Jersey City in Hudson County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) Terminal
Ferry Houses: Connecting People, Boats and Trains
In 1889, the CRRNJ built a single-story wooden ferry house, providing a functional and protective link for passengers walking between the ferry boats and the main building.
This ferry house contained four ferry slips, offices, a kitchen, staff restaurant and an emigrant waiting room.
At the turn of the century, an increase in transportation demands created a need to expand the terminal facilities. Completed in 1914, renovations included additional train tracks, the present Bush-type train shed and a two-story ferry house.
The new ferry house, built of copper and steel, was designed to accommodate the larger double-decked ferries. Passanger services located on the second floor included waiting rooms with toilets, a barber shop, drug store and newsstand.
At this time, the CRRNJ complex was the greatest concentration of rail facilities in the New York Harbor area. Up to 50,000 New York City commuters and as many as three thousand immigrants used this terminal every day.
If you had worked in New York
To get to their trains, upper deck passengers walked along adjustable ramps, across the second floor of the ferry house and down the main staircase into the waiting room. Vehicles from the lower deck of the ferries traveled across electrically operated bridges to the vehicle concourse.
The ruins of the ferry house were removed in 1982 exposing the magnificent façade of the CRRNY Terminal you see today.
Erected by New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.
Location. 40° 42.429′ N, 74° 2.073′ W. Marker is in Jersey City, New Jersey, in Hudson County. Marker can be reached from Audrey Zapp Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in Liberty State Park. Marker is in this post office area: Jersey City NJ 07304, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named The Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) Terminal (a few steps from this marker); The Historic Trilogy (within shouting distance of this marker); The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal (within shouting distance of this marker); Central Railroad of NJ Employees Empty Sky: New Jersey (about 400 feet away); The Bridge of Nations (approx. half a mile away); Delaware Indian Burials (approx. 0.6 miles away); Paulus Hook (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jersey City.
More about this marker. Three photographs of ferries appear on the marker. On the right is one with the caption, “Single-decked ferries pulling into the CRRNJ’s wooden ferry house.” Next to this is a photo with the caption, “Double-decked ferry docked at CRRNJ’s two-story ferry house. The right of the marker has a photo with the caption, “The Somerville ferry pulls into a slip in the CRRNJ Terminal ferry house, circa 1950. Note the pedestrian ramps in the middle left and right. These will connect to the upper deck of the ferry.”
Also see . . .
1. History of Liberty State Park. (Submitted on November 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.)
2. Liberty State Park. (Submitted on November 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.)
Categories. • Railroads & Streetcars •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on November 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,793 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.