Yankee (ferry) facts for kids
Yankee as SS Machigonne, date unknown
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Yankee |
| Owner | Private ownership |
| Builder | Neafie & Levy |
| Yard number | 1004 |
| Christened | Dida |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Commissioned | (Into the US Navy): 15 May 1918 |
| Decommissioned | 1919? |
| In service |
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| Renamed | Machigonne, Hook Mountain, Block Island, League Island, Yankee |
| Reclassified | SP-1043 (Navy service) |
| Status | Operational but not in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ferry |
| Tonnage | 489 gross, 289 net |
| Length | 136 ft 6 in |
| Beam | 29 ft |
| Draft | 8 ft |
| Depth of hold | 9 ft 6 in |
| Installed power | 450 horsepower (original) |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engine; replaced 1947 by General Motors V12 diesel |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Armament | 2 × 1 pdrs (Navy service) |
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Machigonne
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| Location | Hudson River, Hoboken, New Jersey |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001610 |
| Added to NRHP | 3 December 1992 |
The Yankee (also known as Machigonne) is a historic ferry boat. It was built in the early 1900s. This ship is made of steel and is officially listed as a historic vessel. It is part of the National Register of Historic Places. The Yankee has had many jobs over the years. It has carried passengers, helped during wars, and even brought immigrants to America.
Contents
A Long Journey: Yankee's History
The Yankee was built in 1907 by a company called Neafie & Levy in Philadelphia. It was made for the Casco Bay and Harpswell Line. Some people think its first name was Dida. However, it was quickly known as Machigonne.
The Machigonne started its life carrying people. It traveled between Portland, Maine and the islands in Casco Bay. In 1913, the ship was sold. It then worked on a route connecting Boston, Nahant, and Pines Island in Massachusetts.
Helping Out: War Service
When America joined World War I, the U.S. Navy needed ships. They took over the Machigonne on October 2, 1917. On May 15, 1918, it became a Navy ship. Its new name was USS Machigonne (SP-1043).
During the war, the ship had two small guns for defense. It helped by moving soldiers and supplies. It traveled between Boston and a training station on Bumpkin Island. After the war ended in 1919, the Navy stopped using the ship. It went back to being a commercial ferry.
A New Life: Carrying Immigrants and Tourists
In 1921, a man named John E. Moore bought the ship. He moved it to New York Harbor. For the next eight years, the Machigonne had a very important job. It carried new immigrants from their big ships to Ellis Island. From there, it took them to the mainland.
Many immigrants had been below deck on their long journey across the ocean. The decks of the Machigonne gave them their first view of New York City. The ship also took tourists to see the Statue of Liberty.
In 1929, the ship was sold again. Captain Daniel F. McAllister bought it and renamed it Hook Mountain. For ten years, it worked as a tour boat. It took passengers from Battery Park to Liberty Island and Governors Island.
In 1939, the ship was sold to a company in Rhode Island. It was renamed Block Island. It was also called League Island when it was used during World War II. In 1947, the ship's old steam engine was replaced. It got a powerful new diesel engine. It was then renamed Yankee.
The Yankee then carried vacationers. It traveled from Providence to Block Island. This job lasted for many years. The ship stopped working commercially after the summer of 1983. It was then stored away for a while.
Saving a Piece of History: Restoration Efforts
In 1990, a private citizen named Jim Gallagher bought the Yankee. The ship was in poor condition. He towed it to Pier 25 in Tribeca, Manhattan. There, he started working to fix it up. Mr. Gallagher was allowed to live on the boat while he worked. To help pay for the repairs, he rented the boat for weddings and parties. In 1992, the Yankee was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historic site.
In 2003, Mr. Gallagher sold the boat to new owners. They promised to keep restoring it. In 2006, the boat moved to Hoboken, New Jersey. Even though it can move, the boat is not used for trips. It needs a special certificate to be allowed to travel safely on the water.
In 2013, the Yankee was moved to a dock in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Richard and Victoria MacKenzie-Childs bought the ship in 2003. They are still working on fixing up the inside. However, the ship needs more work on its hull (the main body of the boat). It needs to go into a drydock for repairs. This will help it become seaworthy again.
In 2018, the Yankee was listed for sale. It was in a drydock in Staten Island after more hull work. The listing described it as the oldest existing Ellis Island Ferry. It was set up as a home with 11 bedrooms. It was suggested it could become a public exhibit, event place, or restaurant.
See also
In Spanish: Machigonne (ferry) para niños
