SJ History: Crossing The River

As early as 1677, ferries were used to cross the Delaware River from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. In Burlington County, the passage to Bristol, Pennsylvania was made by way of a flatboat and rope. The entrepreneurs? - Native Americans. They later sold their operation to two Frenchmen who in turn sold it to Samuel Clift. By 1731, the Bristol-Burlington Line was well established but cumbersome. The use of a flat boat could not keep up with the needs of a growing population needing passage to PA. In order to sell their goods, a more sophisticated ferry would be needed so the State took over the operation.

In 1834, the State of New Jersey relinquished the ferry line to Elwood Doron. After the Civil War, Elwood introduced the first steam ferryboat on the Bristol-Burlington line. He named her the William E. Doron, after his grandson. The Doron family kept up with the demand to transport passengers and eventually automobiles until 1929 when the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge was built. Who knows how many trips were made and how many people used its services? You can imagine that many sweethearts held hands on the deck as it passed down through the river while taking in the steady sound of the puttering steam engine. Or maybe, a businessman sat quietly reading the paper and smoking his pipe while the sweethearts whispered sweet- little- nothings, and it reminded him of home. There was no need for impatience to get some where in a hurry. Everyone knew the ride would be slow, yet enjoyable. It gave time to reflect, to relax and meet knew people.

The William E. Doron took its last trip on September 22, 1929. The Captain, William Doron, did not write much in his log about the trip. It left Burlington at 6:00 PM on a Sunday. He described the weather as, “spanking breeze, cloudy.” Little to be said about the adventures of a boat and family that served two states for sixty years.

Sadly, there are not many ferries left to enjoy. For most people today a ferry ride is a novelty, something we can enjoy for a while and then go back to the fast pace highways. We can look down from the bridges that we cross and see the boats and ships passing down the river and never see a face. Before they are all gone, if you get the chance, take a ferry ride and just enjoy the passage of time.

For more South Jersey History, visit our SJ History page.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: Vickie Van Antwerp