Others will enter the gates of the ferry, and cross
from shore to shore.......
from shore to shore.......
The others that are to follow me, the ties between
me and them
me and them
Walt Whitman: Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
As gentrification continues its scorched-earth, forward march,
I've often found reassurances in the rituals and structures
around us which remain constant. No, not silly nostalgia for
some make-believe past, but instead a tangible connection to
those provincial traits which help define the towns and people
of Long Island Sound.
I've often found reassurances in the rituals and structures
around us which remain constant. No, not silly nostalgia for
some make-believe past, but instead a tangible connection to
those provincial traits which help define the towns and people
of Long Island Sound.
There are the baymen of Oyster and Huntington Bays, who
still work their shellfish beds manually. The wooden
oysterboats of Norwalk, Stratford, and other shoreline towns.
Then there are the lighthouses; the 18th and 19th century
villages; and the farms of the North Fork and the
Connecticut River.
These are not museum relics, but instead, working
links to our past which carry on. Stripped of them, we
inch closer to every other shoreline town which sold its
soul to postwar Los Angelization long ago.
still work their shellfish beds manually. The wooden
oysterboats of Norwalk, Stratford, and other shoreline towns.
Then there are the lighthouses; the 18th and 19th century
villages; and the farms of the North Fork and the
Connecticut River.
These are not museum relics, but instead, working
links to our past which carry on. Stripped of them, we
inch closer to every other shoreline town which sold its
soul to postwar Los Angelization long ago.
The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry is believed to be the oldest
continuously operated ferry in the U.S. Established in 1655, it
became a state operation in 1915, surviving the Great Depression,
the Floods of 1936, and several ill-conceived highway overpasses
in the 1950's and '60's.
Just a barge pushed by a tugboat, she is highly functional, but never
glamorous. Sadly, she met her fate with the budget-cuts this week.
continuously operated ferry in the U.S. Established in 1655, it
became a state operation in 1915, surviving the Great Depression,
the Floods of 1936, and several ill-conceived highway overpasses
in the 1950's and '60's.
Just a barge pushed by a tugboat, she is highly functional, but never
glamorous. Sadly, she met her fate with the budget-cuts this week.
About 25 miles south of here is the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry. She is
considered to be the second oldest continuously operated ferry in
the U.S.. Linking a prettier, more affluent stretch, with museums
and parks overlooking the river, this boat is the more popular of
the two. Somewhat famous, she is an appealing September/October
fall foliage excursion, and provides an important transportation
link along this 16 mile bridge-less stretch between Saybrook and
East Haddam.
considered to be the second oldest continuously operated ferry in
the U.S.. Linking a prettier, more affluent stretch, with museums
and parks overlooking the river, this boat is the more popular of
the two. Somewhat famous, she is an appealing September/October
fall foliage excursion, and provides an important transportation
link along this 16 mile bridge-less stretch between Saybrook and
East Haddam.
But pedigrees, logistics, and big-pictures don't carry much
weight in Hartford. The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry has been
axed along with her older sister to the north. There has been
a lot of talk about how neither of these boats make money,
but that argument is selective, penny-wise, and pound foolish.
No form of transportation makes money without public subsidies.
Highways, airports, shipping terminals, etc, all lose money
without government assistance.
weight in Hartford. The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry has been
axed along with her older sister to the north. There has been
a lot of talk about how neither of these boats make money,
but that argument is selective, penny-wise, and pound foolish.
No form of transportation makes money without public subsidies.
Highways, airports, shipping terminals, etc, all lose money
without government assistance.
Both ferries are scheduled to close on August 25.
I've thought about taking one final boat ride, but
what good would it do? Maybe, instead, I'll go find
some franchise restaurant along the CT Turnpike
or Long Island Expressway which serves generic
jalapeno poppers, hot-pockets, fish-a-ma-jig
sandwiches, and booze.
I'll sit in one of those formica cubicles, partitioned
by the glazed glass ovals depicting lighthouses,
oystermen, church steeples, ferry boats, and
everything else we chose to abandon.
what good would it do? Maybe, instead, I'll go find
some franchise restaurant along the CT Turnpike
or Long Island Expressway which serves generic
jalapeno poppers, hot-pockets, fish-a-ma-jig
sandwiches, and booze.
I'll sit in one of those formica cubicles, partitioned
by the glazed glass ovals depicting lighthouses,
oystermen, church steeples, ferry boats, and
everything else we chose to abandon.
Chester-Hadlyme Ferry
Middletown Press: Ferry Workers Given Layoff Notices
Lyme Line: Towns Work To Save The Ferries
Walt Whitman Archive
Soundbounder: Chester-Hadlyme Ferry
Soundbounder: New Ways To Lose
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