The Ferries At Sunbury

 

The Sunbury Ferry on the West Shore, about 1900

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Misc. Stories and Notes about the Ferry at Sunbury

The above photo is on the Susquehanna River north of Shamokin Dam,  looking north, showing a ferry on the west side of the river transporting merchant wagons [including Yerger of Mt. Pleasant Mills] to Sunbury on the east side. Also seen is Clement's steam boat leaving the dock, and the Philadelphia and Reading RR bridge.

The first ferry between Sunbury & Northumberland was operated by Col. Samuel Hunter, commandant for Fort Augusta

According to a pamphlet by the DCNR for Shikellamy State Park, the first ferry was operated by Robert Kin in 1772, "soon followed by others. A log dam in 1821 made the river deep enough for steamboats."

In 1774, Reuben Haines, a Quaker brewer from Philadelphia established a ferry from the "Mile Post" above Sunbury to the location of the American Legion Post 44 in Northumberland, and another route from Northumberland to a road he built up Shikellamy hollow.

The next year in 1775, Haines purchased the water frontage and the site of Northumberland which had been laid out in 1772 by Lowden and Patterson.

In 1772, Reuben King operated a ferry where the Sunbury Toll Bridge later stood.

In 1797 when Sunbury was incorporated, the exclusive ferry rights were given to the borough, which built a public wharf.

Ferries Plied Across River Here For Century

 Ferry service over the Susquehanna at Sunbury was maintained for more than a century, until the present era of high speed travel. 

On August 14, 1772, the Penns granted unto Robert King a patent for keeping a ferry over the main river Susquehanna, at the town of Sunbury. 

November 30, 1772, King conveyed this right to Christopher Gettig; 

October 3, 1779, Gettig to Abraham DeWitt; 

October 25, 1787, Eleanor DeWitt, alias Coldren, administratrix of DeWitt to John Lyon, who owned and operated the ferry until March 24, 1797, when it wvas taken over by the borough of Sunbury.

 The following rented the ferry from the borough: 1

799, Daniel Aurandt;

 1803, Phillip Bower; 

1805, Alexander Hunter; 

1807, Stophel Gettig;

 1808 and 1809, Jacob Singer; 

1810, John Lyon; 

1812, Samuel Hahn;

 1821, Benjamin Diehl; 

1822 and 1823, JohnMartin;

 1831, Lorenza D. Howey; 

1832 and 1833, James Lyon; 

1843, Samuel Badsher; 

1844, Samuel Mantz; 

1854, Ira T. Clement.

 There was a ferry constructed between Sunbury and the other side of the river by flat boats and set poles before the dam was built, and in certain seasons when the river was low it was necessary to dig channels to permit the passage of the flats. At times a rope ferry was used; also a treadmill horse-power was used by Hoey & Wharton.

For a number of years the exclusive privilege of operating the ferry was disposed of by the borough of Sunbury to the highest bidder. In 1854, Ira T. Clement leased the wharf at Market street landing. The exclusive rights - of ferryage was vested in Dr. Isaac Hottenstein by an act of the Legislature in 1859.

The canal had been constructed through his land a distance of about a mile and an abutment of the Shamokin dam was built upon it. It was in compensation for damages thus sustained that the franchise was conferred upon Dr. Hottenstein from whose heirs it passed to Ira T. Clement..

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The Ferry House, in 

From Reminisces Of Sunbury  by  Irwin, 1910

"In the year 1846 several spans of the river bridge, between the island and grants farm, were blown down by a hurricane the spans landed in the river above the pier without sustaining very serious damage, and the bridge was rebuilt with a part of the original material, The loss of the bridge caused Mr. Hunter to introduce a ferry between Sunbury and Northumberland, and  the above described [see above photo] house being empty at the time and was used as a ferry house.

Peter Coble, at the time was employed by Mr. Hunter as his farmer and also to manage the ferry in a short time, business not being that brisk at the ferry, and the farm being in need of cobble's attention, coble then employed W. H. Bright and J. C. Irwin to work the ferry the boat started from the landing just above the house and crossed around the point of the island, up to the first canal bridge below the wagon bridge at Northumberland."

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Run by John Speece and Lewis Lenhart, 1848

Henry W. Bucher informs the public that he has taken the Sunbury Ferry and as he is now well prepared with good and sufficient crafts, he will be enabled to accommodate the public with promptness and dispatch.  The Sunbury American, 1852-1853 (the ad ran frequently)

 "There was a ferry conducted between Sunbury and the other side of the river by flat boats and set poles before the dam was built and in certain seasons when the river was low it was necessary to dig channels to permit the passage of the flats. 

