Hoboken, Ferry and Train Station

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Hoboken N. J.,

By 1887 Hoboken was the eastern terminus for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and the Morris and Essex line. It was also connected to New York city by several ferries.


Old Hoboken Ferry, Hoboken N. J., Pre 1905

The Hoboken train station and ferry slip burned on August 7, 1905.


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Old Ferry Depot, Hoboken

The Old Ferry Depot Fire August 7, 1905

On the morning of August 7, 1905 a fire burned the old wooden ferry house and railroad station in a matter of hours. The fire started aboard the ferry, Hopatcong. Before the Hopatcong could be pulled away from her slip the shed caught fire and soon the whole complex was ablaze. The ferry Binghamton and the Duke's house restaurant were also destroyed in the fire. Immediately after the fire the Lackawanna ferries continued to use the slips but the trains terminated at Newark. People used Public Service trolleys to get from Newark to the ferry station.

The fire destroyed the train sheds, ferry slip and other buildings. The conflagration was, in fact, a blessing since plans had already been made for a new station and the major drawback to the project was how to the demolish the old station without interfering with the flow of the trains and ferries.

The new building was constructed of steel, concrete and wireglass.


Collection of Maggie Land Blanck

A View from the River of the Hoboken Ferryhouse, 1890 ( Romance of the Hoboken Ferry by Harry J Smith Jr, 1931

Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Fire boat in Action, North River- D. L. & W. R. R., Hoboken Fire, 1905

Posted February 1908


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Entrance to Hoboken Ferry after fire August 7, 1905

Posted August 29, 1905


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Ruins of Hoboken Ferry Fire, August 7, 1905

Posted September 1905 .

This postcard was posted August 11, 1905, four days after the fire which destroyed the terminal.


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Ruins of Duke's House, Hoboken

The Duke's House was a famous Restaurant and Tavern situated on the pier near the ferry. It had a reputation for fine food and service and catered to the likes of Lillian Russell, John L Sullivan and other prominent people of the times. It too was destroyed in the August 7 pier fire.

Posted September 1905

"Crowds went to look at the buiding holding the restaurant and saloon of Duke's house. The upper part of the structure was entirely burnt off. The wall of the ground story had been partially consumed, but in such a way that the bar itself was left intact. And there, within charred and blackened and broken walls, the bartenders were at work just as usual, with not one bottle missing out of the stock. Martin Daab, who owns the place, saw quickly the opportunity offered and rose to the emergency. The result was that this bar, which probably may be counted as unique, did a more thriving business yesterday than it has done for many a day."

New York Times August 9, 1905

A pre 1906 menu for Duke's House Cafe and Restaurant, Martin Daab Jr proprietor, includes: clams, lobsters, frog's legs, a wide selection of oysters, various fish, boiled beef, oxtail ragout, tripe, veal paprika, filet mignon with mushrooms, prime rib of beef, loin of pork with sauerkraut, game in season, various vegetables (heavy on potatoes) plus sandwiches salads and desserts. The menu also included eggs and omeletts and coffees, teas and milk drinks. The wine list included: Champagnes, Bordeauxs, Sauternes, Burgundies, Rhine and Moselle Wines, and Hungarian Wines. Various ales, porters and bees, several on draft were also offered as was mineral water, cordials and mixed drinks. A whole live broiled lobster cost $1.00. Prime rib was 35 cents. Champagnes were $3.50. (NYPL Digital collection, duke's menu)


Insurance Engineering, Vol 10 and other publications

LACKAWANNA EMIGRANT STATION OF STEEL AND CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, UNHARMED BY RECENT FIRE

This building was used for immigrants and Pullman supplies and was located to the south of the terminal building.


Insurance Engineering, Vol 10 and other publications

RUINS OF OLD LACKAWANNA TERMINAL AT HOBOKEN, N.J.


Insurance Engineering, Vol 10 and other publications

RUINS OF OLD LACKAWANNA TERMINAL AT HOBOKEN, N.J.


D. L. & W. R. R. Depot and Ferry House, Hoboken, N.J.


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Posted 1911

Construction began in March 1906. Fire prevention was a major concern. Concrete, steel, wrought iron and stone were used. Even the desks and racks in the ticket office were of metal, not of wood.

"The great building, having a frontage of 750 feet on the Hudson, was erected on piling with steel and concrete foundations. The waiting room and ferry concourse are on the main floor which is on the line of the tracks. The waiting room, 100 feet long and 90 feet in width, is finished in limestone and bronze. On the second floor are a restaurant, an emergency hospital and a barber shop. The restaurant, when completely finished, will be done in old gold and mahogany. It overlooks the river, and an outside dining room on the balcony, facing east, will be used in the summer months"

Romance of the Hoboken Ferry by Harry J Smith, Jr, 1931

The new Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Train Station and Ferry Depot was reopened February 25, 1907.

"Lackawanna Terminal was the largest railway terminal along the banks of the Hudson and was also though to be the very best of its kind. The structure itself is actually the fifth station built on the same site. The current version, which opened in February 1907, was a grand successor to the four earlier stations, all of which burned down. It was linked to Manhattan by ferryboats and, after, 1908, by tunnels under the river. The 225-foot tower, which rose form the center of the terminal, was pulled down in 1948."

Hoboken History, the Magazine of the Hoboken Historical Museum, issue no. 23, 1999

My grandfather, Percy Land, lived in Hoboken in the late 1890s. In 1900 the family moved to Smithtown, Long Island. However, Percy and his father, Law Land, returned to Hoboken.

