1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration
The Fourth Annual Report on the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission
to the Legislature of the State of New York, May 20, 1910

From Saturday, September 25, to Monday, October 11, 1909, the State of New York commemorated the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson in 1609 and the 100th anniversary of the first successful application of steam to navigation upon that River by Robert Fulton in 1807. The creation of a full scale replica of Henry Hudson's Half Moon was one of the accomplishments of this celebration, and this chapter describes how the Half Moon replica was designed and built.

CHAPTER 7

THE BUILDING OF THE HALF MOON

The building of the Half Moon, either in Holland or America, was contemplated from the very outset, as appears from the minutes of the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Hudson Tercentenary Joint Committee on December 16, 1905, at which it was “recommended as an instructive and picturesque feature of the water celebration that a facsimile of the Half Moon be built, in Holland if possible, otherwise in America, and that it should arrive in the harbor and proceed up to Albany and return, duplicating the anchorages of the original ship, with local demonstrations en route.”

The Half Moon with Crew on Forecastle

The Half Moon View of The Stern

In the summer of 1906, the Assistant Secretary of the Commission, by whom the foregoing recommendation was made, visited Holland and made researches in the museums and libraries with a view to preparing authentic data for the construction of the vessel if it should be determined upon. On November 26, 1906, the late Rear Admiral Joseph B. Coghlan, U. S. N., then Chairman of the Naval Parade Committee, recommended that plans be secured for building the Half Moon and Clermont so as to permit estimates to be made of the time and cost of construction, but the preparations for building the Half Moon on the American side of the ocean were eventually discontinued as the result of the very agreeable intimation that the people of Holland would like to contribute the Half Moon to the Celebration.

On January 17, 1908, Jonkheer R. de Marees van Swinderen, then Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands to the United States, called in his personal capacity at the office of the Secretary of the Commission in order to express the great interest which the people of Holland took in the approaching Commemoration and to inform himself concerning the plans of the Commission before returning to his own country. The Minister was given very full information concerning the Commission’s plans and in the informal discussion which ensued and in which, it was inferred, he desired to elicit some suggestion as to an acceptable form of participation, the building of the Half Moon was suggested and met with his favor. A few weeks later, Jonkheer van Swinderen returned to the Netherlands and became Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in which official position, the event showed, he forwarded the plan for building the Half Moon in Holland and presenting it to the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission.

Meanwhile, on January 22, 1908, Mr. Tunis G. Bergen, with a view to fostering the feeling of international good will and promoting cooperation, proposed the election of five distinguished Hollanders as Foreign Correspondent Councilors, and on May 27 they were elected. (For their names, see Chapter LXII.) This cooperation was further promoted by Mr. Bergen and Mr. August F. Jaccaci, members of the Commission, by correspondence and personal visits to Holland.

The interest of the Hollanders crystallized into definite form at a meeting of a small number of prominent citizens held in the Hague, April 11, 1908, upon the invitation of Vice Admiral A. G. Ellis, Adjutant Extraordinary of Her Majesty the Queen, Baron AE. Mackay, Minister of State, and the Hon. J. C. de Marez Oyens, ex-Minister of Water Department, Commerce and Industry. The result of this meeting was the formation of the Netherlands Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission with His Royal Highness, the Prince of the Netherlands, Duke of Mecklenburg, as Patron, and the decision to build the Half Moon. (The members of this Commission, whose names are given in Chapter LXII following, were elected Honorary Foreign Councilors of the New York State Commission on June 23, 1909.)

Dutch Offer Half Moon

Research Concerning the Vessel

Meanwhile the Hollanders had been making independent researches of their own, in the course of which they found the complete plans of the Half Moon’s sister ship, the Hope, which was built by the Dutch East India Company, and which was rigged, fitted, inventoried and cost the same as the Half Moon. They also found a unique engraving made by J. Sanredam and published in Amsterdam in 1606 by Willem Jansz Blaeu, representing the water front of Amsterdam with many ships of different types, including the type of the Half Moon; and they found guidance in Nicholas Witsen’s “Present and Past Day Shipbuilding,” published in Amsterdam in 1671. From these data, together with some models of old ships found in a private collection in Amsterdam, particulars gained from the East India Company’s papers, and doubtless other aids of which we have not been advised, the Hollanders formed their own conception of the Half Moon.

