
Built in Chelsea, MA, 1878. 173.4 feet long. Originally named NANTASKET. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. from the Long Island Railroad Co. 1910 March 21, and renamed 1910 April 13. Destroyed by fire at Newburgh, NY 1928 April 16.
Built in Chelsea, MA, 1878. 173.4 feet long. Originally named NANTASKET. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. from the Long Island Railroad Co. 1910 March 21, and renamed 1910 April 13. Destroyed by fire at Newburgh, NY 1928 April 16.
KEYPORT
Built in 1871 as the MARTHA'S VINEYARD. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. in 1913. Broken up in 1917.
Built in 1871 as the MARTHA'S VINEYARD. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. in 1913. Broken up in 1917.
LITTLE SILVER
Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. from the Patten Line in 1929. Operated until 1932.
Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. from the Patten Line in 1929. Operated until 1932.
MARY PATTEN
Boughtby the Keansburg Steamboat Co. from the Patten Line in 1929. Operated until 1932.
Boughtby the Keansburg Steamboat Co. from the Patten Line in 1929. Operated until 1932.
MOBJACK
Built in Newburgh, NY 1899. 180.2 feet long. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. 1922 April 14. Dismantled 1939 November 17.
Built in Newburgh, NY 1899. 180.2 feet long. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. 1922 April 14. Dismantled 1939 November 17.
POCAHONTAS
Built in Wilmington, DE 1893. 195 feet long. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. 1922 April 18. Dismantled 1939 November 17.
Built in Wilmington, DE 1893. 195 feet long. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. 1922 April 18. Dismantled 1939 November 17.
POINT COMFORT
Built in Camden, NJ and Wilmington, DE 1886. 190 feet long. Originally named NANTUCKET. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co 1913 July 2. Name was changed 1913 July 24. Stranded in the Hudson River, 1919 September 17.
Built in Camden, NJ and Wilmington, DE 1886. 190 feet long. Originally named NANTUCKET. Bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co 1913 July 2. Name was changed 1913 July 24. Stranded in the Hudson River, 1919 September 17.
SMITHFIELD
Built in Elizabeth, NJ for the Old Dominion Steamboat Co. of Norfolk, VA in 1891. 181.9 feet long. The name was changed from HAMPTON 1909 November 18. It was bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. 1922 April 18. The ship carried 1200 passengers and often made the New York - Keansburg run in one hour and ten minutes. It was dismantled 1947 December 29.
Built in Elizabeth, NJ for the Old Dominion Steamboat Co. of Norfolk, VA in 1891. 181.9 feet long. The name was changed from HAMPTON 1909 November 18. It was bought by the Keansburg Steamboat Co. 1922 April 18. The ship carried 1200 passengers and often made the New York - Keansburg run in one hour and ten minutes. It was dismantled 1947 December 29.
It was a great ship to ride on from brooklyn to Keansburg in the 1950's and early 1960's, bands played while people enjoyed dancing on the wooden dance floor as we sailed, food and drink was sold on it, and we enjoyed the time looking over the water as we sailed to our week in Keansburg, it was some time, and God blessed us with this, thank you God for the time it lasted+
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember one of these vessel being stranded on the foot of Broad street as a result of a storm. Could not find a picture.
ReplyDeleteAt the age of 7, I had the unforgettable experience of a day trip on the City of Keansburg to NYC and back. Several artifacts from the steamship company are in the care of the New Jersey Museum of Transportation in Allaire State park including a spare engine
ReplyDeleteOn the last photo it says that the City of Keansburg was sent to a dry dock after the plans for its use in a restaurant fell through. Are you sure about this? There is a ship wreck in Westchester creek that I think might be of this ferry as the owner of the restaurant bought a boat from Keansburg around 1974 for use in City Island. Here's a picture: https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7486909/04_kensinger_westchester_creek_DSC_3370.0.jpeg
ReplyDeleteI believe the company purchased the Brig. General William E. Horton and Brig. General Antony W. Yates from the US Maritime Administration in 1947. They reverted to their civilian names, Mackinaw City and Sainte Ignace, under which they had run at the Straits of Mackinac from 1924 to 1940. The company hoped to either use them themselves, or resell them. However the pair was blown hard aground from their moorings in Raritan Bay in November, 1950, and rather than try to refloat them, they were scrapped in 1952, having never run for Keansburg Steamship.
ReplyDeleteA ship which I was told was the "City of Keansburg" was at Palatka, Florida in 1989, but in a poor condition. She certainly looks very similar, but there are some differences and I will gladly send photographs since comments and confirmation or alternative identification would be very welcome.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see the photographs...I worked on the old Hudson River Day Line back in the late '50s & remember the Keansburg well...robbiegeorge@gmail.com
DeleteThe City of Keansburg appears at 1:39 in this YouTube clip of the song "(We'll have) Manhattan." The vintage 1930's clip shows the docks around lower tip of Manhattan (Battery Park to South St.) There are a lot of old ferries shown. The quality of the film clip is excellent.
ReplyDeleteManhattan - Merv Griffin - Freddy Martin Orch - 1930's Lower Manhattan Waterfront
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mujvWIP8k_M
I remember riding out to meet the boat on the miniature railroad with my father in the mid-50s. There was a large jug of orangeade in one of the cars. When we got out to the end, someone from the snack shack came out and picked up the jug. We waited until the ship pulled in and passengers got off, some of them with suitcases. Some walked down the pier, some hopped onboard the train and rode to the other end of the pier then just walked into town. If you lived in NYC and did not have a car, this must have been a great way to get out of the city and stay at the Shore.
ReplyDeleteI painted the ship in City Island in 1978.
ReplyDeleteIt was owned by Robert Borscher, owner of ThwaitesInn and Marina. His Restaurant project never succeeded.
Joe Nolty
It's great to see this history and the photos. In the early-to-mid 1960's my family took the City of Keansburg several times from NJ to NYC, Battery Park, but at that time the boat left from Atlantic Highlands, not from Keansburg. Does anyone have any history of this late stage of the ship's active career?
ReplyDeleteI was a teen at the time, and was impressed with sailing under the Verrazzano Bridge as it was being constructed, with only the towers in place at the time. Most of the passengers were actually commuting the opposite direction--from NYC to NJ to go to the nearby race track.
Does anyone know where the miniature railroad equipment that served the Keansburg steamboat pier went after it ceased operations following Hurricane Donna?
ReplyDelete