What follows is a letter to the New York Sun by John H. Hubbel from November 12, 1917.
To the Editor of the Sun — Sir: I have been reading the letters of the Mary Powell [built in 1861 and operated 55 years] and other boats on the Hudson River. I was born in Hudson, [Columbia County], NY in 1836, the son of Henry Hubbel of Hubbel, Clark & Co., owners of the steamer Fairfield. Later they bought a boat by the name of Columbia. She ran for a number of years and they bought the Oregon, which was sunk by the steamboat City of Boston [in 1863].
The Oregon started out from the foot of Harrison street and the City of Boston ran from the foot of Vestry street [Hudson River piers in New York City]. The City of Boston ran right through the Oregon‘s hull and she sank immediately. No lives were lost.
I wonder if any of the old timers remember the Hope, which ran from Hudson to Albany? It took her most all day to make the run between the cities. There was another line of boats running from Hudson to New York under the firm of Lovett R. Mellen & Co. They ran the steamboats Hudson and South America. There was an old boat named Westchester that ran from Hudson, but that was before I was born.
The firm of Hubbel, Clark & Co. ran two barges from Hudson, “Nos. 1 and 2.” The firm of Lovett R. Mellen & Co. also ran two barges, the Lovett R. Mellen and the Samuel Leeds. These boats carried hay and grain and other products.
At the time I speak of there were boats running from New York to Albany. They were the Isaac Newton, Hendrick Hudson and Niagara. I remember well the night of the wreck of the Swallow [in April 1845]. It was during an awful heavy thunderstorm and she ran on a rock a little north of Athens [in Greene County]. Some lives were lost, but I don’t remember the number.
I remember the Mary Powell when she was built and was on board when she made her trip down the bay and around New York Harbor. I was in the employ of Haviland, Clark & Co. at the time the Oregon sank [in 1883], and also in the employ of George H. Powers when the steamer Berkshire burned near Stormy Point [Storm King Mountain, in 1864]. I was also in the employ of the same firm when the Nupha was rebuilt from the Berkshire’s hull. She was a propeller.
While she was making her first trip down, the ice stove in her hull — broke the sides right in. Just where it happened I can’t remember. She was later raised and her named changed to Metropolitan, and she ran on the East River. I well remember the Alida, Armenia and Mattamoras.
I remember well the burning of the Henry Clay [in 1852, killing 50 of the 500 passengers] and the Reindeer [also in 1852]. A friend of mine, Charles Carpenter, now living at Hudson, was aboard when the boiler burst on the Reindeer [killing more than 25].
At the time of the Civil War [1861-1865] the Connecticut and Oregon ran from Hudson, and the Utica and Washington ran from Catskill. I think the Daniel Drew and the Chauncey Vibbard were the day boats to Albany.
The Niagara and Alida were later made into towboats and towed from Albany to New York. The Connecticut and Oswego also were made into towboats. I also remember the Francis Skiddy, a four piped, side wheeled boat, which ran on the Day Line.
This essay was transcribed by Hudson River Maritime Museum volunteer George A. Thompson and was slightly edited for clarity and annotated by John Warren.
Illustration: The Steamboat Mary Powell at dock at Rondout Creek (Donald C. Ringwald Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum).
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