Since it was launched in 1907, the Yankee Ferry has shuttled immigrants from Ellis Island, probed Boston Harbor for German subs in World War I, and relayed more than 1,000 soldiers onto military ships in World War II. Nowadays, the 104-year-old vessel is docked on the Hoboken waterfront and serves as a full-time house for home furnishing designers Richard and Victoria Mackenzie-Childs.
The couple purchased the boat 10 years ago after the previous owner did a “phenomenal amount of restoration,” Richard Mackenzie-Childs said last week, including replacement of the top deck, which had rotted off. The boat is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Five years ago, they were docked in Manhattan, but pier repairs sparked the move to the New Jersey side. They pay the Shipyard Marina to dock there and use the pier; the ship is not certified for voyages.
“I was waist-deep in tires.” – Victoria Mackenzie-Childs
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They are hosting their bi-annual open house, or rather an open boat, on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23. There, they will show off a new garden idea, give tours of the boat, and display their decorative home furnishings.
They will also be featured on the Hoboken Historical Museum’s Secret Garden Tour on Sunday, June 6 because of the new urban renewal garden on the pier, which uses old tires for planters.
‘Polka dot garden’
Last week, while Victoria Mackenzie-Childs was picking up old tires for boat bumpers, she had an artistic vision to start a “polka dot garden” on the closed pier next to her boat.
Pulling rain-filled tires out of dumpster muck at the city garage may not seem like particularly fertile ground for brainstorming, but Mackenzie-Childs said the idea grew from a conversation. She was talking to a friend about how he was growing tomatoes in his backyard, and a shiphand from the boat mentioned growing herbs on the top deck.
Just then, she envisioned tires dotting the pier and being filled with growth. After two more trips to the garage for tires, they were ready; within days, the project was being implemented.
The 88 tires are spaced for design and inside each one they are planting corn stalks, heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, and squash.
Her husband said that she had never been very hands-on with the gardening at their permanent home in upstate New York, but he was excited for the new project.
Now, they hope to make the project sustainable by asking residents to sponsor a planter, or “polka dot,” for $100, which pays for supplies and irrigation.
Residents of the Shipyard condo building can see the pier from their windows, as can people using the nearby dog run.
“This is sort of a derelict pier…To be bringing it back to life is wonderful, I think,” she said. “That’s what art does. It should inspire people.”
Nicky, a resident of the Shipyard building, sponsored the first planter on behalf of her dog, Mac. “It looks great,” she said.
The Historical Museum also sponsored a planter.
When the crops come to harvest, Victoria said the yield will be put along the waterfront promenade free for the taking, with a donation container for the project.
For more information about sponsoring a “polka dot” planter on the pier, visit wwwvictoriaandrichardemprise.com.
Open boat
Their open boat event this weekend includes tours of their ship and historical information. The event is $10 per person (children are free) and some of the proceeds will support restoration of the boat. A portion of the proceeds also will benefit the Historical Museum. “Polka dot pies” and lemonade will be offered to visitors.
Bob Foster, the museum director, was instrumental in bringing the boat to the mile-square city.
“He thought it would be a great thing to have in Hoboken,” Richard said. He added that there’s been more interest in having the boat in Hoboken than there was in having it docked at the Hudson River Park on Manhattan’s west side.
“Everyone we talked to in Hoboken was supportive,” Richard said. “I think the neighborhood appreciates [the boat].”
He said the couple was not particularly interested in boating before purchasing the ship, although he had taken sailing lessons.
But “Since then, its been one exciting adventure after another,” Richard said.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.