My dad always said the Lands had moved to Hoboken to work on the rebuilding the piers. The piers burned in 1900. It is possible that Law Land came back to Hoboken to work on the piers. However, Percy was only 15 in 1900.

The train station burned in 1905. It is possible that Law returned to Hoboken to work on the train station. It is almost certain the Percy returned to Hoboken to work on the train station. Percy was in Hoboken in 1906 as evidenced by a post card his mother sent him on November 17, 1906. Percy met his future wife, Meta Petermann, in Hoboken some time before New Years 1906/07.

The train station also had a restaurant. Their 1905 menu included oyster stew or fried oysters, soups, several fish, relishes, steaks and chops, vegetables, eggs and omelets, cold meats, salads, sandwiches, desserts, cheeses, fruits, teas, coffees and chocolates. A tongue sandwich cost 10 cents. Russian caviar was 30 cents. Lobster salad was 60 cents. Green turtle soup was 45 cents. Shad with bacon was 50 cents. Extra Porterhouse with mushrooms (the most expensive steak) was $2.20. Broiled Squab on toast with currant jelly was 60 cents. (NYPL, digital collection)


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Posted 1913

Lackawanna Ferry, R. R. Station and Trolly Terminal, Hoboken, N. J.


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Posted 1909

Lackawanna R. R. Terminal and Ferry to New York, Hoboken, N. J.


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Posted 1921

The entrances to the ferries are on the left and the train station (the brown building) is on the right.


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Waiting Room, Hoboken Station Lackawanna R R

Not posted

Hand written on top "Here Feb - 24- 1912"


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Lackawanna R. R. Terminal at Hoboken, N. J. The Waiting Room


Collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Main Waiting Room, Hoboken Terminal, D. L. & W. R. r. Kenneth M Murchison, Architect, New York

The ceiling was 55 feet high. In the daytime natural light is transmitted through the skylight.


Collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Restaurant, Hoboken Terminal, D. L. & W. R. r. Kenneth M Murchison, Architect, New York


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Lackawanna R. R. Terminal Station, Hoboken, N.J.

The new terminal viewed from the Hudson River.

Posted 1909

"Length of Front, Over 1,000 Feet, Height of Tower, 225 Feet, Cost $2,000,000, Connection With McAdoo Tunnel"


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Not posted

Lackawanna R. R. Ferry Slips, Hoboken, N. J.


Harpers Weekly January 5, 1889

THE NEW HOBOKEN FERRY-BOAT "BERGEN"

This new ferry could carry 24 "teams" (horse of mule driven wagons) and over 1,000 passengers. IN 1889 the ferries ran between HOboken and New York every 5 to 10 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes to half hour during the night. It bragged brightly lit, airy, heated cabins for the passengers.


Harpers Weekly January 5, 1889

CABIN OF THE NEW HOBOKEN FERRY-BOAT "BERGEN"


Collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Ferries to New Jersey


Collection of Maggie Land Blanck

New York City Crowded Double-Deck Ferry plying between New York and Jersey cities. Copyright 1904 not posted.


Waterfront showing Ferry Slip, Hoboken, N.J.

Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

For more information and images of the ferries between Hoboken and New York go to New York Ferries and THE END OF TRANS-CROSS HUDSON FERRY SERVICE both pages by Theodore W Scull


Train Yards, From Lackawanna Tower, Hoboken, N. J.

While the postcard is not dated, it post-dates 1907 when the train station tower was completed. This view is north towards Jersey City Heights.

Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck


A close up of the buildings on the right side of the above photo showing part of the 1-100 block of Willow Avenue. From at least 1886 to 1887 the Petermanns were living at 65 Willow Street, Hoboken. From at least 1880 to 1887 the Blancks were living at 45 Willow Street, Hoboken.

Notice the trolleys on the elevated Ferry Street train trestle that went from the train station in Hoboken to the Hudson County Court House in Jersey City.

Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck


Manhattan Distinctions of the Hoboken Ferries

By the time the New Train Station was finished in 1907 the ferries ran from the Lackawanna Train Station in Hoboken to three distinctions in Manhattan:

  1. Barclay Street in the financial district of lower Manhattan

  2. Christopher Street in the West Village

  3. West 23rd Street, midtown


Collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Barclay Street, New York, Ferry House 1888 (Romance of the Hoboken Ferry by Harry J Smith, Jr 1931 )


Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

New York - West Street and Jersey

End of sign reads: "KAWANNA & WESTERN R. R."


Collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Christopher Street Ferryhouse, 1888 ( Romance of the Hoboken Ferry by Harry J Smith Jr, 1931

If you have any suggestions, corrections, information, copies of documents, or photos that you would like to share with this page, please contact me at maggie@maggieblanck.com

Connecting Hoboken Pages

CHURCHES WAYS TO THE HEIGHTS HUDSON STREET
NEWARK STREET OTHER STREETS PARKS
JUNE 30, 1900 FIRE PHOTOS OF THE FIRE THE PIERS
PUBLIC BUILDINGS HOBOKEN MAIN PAGE STEVENS INSTITUTE
TUNNEL WASHINGTON STREET

For more information and images of the ferries between Hoboken and New York go to THE END OF TRANS-CROSS HUDSON FERRY SERVICE both pages by Theodore W Scull


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Thanks,

Maggie


© Maggie Land Blanck - page created 2004 - latest update, June 2013