In May 1631, the General Court of the Massachusett Bay Colony granted to Thomas Williams the right to operate a ferry between Winnisimmet and Boston, the first in the country. Service began in June 1631 and ran continuously until 1917, a period of 286 years. Land travel to Boston was a day's journey through Malden, Medford, Watertown, Cambridge, Brighton, Brookline Roxbury and over the neck. Thomas Williams passed away shortly after becoming ferryman. William Stitson married Thomas Williams' widow and continued operation of the ferry. In 1634, the General Court ordered that Winnisimmet shall belong to Boston. It was also ordered that the Winnisimmet Ferry be granted to Mr. Samuel Maverick "to enjoy to him and his heirs forever." To continue operation , Maverick granted William Stitson a life-time interest in the ferry. In 1635, Maverick sold Winnisimmet and the ferry to Richard Bellingham. By agreement with Bellingham, William Stitson sold his life-time interest in the ferry for a life-time annuity of three pounds to be paid bi-annually.
|
|
The original ferry landing was on the Maverick estate, now Admiral's Hill. Richard Bellingham moved the ferry landing easterly of Broadway, about one-third the distance of it's final landing slip. at the foot of Winnisimmet Street. Many times the boats were prevented from operating due to severe winds and storms. Some winters were so harsh the harbor would be closed in by ice restricting any movement. In the Boston Weekly News-Letter of Thursday November 26, 1741, "Last Thursday one of the Winnisimmet Ferry boats turned upon her side in a sudden gust of wind and filled with water, a newly arrived French passenger was drowned. It was said he had a considerable amount of gold on his person. Four other passengers were saved." |
|
Early 19th century sketch of the Chelsea Ferry from Boston side |
The Massachusetts General Court had regulated the operation of the Winnisimmet Ferry by several acts through the years. In 1712, in order to provide more speedy transportation, an act was passed requiring a third boat with able, sober persons to row it. Again in 1749, the General Court declared the number of boats, assigned by law for the Winnisimmet Ferry, was insufficient. It was therefore enacted that four boats be provided and maintained, for the speedy transportation of passengers. The act required two sober and able bodied men, one to be white, to maintain the boats. Two of the boats must be equipped with sails and two good oars. The other two boats must be equipped with four good oars. The boats must be passing each other continuously from sunrise to nine P.M. in the summer and from eight A.M. to eight P.M. in the winter.
|
|
|
|
Chelsea Ferry Boston Slip Hanover Street, Boston |
Chelsea Ferry Slip Winnisimmet Street, Chelsea |
The ferry way or slip was an inclined plane of timber that extended from high to low water mark. The boats were flat bottomed and mostly propelled by oars. The boats were built to fit the wharf so that carraiges could go aboard, no matter what the tide. Francis B. Fay and a group of others formed the Winnisimmet Company in 1831. On March 8th, the Company purchased the ferry and farm of one hundred and thirty acres, from Thomas Williams at a cost of $22,500. An additional $5,000 was paid to the City of Boston for a release of claim for the landing in Boston. The same year the "Tom Thumb " a small steamer, was introduced, being used for pleasure parties only.
|
|
|
Entrance to Chelsea Ferry at the end of
Winnisimmet Street. |
On July 25, 1832, two new steamboats the "Boston" and the "Chelsea" built in Philadelphia at a cost of $11,000 each, made their first run. The "Malden" was then bought, followed by the "Mystic." The "Bellingham" with a passage through the center for carriages, was built in Chelsea, but proved a failure. The "Winnisimmet" built in 1846, was used during the Civil War to transport soldiers and cannon down the coast.
|
|
The installation of the larger and faster steam ferry brought a tremendous increase in receipts but it was not to last. Along came the steam railroad and the horse railway, soon followed by the electric streetcars, all making faster traveling time over the bridge or through the East Boston tunnel to Boston, and the motorized car and truck all helped to put an end to the ferry. |
|
Ferry "City of Chelsea" |
Operating costs and maintenance were higher than receipts. On January 18, 1917, the "City of Malden" made it's regular runs during the day and landed in Chelsea at 6:05 P.M. It's tally for the day: 125 foot passengers, 14 one horse teams, and 2 two horse teams. Captain A. O. Small was in charge. The boat was made fast to the drop, the water blown out of the boiler and the 286 year operation of the Chelsea Ferry ceased operation.