“The steamboat Old Forge has been equipped as a mail boat exclusively, and will serve the cottages, camps and hotels along the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Through this new mail service letters and papers are collected and delivered at the various camps four times a day. A Government mail clerk receives the mail from the trains, and sorts it on the boat en route through the chain. Each of the camps on the chain has an individual mail pouch, and these are thrown to the docks from the mail boat.” -- NEW YORK TIMES, July 12 (1902)
(The article quoted above was located through the diligent research efforts of
Town of Webb Historian, Peg Masters.)
Other Previous Fulton Chain Mailboats |
Mailboat on 4th Lake * |
USAMA Mailboat * |
103 Years & Still Serving the Fulton Chain |
Before there were roads north of Old Forge, the only way residents got their mail, was to make their way into town by canoe, horseback or on foot.
Then President Benjamin Harrison, whose family spent many summers at their camp on Second Lake, Pine Acres, convinced Congress to institute mailboat service on the Fulton Chain. The Mailboat’s inaugural voyage was on July 12, 1902.
Today Old Forge Lake Cruises is proud to continue serving this historic mailboat route through the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. The Fulton Chain mailboat route is one of the longest-running fresh-water mailboat routes in the country.
Unlike your local postal delivery person who drives or walks his daily route, our Captains cruises the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain, sounding the horn as they enter each lake, then skillfully pulling the President Harrison up to each dock, while the deckhand swiftly exchanges mail bags and packages with the resident on the dock. It’s really something to watch, especially when there’s a large parcel to deliver
Be a part of the Fulton Chain’s living history!
Mailboat delivery service is free to residents with a dock deemed accessible by the Captain. Each residence must provide the Mailboat with two mailbags, one for outgoing and one for incoming mail.
The President Harrison, the Fulton Chain’s current Mailboat
The President Harrison, a 35’ diesel-powered, steel replica of one of the early mailboats, delivers mail and packages to up to 70 camps and cottages along the shores of the Fulton Chain June 1st through September 15th, Monday through Saturday, departing at the 9:45am for a three-hour cruise. The President Harrison carries only 10 passengers, so advance ticketing is strongly recommended for the Mailboat Cruise. Ticket can be purchased on our site or by phone (315/369-6473) through the Old Forge Lake Cruises ticket office.
Send a friend or loved one a letter or postcard with the
Mailboat’s own postmark!
* Antique postcard images courtesy of the Town of Webb Historical Association |
|
*