Happily, the results of these two independent investigations agreed, and on June 1, 1908, Admiral Röell wrote to Admiral Coghlan: “I was pleased to see that the information you gave coincides with our own investigations about said vessel. We are now ready to fulfill our plan of constructing a ship entirely similar to the Half Moon.”

Building the Half Moon

Launching of the Half Moon at Amsterdam

For material, the Dutch Government gave the Committee some great balks of oak timber which had lain submerged in water in the wet dock at the Navy Yard for over a hundred years. The dates were stamped on them. These were dried and sawed up to make the timbers. The knees are natural knees. Her planking is about four inches thick on the sides, and she has 36 tons of ballast in her. She cost $40,000. The keel was laid October 29, 1908, and the ship was launched April 15, 1909.

Half Moon Lowered from Deck of Soestijk in New York Navy Yard, July 23, 1909

She was taken by water to Rotterdam and there placed on board the Holland-America Line steamship Soestdyk, by which she was brought to New York, arriving July 22, 1909. The Soestdyk proceeded to the Navy Yard in Brooklyn, where the Half Moon was hoisted from her cradle and was placed in her native element again July 23. As the Half Moon was built of selected oak and was a real vessel in every respect, she could have sailed the seas as well as her prototype, but she was brought over on the deck of a modern steamship as a matter of convenience.

In anticipation of the arrival of the Half Moon, the Hon. A. M. Beauprè, American Ambassador to the Netherlands, wrote to the Secretary of State at Washington, under date of June 2, 1908, communicating the request of Admiral Röell that the Half Moon and her furnishings be exempted from the United States customs duties; and on June 24 the Federal authorities very courteously instructed the Collector of Customs at New York to admit the vessel duty free.

Upon her arrival the Half Moon became the special charge of the Commission’s Half Moon Committee, of which Capt. Herbert L. Satterlee, formerly Assistant Secretary of the Navy, is Chairman; and by the courtesy of Rear Admiral (then Captain) J. B. Murdock, U. S. N., Commandant of the Navy Yard, and with the invaluable personal attention of Naval Constructor Baxter, she was cared for at the Navy Yard until put into commission for the celebration. On August 30, Shipwright Benthem arrived, and during the next three weeks supervised the rigging of the vessel and otherwise completing her preparation for the Celebration. A few days before the Celebration opened, the warship Utrecht, of the Royal Netherlands Navy, arrived and supplied the crew for the Half Moon, Lieutenant-Commander W. Lam personifying Henry Hudson, and Lieutenant A. de Bruijne taking the character of Hudson s Mate. The crew of 20 men were dressed in costumes of the period of Hudson’s voyage.

We may now describe the Half Moon as she set forth from the Navy Yard on Saturday, September 25, 1909, to take part in the opening ceremonies of the Celebration, reserving to future chapters an account of the ceremonies attending her formal presentation and subsequent movements.

Description of Half Moon

The hull of the new Half Moon is tarred below the water line and has a uniform brownish color above with the exceptions noted hereafter. In general form, the hull has a full round bow and a full broad bottom. From the bow projects an ornamental galleon or beakhead. At the forward extremity of the beakhead is the figure-head — a red lion with golden mane. The bow of the ship is painted green with red and yellow ornaments in the shape of little sailors’ heads. Three anchors are hauled up to the channels, two on one side and one on the other. The sides of the ship fall in rapidly above a line about midway between the upper and lower decks, giving her cross-section a pear-shape. The high forecastle at the bow and the high poop aft further add to her quaint appearance. The sides of the poop are painted sky blue with white clouds. The high pear-shaped stern is beautifully carved and decorated. In the uppermost panel of the stern upon a blue background studded with yellow stars, is a yellow crescent moon with the profile of the “Man in the moon” in the concavity of the crescent. In the panel below this, above the windows of the Captain’s cabin, are the arms of Amsterdam with its three crosses, the arms of the Seven Provinces (the red lion on a gold background) and the monogram of the Amsterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company. The latter consists of the initials “V. 0. C.,” standing for “Vereenigde OostIndische Compagnie” (United East India Company), surmounted by the initial “A” standing for Amsterdam. The five knees supporting the transom are carved to represent human heads and painted yellow. Above the stern is an ornate lantern.

