Every Monday we share an image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia. Do you like this old postcard we found?
Have you ever seen it before? It’s part of a series called “Tichnor Quality Views” published by Tichnor Bros. Inc. from Boston, Massachusetts.
Do you recognize that ferry featured in the image? Do you know when it operated at the Essex crossing? What about the other boat? What can you tell us?
Below is what the community has already had to say — and it was a lot!
Greater Adirondack Ghost and Tour Company (Plattsburgh, NY): Ahhh, the old “Juniper,” a wonderfully storied vessel. Built in 1945 for the Pepsi Bottling Company, her original name was the “Big Bottle.” She was used by the company to ferry Pepsi trucks, equipment, etc. across the Hudson River down in New York City. A few years later, Big Bottle was purchased by the Lake Champlain Transportation Co. and began her career on the Essex-Charlotte crossing, re-named “Juniper” (likely after “Juniper Island.”) After her retirement from ferry service around 1970, Juniper passed through several hands before being bought by Captain Frank Pabst. Captain Frank converted her into a tour boat docked out of Plattsburgh where his dinner “booze cruises” became the stuff of legend. The plucky little vessel continued in this role for 25 years until she was finally retired for good and sold off the Lake. It is believed that the old Juniper met her end as scrap metal down in Troy around 2005.
Liz Wilson: A few years ago, I found a summer diary entry by my mom from the mid-sixties, saying that because we were the seventh or eighth car, we couldn’t get on the last ferry from the Charlotte side and had to drive around. I assume it had to be the Juniper!
Cally Talbot: My cousin and I took turns driving the ferry when we were teenagers. Wrong…….but fun!
Cary MacDougal Friday: I remember when the Juniper used to land by the Old Dock Restaurant. Hard to believe now!
Matt C. Morian: Having a summer house at The Crater Club during the 50’s and early 60’s — we rode Juniper many times. It’s amazing how big it seemed when I was a little kid.
Suzanne B. McSherry: Champy’s ossicones are visible in the foreground!
Tod Crouter: There’s the Little Jennie to the left!
Do you have anything else you’d like to point out? Leave a comment below.
Share Your Essex Artifacts
If you want to share your old photos of Essex (or brochures; postcards; menus; tickets; any artifact) on the blog please email us at editor [AT] essexonlakechamplain [DOT] com.
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- Vintage Postcard: Serene Boat Scene (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Hi Katie,
I live in an independent living facility in W. Hartford, Ct called the McAuley. In our art collection is an oil on board depicting the “Juniper”. The exact location is unknown. Our oil was painted by H. Soler. I matched up the image with your postcard image of the Juniper. Our oil shows four (4) cars as it pulls into a stone pier with a white house to the left. Can you tell me if this is Essex or Charlotte, VT??? Our oil is 16 x 20″ in a simple silver leaf frame. The oil is realistically painted . Do you know anything about the artist Soler?
Thanks, enjoyed you historical posting of the ferry. If you provide you cell # I can send a photo.
Allen Freshler, Resident Art Committee
In the postcard, it does note that the Juniper is operating between Charlotte, VT and Essex, NY. Though it’s possible it travelled to other Lake Champlain crossings while it was in use.
If in your painting there is a house next to the dock I’m guessing that is the Essex ferry dock. As there are no homes around the Charlotte dock (at least nowadays, it’s possible there were in the past?)
I’ve never heard of H. Soler myself. But maybe someone else in the community has and may chime in?
If you’d like to email a photo of the painting you can email editor@essexonlakechmaplain.com.