Nearly 140 Years Ago, The East River Froze Solid—And New Yorkers Paid 2 Cents To Walk Across It When The Ferries Stopped Running

Typically, when we think about crossing the East River, we’re checking the ferry app or bracing for the L train. But nearly 140 years ago, New Yorkers did something far more unhinged (and frankly, very on-brand): they just walked across it. No magical powers involved–just sheer guts, a few ladders, and a two-cent toll. When we complain about winter in NYC today–trench coat buttoned to the top, Uniqlo HEATTECH doing its absolute best–it’s hard to imagine the city being colder than the current “feels like it should be illegal” temperatures. But in March of 1888, New York experienced a storm so brutal it brought the entire city to a terrifying, icy standstill. Enter: the Great Blizzard of 1888. ❄️ The Storm That Froze NYC In Time ----------------------------------- From March 11 to March 14, 1888, a massive Nor’easter ferociously tore through the East Coast, dumping up to 58 inches of snow. Snowdrifts climbed over 50 feet high in some areas, winds reached hurricane strength, and New York City essentially...stopped functioning. The storm would come to be known as both the “Storm of the Century” and the “Great White Hurricane,” as reported by *Brownstoner*. And judging by the iconic photos of Victorian-era New Yorkers standing next to eight-foot snowbanks, the names were well-earned. According to the History Channel, temperatures plunged dramatically overnight. They wrote: > On March 10, temperatures in the Northeast hovered in the mid-50s. But on March 11, cold Arctic air from Canada collided with Gulf air from the south and temperatures plunged. Rain turned to snow and winds reached hurricane-strength levels. By midnight on March 11, gusts were recorded at 85 miles per hour in New York City. Along with heavy snow, there was a complete whiteout in the city when the residents awoke the next morning. ⛴️ When The Ferry Fails, New Yorkers Improvise ---------------------------------------------- In 1888, there was no subway (the first line wouldn’t open until 1904). And if the ferries couldn’t break through the ice, Brooklynites were effectively stranded. So, naturally, they looked at the frozen abyss and said, “Yeah, I can make that.” Translation: they walked across the river. Both *The New York Times* and *The Brooklyn Eagle* documented the moment crowds began crossing the ice. The *Times* wrote: > People yesterday crossed the East River on ice...The ice was fully six inches thick and covered with two inches more of hard snow...A boy with a ladder...came along and, planting his ladder upon the ice, scrambled down from the dock and jumped up and down several times to test its strength...Thus assured of the strength of the ice, one after another paid the boy his two-cent fee for the use of his ladder, and scrambled down upon the ice. Yes, a literal child was the gatekeeper of the East River commute. Hundreds made the crossing before the NYPD, fearing the tides would break the ice and strand pedestrians mid-commute, put an end to the “ice bridge.” (Which was a fair concern–it actually did happen to a few unlucky adventurers!) 🌨️ The Blizzard That Changed NYC Forever ---------------------------------------- The chaos of the storm exposed just how fragile the city’s infrastructure was. At the time, NYC relied on a massive system of elevated train lines, but the el was left buried and immobilized, leaving up to 15,000 people stranded. Telegraph lines snapped. Gas and water lines froze. Wall Street closed for days. Sadly, more than 200 people died in NYC alone. But the aftermath reshaped the city. Officials quickly realized that overhead utilities and trains weren’t built for extreme weather. Within a decade, New York began moving essential infrastructure underground–laying the groundwork for the subway system we still rely on today (yes, even when it’s delayed). 🥶 Believe It Or Not, This Wasn’t A One-Time Thing ------------------------------------------------- Think that was the last time New Yorkers casually strolled across frozen waterways? Think again. On February 9, 1934 –one of the coldest days in recorded NYC history, with temperatures dropping to -15°F–the Hudson River froze solid. Roughly 500 people walked across the ice between Newburgh and Beacon. So the next time your ferry is delayed, your train is mysteriously “held at the station,” or winter feels personally targeted at you, remember: New Yorkers once looked at a frozen East River and said, yeah, that’ll work. At least today’s commute doesn’t require paying a kid two cents and hoping the ice holds! Source: https://secretnyc.co/east-river-froze-solid-march-1888-people-walked-across-it/