Masts, Sails and Flags

Half Moon Afloat in New York Harbor

Upon the bowsprit is a staff carrying a jack—a small flag of orange, white and blue, the colors being arranged alternately and radiating from the center. At the foretop is the flag of Amsterdam — a tri-color of red, white and black with the arms of Amsterdam in the white field. At the maintop is the flag of the United Seven Provinces — upon a gold field, a red lion rampant, bearing in one forepaw a sword and in the other seven arrows. The mizzen-mast is surmounted by a small vane. From a staff at the stern floats the flag of the East India Company. This is the national tri-color of orange, white and light blue (reading downward). In the center of the white stripe is the monogram of the Amsterdam Chamber of the East India Company before described.

Half Moon's Decks

The hold, 5 feet 10.9 inches deep, just allows a man of average height to stand erect on the bottom of the ship without striking his head on the timbers of the deck above. It is open from stem to stern without compartments, and, being mostly below the water line, has no ports, the only access and ventilation being through the fore and main hatches.

The ‘tween-deck space is very cramped, as there is scarcely four feet space between the deck and the planking of the upper deck. At the forward end are the hawse-holes for the anchors. Upon this deck are the two “heavy guns” of the little craft projecting from portholes on either side of the ship, about midway between the foremast and mainmast. These pieces are of 800 pounds each and about 8 centimeters calibre. On the walls are rammers, sponges, gunners’ ladles, match-sticks, ball extractor, lanterns and pikes.

The Half Moon 'Tween Deck, View Forward Showing Guns

The Half Moon 'Tween Deck, Showing the Cook's Galley

Nearly opposite the mainmast on either side is another porthole. Against the mast is stowed one of the water casks. Just abaft the mainmast on the starboard side is a little pantry, the berth of the steward and a closet. In the corresponding position on the port side is a kitchen or galley. This latter contains a tiled fireplace with brass-topped andirons, a pair of iron tongs and a poker. A brass fire-chain suspended from the top of the fireplace holds the pots and kettles over the fire. Outside the fireplace on a shelf, are a brass skimmer, a brass snuffer, and various kitchen utensils. Under the shelf are peat and wood for fuel. On the wall is a sulphur-stick box.

Back of the galley is the berth of the cook and another closet. Aft of the latter is a sailroom. Between the mainmast and mizzen-mast is the spindle of the windlass which comes down through the upper deck. Just abaft the mizzen-mast the after part of the ship is divided off by a bulkhead. On the starboard side within this compartment is the powder magazine containing the gunner’ s necessaries; and opposite to it on the portside is the ironplated breadroom for foodstuffs. In the space between the magazine and breadroom plays the tiller of the rudder. At the forward end of the tiller is fastened a whipstaff or jacktiller, a sort of wooden handle or lever which goes up vertically through the upper deck just abaft the mizzen-mast and by which the ship is steered from the upper deck. In the stern, on either side of the sternpost, is a porthole.

At the forward end of the upper deck is the forecastle, the sleeping-place of the crew, containing five berths. Each berth can hold two men if necessary. In the forecastle, after the manner of the ancient time, there are three brass tablets bearing inscriptions, which, translated, read as follows: “Honor thy father and thy mother,” “Do not fight without cause,” and “Good advice makes the wheels run smoothly.” Between the forecastle and the mainmast is stowed the ship’s boat — a chunky little rowboat with half round ends, about 12 feet long and 5 feet wide. Near the rail are two swivel-guns, pieces of 100 pounds each with a calibre of 3 .2 millimeters.

