Brian J. Cudahy’s books include Around Manhattan Island: And Other Maritime Tales of New York and A Century of Subways: Celebrating 100 Years of New York’s Underground Railways (both Fordham). He lives in Bluffton, SC.
"Power-driven, double-ended ferryboats have crossed New York harbor to Manhattan since 1812. Here is a comprehensive synopsis of ferry service on more than 60 ferry routes that operated between 1812 and the mid-1980s. The narrative is divided into eight distinct time periods, in which the development of private companies, the railroad ferries, the coming of municipal ownership, the decline of ferry services, and the more recent rebirth of ferry consciousness are treated. A variety of photographs provide an impression of the ferries themselves, but this is not a collection of boat portraits. Maps are excellent, defining each route and the physical changes of the harbor lines. Technological changes and engineering details are explained for the nonprofessional reader. Following the text, 126 pages of tables and appendixes offer a wealth of information, including graphs, an annotated bibliography, a listing of all the routes with their operators, and a comprehensive list of every double-ended ferry that operated in New York harbor. Without a doubt, this is an essential resource for the ferries, New York harbor, and the railroads that carried people to Manhattan, as well as for transportation, politics, and life within the city itself." -Choice "One of those gems that successfully appeals to both the general reader ... and the specialist. Highly Recommended." -Library Journal
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