The Chester - Bridgeport Ferry
15,666
Published 2013-06-02
The movie begins with the approach of the ferry (the 'Bridgeport') from Chester toward the slip at Bridgeport. At 0:19, the lady in this view is my mother, and the short boy is my youngest brother Charles. We don't know who the other boy is, but clearly it is a friend of Charles. My father is handling the movie camera, and it seems the family is on their way home to Drexel Hill after a vacation on the Jersey Shore. We often took the ferry as it was the scenic route to the Shore.
At 1:42 we see our family car, the 1969 Mercury Montego MX, drive on to the boat. I have a lot of memories wrapped up in that car. It was a 302 V8 with a three speed manual shift on the column, or 'three on the tree', and it came from the factory in 'hot orange'.
At 2:07, we depart from Bridgeport, and in the middle of the Delaware, we pass by the ferry heading for Bridgeport. And then we see our destination, the ferry slip at Chester, right at the base of the bridge. As we approach the slip, we see Mom, Charles and his friend walk around the bow to get in the car. And at 3:53, we touch the slip, and it is all over for us and the Chester -- Bridgeport Ferry.
All Comments (21)
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I used to take this until the Walt Whitman Bridge opened in 1957. Thanks!
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I helped to build the bridge in 1971 and 1972. I did enjoy the ferry ride, but not the long lines to cross on weekends.
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thanks for posting this! first step in our jaunts to Wildwood when we were kids!
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Memories of going to the Jersey shore.
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I lived in Chester from 1966 through the spring of 1975. Rode the ferry countless times. Some on here mention food for sale on the ferry. I don't remember that at all, but I'm not saying it didn't exist. Unless the weather was bad, I spent the ferry ride leaning on the railing checking out the water. The Delaware River had a very distinct smell in those days. Not a bad smell, just a smell. I can recall in my mind exactly what it smelled like. These days, when I take the ferry from Delaware City to Fort Delaware, I also enjoy the ride in the open, but the aroma of the water is gone now. Nothing lasts forever!
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Thanks for this. I was just remembering how my then-girlfriend and I would take the ferry over to New Jersey, drive around a while, and take the ferry back. Just to ride the ferry. That would have been the late 1960's.
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I even remember the bumpy start off the ferry when my father used to take trips in his truck. Great memories... 50's. Thanks for such a thoughtful post.
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There were 2 separate ship lines. One was called a ferry because it ferried people back and forth between Chester, Pa., and Bridgeport, NJ. The other was several ships owned by the Wilson Line which cruised from Phila. I believe down to Riverview beach park. The park still exists in Pennsville, NJ. Obviously all the rides and things are gone but it is a beautiful park. Also the original sign at the front of the park is still there. Ahh, what memories.
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I didn't realize the bridge was that old. My first and only trip across it was in 1998 when we attended a church centennial reunion in Paulsboro.
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Very nice movie, I was 10 in 1973 and I remembered my mom taking by sister and I for a ferry ride to Chester and back. I lived in Brideport, NJ. Also our grade school class walked across the bridge when it opened to pedestrians.
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I remember those good old days
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Brings back good memories of trips to Wildwood and Garrison Lake.
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thank you so much for the memories - loved the water smells and the banging of the ferry on the boards...my dad's favorite way to go to the beach and lakes of NJ.
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Does anyone remember going top deck and buying a knockwurst and a soda? My brother says he remembers it as sausage. Any opinions. It was a treat to go over from Chester to NJ on the way to the shore. Great memory!
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Great memories! Road it as a kid in the 60s!
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As a youngster, I had always felt as if the land was moving away from us rather than the other way around. Optical delusion in the words of Archie Bunker. I rode the Ferry one last time in 1971.
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I used some of this footage for a documentary type video I made about the ferry on YouTube. I hope you don't mind. It's amazing footage. Thank you for sharing!
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My Dad Worked For the Owner Louis Kapelski
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Yes, the bridge where my husband died while doing iron work construction on. He died Aug 16, 1972.
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Took the ferry to and back from Senior Week. Sigh.
