Night Boat to New England, 1815-1900

(Hardback)

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Description

Taking the subject of much lore as the topic of his book, Dunbaugh has written a carefully researched, comprehensive history of the overnight steamboat on Long Island Sound. In the nineteenth century, these steamboats provided the major means of transportation from New York to ports in southern New England or from Boston north to ports on the coast of Maine. Earlier accounts have either focused on the lore or been heavy with statistical data. Dunbaugh here provides a readable narrative history based on solid research. The book's approach is chronological, discussing the early steamboat era, 1815-1835, in the first chapter and the feeder lines developing with the advent of the railroad in chapter 2. Chapter 3 covers the Vanderbilt era of the 1840s, while the next chapter turns to the Great Fall River Line, 1847-1854. Chapter 5 discusses the years from 1854 to 1861, a period of stability, and chapter 6 covers the Civil War years. Chapters on the era of Fisk and Gould and the Depression and Recovery of 1873-1880 follow. The final chapter covers the last decade of the independent lines and of the century. This volume will be of interest to historians specializing in the history of technology, business, or economic history--as well as to those interested in the history of steamboat transportation.

Reviews

A thorough, scholarly, and interesting contribution to historical literature.-The American Neptune
Beginning early in 1815, the first steamboat service between New York and New Haven ushered in a transportation revolution that would reach all New England ports from Connecticut to Maine and the Maritimes beyond. During the 19th century, numerous independent overnight lines competed with each other. Some disappeared; others survived. Tales of behind-the-scenes maneuvers and cutthroat competition appear in these pages. The linkage between steamers and connecting railroads is explained. In chronological order, ten chapters recount the story of both the Long Island Sound steamers and those operating along the Maine coast. The narrative ends as these independent lines become part of the Eastern and New England steamship companies, the two dominant lines of the 20th century. Dunbaugh's previous work, Era of the Joy Line (1982) treats this topic into the pre-WW I era. A wealth of detail, especially on the operations of the steamers themselves, on disasters, and on the evolution of service to each port, recommends this book to everyone with an interest in New England history. It certainly will take its place as an essential reference work on the overnight steamer services along the New England coast.-Choice
Edwin Dunbaugh's absorbing narrative presents the history of water travel from Long Island to various places in New England in the decades that followed the development of the steamboat, and especially in the eighty years following the supreme court decision in Gibbons v. Ogden, which ended steamboat monopolies in interstate waters....the author's thorough coverage of the subject provides food for every taste.-New York State Historical Association
It is an ideal reference book for anyone wishing to check on a specific steamboat. For anyone interested in nineteenth-century overnight steamboats, their technology, and their history, wading through this volume will be worth it.- The Historian
Night Boat is a fun read' for those interested in the history of the unregulated age of business competition as well as steamer aficionados.-The New England Quarterly
The book is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the maritime history of the 19th century. It is essential for any student of the American night boat or of coastal steamboats. Indeed it immediately became this reviewer's standard reference for New England overnight steamers of the period.-The Steamship Historical Society
"A thorough, scholarly, and interesting contribution to historical literature."-The American Neptune
"Edwin Dunbaugh's absorbing narrative presents the history of water travel from Long Island to various places in New England in the decades that followed the development of the steamboat, and especially in the eighty years following the supreme court decision in Gibbons v. Ogden, which ended steamboat monopolies in interstate waters....the author's thorough coverage of the subject provides food for every taste."-New York State Historical Association
"It is an ideal reference book for anyone wishing to check on a specific steamboat. For anyone interested in nineteenth-century overnight steamboats, their technology, and their history, wading through this volume will be worth it."- The Historian
"Night Boat is a fun read' for those interested in the history of the unregulated age of business competition as well as steamer aficionados."-The New England Quarterly
"The book is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the maritime history of the 19th century. It is essential for any student of the American night boat or of coastal steamboats. Indeed it immediately became this reviewer's standard reference for New England overnight steamers of the period."-The Steamship Historical Society
"Beginning early in 1815, the first steamboat service between New York and New Haven ushered in a transportation revolution that would reach all New England ports from Connecticut to Maine and the Maritimes beyond. During the 19th century, numerous independent overnight lines competed with each other. Some disappeared; others survived. Tales of behind-the-scenes maneuvers and cutthroat competition appear in these pages. The linkage between steamers and connecting railroads is explained. In chronological order, ten chapters recount the story of both the Long Island Sound steamers and those operating along the Maine coast. The narrative ends as these independent lines become part of the Eastern and New England steamship companies, the two dominant lines of the 20th century. Dunbaugh's previous work, Era of the Joy Line (1982) treats this topic into the pre-WW I era. A wealth of detail, especially on the operations of the steamers themselves, on disasters, and on the evolution of service to each port, recommends this book to everyone with an interest in New England history. It certainly will take its place as an essential reference work on the overnight steamer services along the New England coast."-Choice

Author Bio

EDWIN L. DUNBAUGH is Professor of Humanities at Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. His most recent books are William H. Webb: Shipbuilder (1989) and The Era of the Joy Line: A Saga of Steamboating on Long Island Sound (Greenwood Press, 1982).