Nostalgia & History > Lackawanna ferry "Binghamton" may be scrapped

The Lackawanna Railroad ferry Binghamton, which has been moored at Edgewater NJ for several decades, may be scrapped. Owners of the ferry and the adjacent dry land have announced plans to remove the ferry and build an upscale restaurant on the highly desirable location. A recent fire on the ferry, a laundry list of code violations, and an increasing valuation of the property all played a role.

The ferry was a lovely restaurant with several private rooms, drop dead views of the NY skyline, and decent food on the several times I visited. It has been vacant and in a deteriorating condition for at least 15 years.


http://www.northjersey.com/news/Bergen_County_arson_squad_investigates_weekend_fire_at_Edgewaters_Binghamton_Ferry.html

What a shame.

When was it last a nightclub and when was it last a restaurant?

I think my friend got married on that way back in the mid 90's? Such a shame.

James

Wouldn't it be great if it could be put into one of the restored Hoboken Terminal ferry slips! I believe a ferry museum is planned for a portion of the ferry terminal.

sig292 Wrote:
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> Wouldn't it be great if it could be put into one
> of the restored Hoboken Terminal ferry slips! I
> believe a ferry museum is planned for a portion of
> the ferry terminal.


Thats a wonderful idea! Are there any recent photos of the ferry? I did a google search and most of the photos make it appear to be in good shape - at least outwardly.

MrMichael Wrote:

> Thats a wonderful idea! Are there any recent
> photos of the ferry? I did a google search and
> most of the photos make it appear to be in good
> shape - at least outwardly.

You must have missed the picture at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonpiercephotography/6407146751/. If she has a wooden hull and has been sitting on the bottom in that condition for awhile, the hull probably needs replacing.

D F W

Wow, classic old boat, it does look sad though. I have seen smaller boats placed on land as a display. It would be a shame to lose the architectural examples, but it looks like a lot of work is needed.
>
> You must have missed the picture at . If she has
> a wooden hull and has been sitting on the bottom
> in that condition for awhile, the hull probably
> needs replacing.
>
> D F W

Back in the 1970s and early 1980s, the boat was maintained to pretty high standards. I worked in the area, and had dinner on the ship several times. Went to a few wedding receptions, and considered it for my own reception. It was owned by a group that included a well known NJ politician. After his murder, the ship changed hands a few times, and by the 1990s, it was becoming derelict.

I haven't been on it in years, but if it hasn't been maintained, I'd suspect it needs a lot of money to get up to code. And, more to move it.

Here in Southern California, we had the S.S. Catalina, also known as the Big White Steamship, that ran the 26 mile route from San Pedro to Santa Catalina Island. It was finally replaced by diesel-powered ferries and set aside for possible preservation or re-purposing as a restaurant, etc. It wound up being towed to Ensenada, Mexico, where it slowly deteriorated and was finally put out of its misery. When a boat gets to a certain point, jacking up the bridge and building a new vessel underneath becomes the only option.

Same happened to the San Leandro, the last SP ferry to operate between San Francisco and Oakland. After years of
abuse and more years of neglect, and a fire that destroyed everything above the main deck, she languished, later
joined by another ex-SP ferryboat, the Fresno. Together they wandered from one moorage to another, at one point
just abandoned by a tugboat captain because his company hadn't been paid.

The Fresno had arrived from its second career on Puget Sound, completely restorable. But it wasn't to be.
Both boats had steel hulls and were sold for their scrap value.

Had a High School reunion on the Binghmton in '94 seemed in good shape then, havent been back since. I thought they had built cement cradles under her hull several years ago. I rmember hearing the one had shifted and the resturant was closed till the repair was complete. It certainly does look sad sitting down in the water like that. It looks like it will join others like the one that was moored in the Raritan just east of New Brunswick think that might have been Staten Island heritage and its stripped dwon to its deck at this point.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Lackawanna Railroad ferry Binghamton, which
> has been moored at Edgewater NJ for several
> decades, may be scrapped. Owners of the ferry and
> the adjacent dry land have announced plans to
> remove the ferry and build an upscale restaurant
> on the highly desirable location. A recent fire on
> the ferry, a laundry list of code violations, and
> an increasing valuation of the property all played
> a role.
>
> The ferry was a lovely restaurant with several
> private rooms, drop dead views of the NY skyline,
> and decent food on the several times I visited.
> It has been vacant and in a deteriorating
> condition for at least 15 years.
>
>
>


I had a meal there during the 2000 World Series (Mets versus Yankess). It was a bit scraggly then, but defintely still in business.

I feel bad about this ferry as well, but as that last pic, and this one shows, she is pretty much "done for"....

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erielackawanna Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Lackawanna Railroad ferry Binghamton, which
> > has been moored at Edgewater NJ for several
> > decades, may be scrapped. Owners of the ferry
> and
> > the adjacent dry land have announced plans to
> > remove the ferry and build an upscale
> restaurant
> > on the highly desirable location. A recent fire
> on
> > the ferry, a laundry list of code violations,
> and
> > an increasing valuation of the property all
> played
> > a role.
> >
> > The ferry was a lovely restaurant with several
> > private rooms, drop dead views of the NY
> skyline,
> > and decent food on the several times I visited.
>
> > It has been vacant and in a deteriorating
> > condition for at least 15 years.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> I had a meal there during the 2000 World Series
> (Mets versus Yankess). It was a bit scraggly then,
> but defintely still in business.

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize it was still open as recently as 2000.

Sad to see it go...

The Bergen Record has an update.

The owners have engaged a scrapping company to haul away what's left of the ship. They hope to bring in a new vessel and establish a club there. However, there is the little matter of the huge fines and assessments from the town. They'll need to make those problems go away before a liquor license materializes for use.

The article says the place was in use as late as 2007. Given how dilapidated it looked a few years ago, I'm surprised they could get people to go aboard.

http://www.northjersey.com/edgewater/164850206_Last_days_for_landmark_.html