Where Was New London's Steamboat Dock?

This 1911 "aero map" from the Library of Congress provides a detailed look at New London's central waterfront four years before Ellery Thompson went to work on the City of Lowell. The New York steamboat dock, Fishers Island pier, ferry slip and railroad station are at the center of the view.

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Below: This detail from a larger aerial photograph taken in 1923, eight years after Ellery's time on the Lowell, is notable for a look at the steamboat dock with a Sound boat preparing for evening departure. It could be the City of Lowell, the Chester W. Chapin, or the Richard Peck; all were similar in appearance.

At the top are the 19th century Central Vermont Railway Pier, lined with freight cars, and the new State Pier, opened in 1916 for ocean shipping.

U.S. National Archives "Airscapes" collection

Below: The aerial photograph corresponds to this 1928 map which shows the layout of the tracks and the components of the Public Landing, dominated by the large "New London Line" pier.

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Below: Henry Hobson Richardson's railroad station (left) fronted on The Parade, a square at the foot of State Street which was the commercial hub of the city. As today, access to the waterfront was through the gap between buildings and across the tracks.

Below: With trains, boats and ferries frequently arriving or departing, the Public Landing could be a busy place! For years a pedestrian bridge was required to handle the comings and goings, but was removed as foot traffic declined.

Above: Frank L. McGuire Maritime Library Photograph Collection

Below: In old pictures the steamboat wharf sign reads "Norwich Line to New York." The company had begun operations in the early 19th century at its namesake city, but when ever-larger boats were required to meet public demand, they could no longer navigate the upper Thames and New London became the terminal.

Below: The Chester W. Chapin operated for several years on the New London Line and was similar to Ellery Thompson's favorite, City of Lowell. The Fishers Island dock is at left, and the steamboat dock warehouse rises above the Chapin.

(The boat in the postcard below may also be the Chapin.)

Frank L. McGuire Maritime Library

Above: The New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad brought cargo for transshipment and received cargo from New York. The company's iconic semi-script name appears on the boxcar.