Bulls Ferry facts for kids
Bulls Ferry, also known as Bull's Ferry, is a historic area located along the Hudson River in New Jersey. It's found just north of Weehawken Port Imperial, stretching across parts of West New York, Guttenberg, and North Bergen. This place got its name from the Bull family, who lived here before the American Revolution. They ran a simple ferry service, using rowboats and sails, to carry people across the river to the growing city of New York.
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Bulls Ferry During the Revolution
During the Revolutionary War, Bulls Ferry was an important spot. The British army built a small fort there called a blockhouse. This blockhouse was like a strong, small building used for defense. The British called this area Block House Point.
The Battle of Bull's Ferry
The blockhouse at Bulls Ferry saw several small fights between the British and American soldiers. One important event was the Battle of Bull's Ferry on July 20, 1780.
General Anthony Wayne, a brave American leader, led his troops from New Bridge Landing to attack the British blockhouse. After this raid, the British soldiers left the blockhouse. They moved to another fort located at Bergen Neck.
A Key Crossing Point
For many years, Bulls Ferry was a very important place to cross the Hudson River. It was as crucial as Burdett's Landing to the north. Ferry services continued here for several decades.
From Rowboats to Steam
Eventually, faster steam ferries began to operate, especially from Hoboken. These modern ferries replaced the older, slower rowboat services. Larger ferry terminals were built nearby, like those in Edgewater to the north and the West Shore Railroad Terminal to the south. These big terminals operated until the 1950s.
Today, modern ferries still take people to Manhattan from places like Weehawken Port Imperial, Hoboken, and Paulus Hook in Jersey City.
Roads to the Ferry
Several roads used to wind down the steep Hudson Palisades cliffs to reach the ferry slip.
Historic Roads
- Bull's Ferry Road was the original name for what are now Park Avenue and Woodcliff Avenues in North Hudson.
- A part of Bull's Ferry Road still exists today. It winds around the Stonehenge Tower and goes down from Boulevard East to River Road in North Bergen.
- Another road, simply called Ferry Road, passes under the Galaxy Towers. These towers overlook the neighborhood.
- The actual ferry slip was close to a part of Edgewater once known as Shadyside.
Modern Development
Since the 1980s, the Bulls Ferry area has changed a lot. What used to be industrial and shipping areas at the base of the Palisades cliffs have been replaced. Now, you'll find homes, hospitals, and parks.
New Buildings and Parks
- The Palisades Medical Center is a major hospital in the area.
- The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is a popular path along the water's edge.
- The main road in this area is called River Road.
- You can get around using New Jersey Transit bus routes 158 and 188 or NY Waterway buses, which connect to Weehawken Port Imperial.
In April 2011, the towns of Guttenberg and North Bergen decided to work together. They agreed to build a new park south of the Palisades Medical Center. This park includes a lovely waterfront path, which is part of the longer Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. This walkway is a long path along the water that stretches from Bayonne all the way to Fort Lee.