At times a rope ferry was used also a treadmill horsepower was used by Hoey & Wharton.  For a number of years the exclusive privilege of operating the ferry was disposed of by the Borough of Sunbury to the highest bidder.

 In 1854 Ira T Clement leased the wharf at Market street landing. The exclusive right of ferryage across the river was vested in Dr Isaac Hotternstein by an act of the Legislature in 1859.  The canal had been constructed through is land a distance of about a mile and an abutment of the Shamokin Dam was built upon it.  It was in compensation for damages thus sustained that this franchise was conferred upon Dr. Hottenstein, from whose heirs passed to Ira T. Clement." - Reminisces of Sunbury, 1910

  In 1859, Ira Clement opened a steamboat ferry company which also offered evening leisure activities with musicians and floating dance floors towed behind the boats.

Schedule for Clements Sunbury Steam Ferry, 1858

The Steam Ferry Taxes

 

STEAM FERRY - One of the great wonts of this place is a bridge over the river, or in lieu of that, a well conducted 8 team Ferry. A Worse policy than that which has been pursued, heretofore, by the Borough authorities, cannot be imagined. The object seemed to be to get as much rent as possible from the lessee of the ferry, who in return must imburse himself by exacting exorbitant rates from passengers and others using the ferry. 

As the ease stands there is a prohibitory tariff, amounting almost to an embargo, on all trade and travel between this place and our neighbors of Snyder and Union counties. The folly of this blind policy may be illustrated by the example of the thriving towns in the West, where they maintain a free ferry, at the expense of the town, to encourage trade and travel.

 The citizens of this place would be the gainers if the Councils would propose to give the ferry, without rent, to the man who would establish the lowest rates of ferriage. The $300 now received as rent amounts to about 33 cents [roughly $12 in 2023]  for each taxable inhabitant in this place, per annum. 

With a steam ferry, at low rates, which would increase the trade from the West side of the river, mora than that amount would be saved to each one, every week, in the purchase of marketingg and all kinds of provisions. But few now cross the ferry, except from necessity.

 A steam ferry would not only greatly increase the trade and travel, cheapen and improve our produce market, but would prove a great convenience, attract trade, and what is more, pay a handsome dividend on the stock necessary to establish an Improvement so Indispensable to our place.

 The bridge at Columbia is now nearly completed, and perhaps the steamboat there might be obtained. Every merchant, trader and hotel keeper, and every family, it interested in this matter.  - The Sunbury American, November 1868

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The Sunbury Steam Ferry and Tow Boat Company was established in 1870 by Ira Clement.  Clement towed canal boats back and forth from the canal along the rivers west shore to the east shores coal docks, using his steamboat "The Shad Fly". 

Photo taken from the Steam Boat Whard at Front and Market Streets, showing a passenger boat to Island Park, Northumberland, Clements Park and Shamokin Dam.

A postcard of the Pines at Clements Park

 Around 1880, Clement acquired land on the west shore, near the area of Tedds Landing today, and created "Clements Park", the areas first picnic area and amusement park. 

 Steamboats transported passenger to the park for 5 cents.

View of P & R Railroad from Clements Park

Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Bridge, looking west

Showing Curve, and Clements Station in background, Sunbury Pa

One of the Steam Boats built by Ira Clement was named "Sunbury".  It made hourly trips from Snyder County to the foot of Market Street.

"The Ferry House, opposite Sunbury, done a fine business during rafting season, and at the time there was a house across the river, just about where Clement station stands, at thh end of the Reqading R.R. bridge, and there was also a tavern below the West Branch bridge, built right up to the rocks, which was a great place for the raftsmen to stop." - Reminisces of Sunbury, 1910

1900 view of the river, showing Ira Clements Steam Boat in front of Blue Hill, across from Northumberland.  Canal is in the background.  On the right, you can see the covered bridge crossing the canal.

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The Sunbury American, February 1876

"The Ferry House on Front near Spruce was kept by Henry Bucher"

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Fishers Ferry [beside Penns Tavern], from the Island of Que to the east side of Sunbury, was opened by Adam Fisher in 1791

May 17 1897 — Geo. M. Lumbard  [My Ancestor] leases the Masser Estate Ferry to carry passengers from the Junction to town in the absence of the N. C. R. connection formerly made by the "Shifter."

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