Brooklyn/NYC Ferry History
The history of ferry service in Brooklyn, NY dates back to 1643. In the article from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday July 18, 1870, the first ferry service and ferryman are discussed. Prior to the roadway and bridge infrastructure being built to connect Brooklyn and Manhattan, the waterways were the primary source of transporting goods and commuters on and off the islands.
During the 1800’s, there were numerous ferry routes running from different areas on the waterfront in Brooklyn (Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Heights) to Manhattan. Most of these routes ran from 6am-8pm during summer, and weather permitting. The winter hours were restricted to 7am-5pm, weather permitting.
In the early 1900’s, there was ferry service from the Bay Ridge 69th St. Pier to St. George in Staten Island. The Bay Ridge Historical Society has an excellent new book, Images of America: Bay Ridge, with great old photos of this ferry service. This service is often recalled by the old “ridgites” who remember paying 5 cents to cross over to Staten Island. State Senator Marty Golden recently told News12 about how he sold newspapers to the cars waiting to board the ferry on the Bay Ridge side. This commuter service was discontinued immediately after the opening of the Verrazano Bridge linking Staten island to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
In the 1980’s, ferry service from 69th St. Pier in Bay Ridge to Manhattan was utilized by commuters. However, the pier itself began to fall apart, and was deemed unsafe for commuters. The service was suspended, and the pier at 58th St. Pier (Brooklyn Army Terminal) was built up to accomodate the ferry commuters from Bay Ridge. In fact, many are unaware of the current ferry service run by TWFM in partnership with NYCity Water Taxi at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and that there are nearly 500 parking spaces that are FREE and secured RIGHT ON THE PIER at 58th & 1st Ave!
At the end of the 1990’s, the 69th St. Pier was indeed rebuilt. However, it was not fitted with the necessary equipment to dock a ferry. In fact, in fiscal year 2004, Council Member Vincent Gentile and Council Member David Yassky set aside $500,000 in the budget in order to build a spud barge to allow for ferry service to be reinstated at the 69th St. Pier. This money is still sitting untouched, and the 69th St. Pier is still vacant in terms of ferry service.
