The ferry schedule in the 1950’s
We have no reason to complain about occasional interruptions to the ferry schedules today, if you consider how much planning you had to do back in the old days.
We couldn’t pass up this postcard on eBay. We paid a whole $2 for it.
Lynda McLaughlin, who lived on St. John back in the 1950’s, remembers the old days.
“When my family first came to the islands, the ‘government boat’ ran twice a day, one trip in the morning and one in the afternoon,” Lynda says. “And that was only on weekends and Tuesdays and Thursdays. That was 1953. Today, the ferry service is quite an enterprise.”
Life in general sounds a little different. Lynda says Bethany School had no electricity or running water, there weren’t paved roads and there was only one policeman, who mostly spent his time giving driving tests.
“Our milk was delivered in old rum bottles with twisted brown paper for corks and transported to us in wooden packing boxes attached on each side of a donkey. Quite an adventure.”
Lynda, who lives in Connecticut now, is an artist and children’s book author, and devotes her work to her fond memories of growing up and spending most of her life in the Caribbean. Check out her Website!
July 4th, 2009 06:48
WOW….no Beach Bar, how did they survive? Seriously….great information, really enjoy hearing about the island history
July 4th, 2009 07:43
In 1977, we were allowed to drive our 1968 “Willys Jeep” onto the STJ ferry dock to pick up our grocery boxes from the boat. My, how things have changed on St. John!
Happy Carnival!
July 4th, 2009 08:05
Gretchen…that would not work these days. There’s a fence that prevents all sorts of bad behavior
July 4th, 2009 08:55
Jeff,
You need to make a documentary using all of the tidbits of island history – That was then, this is now. Go to the exact locations and take comparison photos etc. Just a suggestion!
Happy 4th!
July 4th, 2009 09:39
Is the “Landing Pier” on the postcard in the same location as today’s ferry dock??
July 4th, 2009 20:00
In 1970 the ferry ran on the hour until 7 p.m. Many nights I sat in a rum shop playing dominoes at Red Hook…and yes we drove right out on the dock to pick us stuff!
Once I ordered paint to be sent over on the ferry. It came on an earlier boat than I expected. One of the crew brought it to my house with only my first name on the boxes. This has happened at the Post Office also, getting mail with only my first name!
July 6th, 2009 06:19
I think a link to a new/other page is needed. Old St John pictures and tales.
July 6th, 2009 09:09
Very nice! Milk in old rum bottles? Hmm.