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Vischer’s Ferry: from Skiff to Scow to a Toll Bridge #culture #history #discovery #ferry #eriecanal
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Vischer’s Ferry - from Skiff to Scow to a Toll Bridge
Saratoga County, NY
I’m always fascinated by the past and how things change over time; roads, town, rail lines, canals, seemingly anything. One of these I recently became interested in was the different river ferries that operated across the Mohawk River. Most never think about how difficult it was before the interconnected road systems we have today to get around or cross water.
In the mid-1600s, European started settlers started to move north of Albany and Schenectady and established farms and homes in that region. An early settler was Nicholas Vischer, who built a house near the Mohawk River in 1735. [1] His son, Eldert Vischer opened a ferry in 1790, and the area became known as Vischer's Ferry. Eldert used to say he was born under the big beams in the old ferry-house. The first ferry was simply a skiff ferry; capable, taking a team of horses across the river. Eldert was reported saying all he needed to power the skiff was “two stout negroes and a heavy pair of oars.” [2] It wasn’t until 1817 or 1818 that a large scow was built, and a rope draw across the river. A local resident “Garret Cragier [remembered] that great preparation was made,” and a large number of teams employed to draw the heavy timbers for the scow. [3]
The residents of the area have wanted a bridge across the Mohawk River at Vischer Ferry since 1828. An act incorporating the Vischer's Ferry Bridge Company was passed by the State Legislature in 1828 giving the company a three-year exclusive right to build a bridge; enough investors couldn’t be found; the bridge was never built. [4]
In February 1900, engineers began planning and building a bridge at Vischer Ferry. In the spring of 1901, sections of the bridge were swept away by river ice. This resulted in the bridge being raised an additional three feet. Unfortunately, the spring floods of 1902 carried the entire bridge away. Again, the residents petitioned the State Legislature for a new bridge, and bills were offered from 1910 to 1928 for its creation, but none passed. All that remains of the 1900-1902 bridge are stone abutments. The ferry resumed operation after the collapse of the bridge and was eventually discontinued in about 1924. [5]
Eldert Vischer's children were Nanning, Nicholas, Simon, John, Maria, who married Michael Weldon, Elizabeth married Cornelius Vandenburg, and Alida married Rensselaer Jones. Nanning, it is understood was taken prisoner by the Indians rustling cows one night. He was in captivity for two years. It may be noticed, too, that John Vischer was a justice of the peace in 1770, and Nanning Vischer in 1772, and also in 1780. [6]
This is a pretty historic place. It’s been occupied from the late 1600’s (with a hint of slavery) to the present. Of the ferries in the area this one lasted by far the longest. It was replaced by a bridge, but because of bridge failures, the ferry came back and was used until the 1920’s. Thanks for watching the video; I hope you enjoyed it. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe, ring the bell and leave a comment. Hit the like button too please
[2] Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Philadelphia: Everts & Ensign, 1878, p. 473,474.
[3] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Bartlett Sylvester, History of Saratoga County, 473, 474.
Please check out my other videos. . . I have different playlists that include:
Interesting Places of Cultural & History
Cities-History/Culture
Trains/Railroads & Canals
Historic Cemeteries
Troy, NY History/Culture
The Baker Sheep Farm Archaeological Site
and of course, “shorts.”
Saratoga County, NY
I’m always fascinated by the past and how things change over time; roads, town, rail lines, canals, seemingly anything. One of these I recently became interested in was the different river ferries that operated across the Mohawk River. Most never think about how difficult it was before the interconnected road systems we have today to get around or cross water.
In the mid-1600s, European started settlers started to move north of Albany and Schenectady and established farms and homes in that region. An early settler was Nicholas Vischer, who built a house near the Mohawk River in 1735. [1] His son, Eldert Vischer opened a ferry in 1790, and the area became known as Vischer's Ferry. Eldert used to say he was born under the big beams in the old ferry-house. The first ferry was simply a skiff ferry; capable, taking a team of horses across the river. Eldert was reported saying all he needed to power the skiff was “two stout negroes and a heavy pair of oars.” [2] It wasn’t until 1817 or 1818 that a large scow was built, and a rope draw across the river. A local resident “Garret Cragier [remembered] that great preparation was made,” and a large number of teams employed to draw the heavy timbers for the scow. [3]
The residents of the area have wanted a bridge across the Mohawk River at Vischer Ferry since 1828. An act incorporating the Vischer's Ferry Bridge Company was passed by the State Legislature in 1828 giving the company a three-year exclusive right to build a bridge; enough investors couldn’t be found; the bridge was never built. [4]
In February 1900, engineers began planning and building a bridge at Vischer Ferry. In the spring of 1901, sections of the bridge were swept away by river ice. This resulted in the bridge being raised an additional three feet. Unfortunately, the spring floods of 1902 carried the entire bridge away. Again, the residents petitioned the State Legislature for a new bridge, and bills were offered from 1910 to 1928 for its creation, but none passed. All that remains of the 1900-1902 bridge are stone abutments. The ferry resumed operation after the collapse of the bridge and was eventually discontinued in about 1924. [5]
Eldert Vischer's children were Nanning, Nicholas, Simon, John, Maria, who married Michael Weldon, Elizabeth married Cornelius Vandenburg, and Alida married Rensselaer Jones. Nanning, it is understood was taken prisoner by the Indians rustling cows one night. He was in captivity for two years. It may be noticed, too, that John Vischer was a justice of the peace in 1770, and Nanning Vischer in 1772, and also in 1780. [6]
This is a pretty historic place. It’s been occupied from the late 1600’s (with a hint of slavery) to the present. Of the ferries in the area this one lasted by far the longest. It was replaced by a bridge, but because of bridge failures, the ferry came back and was used until the 1920’s. Thanks for watching the video; I hope you enjoyed it. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe, ring the bell and leave a comment. Hit the like button too please
[2] Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Philadelphia: Everts & Ensign, 1878, p. 473,474.
[3] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Bartlett Sylvester, History of Saratoga County, 473, 474.
Please check out my other videos. . . I have different playlists that include:
Interesting Places of Cultural & History
Cities-History/Culture
Trains/Railroads & Canals
Historic Cemeteries
Troy, NY History/Culture
The Baker Sheep Farm Archaeological Site
and of course, “shorts.”
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