Ferries Across the River

Brochure advertising New Castle-Pennsville Ferry as part of the fastest long-distance route along the East Coast.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society.

The River as Highway

Before major bridges spanned the region’s waterways, ferries played a vital role in everyday life—connecting communities, commerce, and culture across rivers. At New Castle, Delaware, the Delaware River itself once served not as a barrier, but as a bustling avenue of travel, communication, and trade.

Early Ferry Service Between New Castle and Salem

While sail-powered packet boats and, later, steamboats carried people and goods over longer river distances, ferries offered more frequent, convenient crossings. They moved passengers, livestock, cargo, mail, and news from shore to shore. Records of ferry service between New Castle and Salem, New Jersey date as far back as 1724. By 1801, a legislative act granted a monopoly for regular service. A 1805 survey by Benjamin Latrobe even marked the ferry house at the corner of The Strand and Harmony Street—now 57 The Strand.

A Transportation Hub in the Early 19th Century

Reliable ferry service fueled New Castle’s economy. In the early 19th century, passengers crossing the Delaware River could disembark in New Castle and continue their journeys by stagecoach - or later by the New Castle–Frenchtown Railroad, which crossed the peninsula to Frenchtown, Maryland. From there, packet boats offered service to Baltimore and beyond.

Many travelers paused in New Castle, staying overnight at local inns, dining in taverns, or purchasing supplies. The town’s strategic position made it not just a stopover, but a key hub for overland and waterborne travel.

Automobiles and the Return of Ferry Travel

The 20th century brought automobiles to the masses—and with them, a transformation in American travel. Roads around New Castle received improvement to accommodate the rising number of automobiles. These improved roads made driving to other parts of the state and beyond easier. While better roads helped local travel, crossing major rivers remained a challenge. Ferries once again filled the gap.

Competing Ferry Lines in the 1920s

By the mid-1920s, New Castle hosted two competing automobile ferry lines. The White Line used a terminal at the Delaware Street wharf, while the Wilson Line operated from a terminal at the end of Chestnut Street. These services connected Delaware highways with those in New Jersey, forming part of a new, continuous driving route from New England to Florida.

Auto Tourism and Economic Growth

Roads and cars continued to improve throughout the first half of the twentieth century, and the popularity of taking road trips soared. The emerging trend of auto tourism brought significant financial benefits to New Castle. Local businesses that catered to ferry traffic continued to flourish, amplified by the increased visitation. For example, a local meat market sold millions of hot dogs to ferry customers every year.

The End of Ferry Service

The ease of car travel brought more visitors into town for leisure, and New Castle’s reputation as a charming historic town spread, largely because of its role as a ferry embarkation point. This growing recognition helped spark support for preservation during the post-WWI Colonial Revival movement. On August 15, 1951, ferry service ended permanently with the completion of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Although no longer on the major thoroughfare, New Castle remains a historic city that attracts tourists from across the region as a destination in its own right.

The ship Bay Belle, part of the Wilson Line, carried passengers along the Delaware River.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society.

Archway advertising ferry access to New Castle-Pennsville Ferries.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society.

Cars line up waiting to get on a ferry at the ferry terminal.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society.

A ferry taking off from the ferry terminal.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society.

Advertisement from 1872 promoting a new ferry line from Penns Grove, New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware.

Courtesy of the New Castle Historical Society

Cars lining up at the ferry terminal waiting for the ferry.

Courtesy of New Castle Historical Society.

Historic Benchmarks

This article is part of a series titled Historic Benchmarks: New Castle and the Making of a Nation which was created in partnership with the Delaware250, New Castle Historical Society, Old New Castle Outdoor Recreation Coalition, the City of New Castle, and The Trustees of the New Common.

References:

Arnold, H. (1994). The Tides Led the Town: A Recent History of the Waterfront, New Castle, Delaware. New Castle, Delaware: New Castle Historical Society.

Benson, B. E., & Hoffecker, C. E. (2021). New Castle, Delaware: A Walk Through Time. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press.

New Castle Historical Society. (1986). The Best of 'Behind the Times': Selected Columns About New Castle by Nicholas S. McIntire. New Castle, Delaware: New Castle Historical Society.