The Half Moon Upper Deck View Looking Forward

The Half Moon Upper Deck, View Looking Aft

Just back of the mainmast is a great wooden post or bitt, carved in the shape of the head and bust of a man and fitted with a block or pulley through which pass some of the halyards used to hoist the yards. This block was variously called the “big man-servant,” the “silent servant,” and the “knight”— "knight-head” in English. Through the deck on the port side over the galley on the deck below issues the smokestack of the fireplace, which can be unshipped at will. About midway between the mainmast and mizzen-mast is the windlass. Just back of the latter is the ship’s pump. Directly abaft the mizzen-mast, where the whipstaff connecting with the tiller comes up through the deck, and, protected by a little roof or hood, is the standing-place of the steersman. Before him is the binnacle, containing the compass; and above him, within his reach, is the ship’s bell.

Captain's Cabin

One antique iron-bound treasure chest, with key; 1 antique medicine chest; 2 large pewter tankards; 2 large pewter plates; 5 small pewter plates; 3 large pewter mugs; 5 small dram cups (pewter); 1 pewter inkwell and sandbox, oak stand; 2 goosequill pens; 2 pewter spoons; 1 brass astrolabe; 1 brass sundial; 1 hour glass in wooden frame; 2 single candlesticks; 2 brass candle snuffers; 1 brass hanging lamp and bracket; 1 brass firebox, with flint, steel and tinder; 2 ball padlocks; 1 pair steel dividers; 1 leather case, containing five navigating implements; 1 cross-staff; 1 mortar and pestle; 1 small earthenware jug; 1 globe; 1 leather case containing silver combination compass and sun-dial; 1 chart of the world, 1534; 1 facsimile copy on vellum of contract between Henry Hudson and East India Company; i volume bound in vellum, psalms and catechism, dated 1571; 1 Bible bound in vellum, dated 1568; 1 volume itinerary of Jan Van Linschoten, dated 1596; 1 vellum bound volume, “H. Bullinger, Huysboec,” dated 1563; 1 volume Asher’s “Henry Hudson the Navigator,” published by the Hakluyt Society; and 1 small sand-glass in wooden frame.

Above the Captain’s cabin is the poopdeck, the after portion of which is occupied by the cabin of the Mate — a smaller and simpler apartment than the Captain’s cabin. It is lighted by a small window on either side and contains a berth and cupboard. This cabin is painted green.

Such was the appearance of the strange little craft, as, with bellowing sails and fluttering colors, she sailed from the Navy Yard on Saturday, September 25, past the masterpieces of modern naval architecture, to take her place in the triumphal procession which was to celebrate the famous voyage of her prototype — a gracious testimonial of the affection of the Dutch motherland for the great State which has grown from her infant colony, and a powerful object lesson of the hardihood of the navigators and pioneers who broke the wilderness 300 years ago.

Half Moon's Sailing Qualities

After the foregoing experiment, the Half Moon was placed in temporary winter quarters in the New York Navy Yard, the canvas and bunting being stowed in the hold, the archaeological objects being placed in the New York Historical Society, and other loose articles being stored in a fireproof warehouse. At the present writing (May, 1910) the vessel is carefully protected at the Navy Yard, her final disposition not having yet been determined.* (For an account of the formal presentation of the Half Moon to the Commission and the name of the donors, see the chapter on the Inaugural Naval Parade.)

Final Disposition of Half Moon

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Hudson-Fulton celebration Commission to make immediate and permanent provision for the preservation and care of the replica of the Half Moon, not only as a highly prized testimonial of the affection and generosity of the people of the Netherlands for the people of the State of New York, but also as an object lesson in the history of the State and the science of navigation; and

WHEREAS, the corporate life of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission is limited by its charter to a period of ten years from the date of its incorporation; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park, New York Commission, a perpetual corporation created by the State of New York, having by law jurisdiction over extensive lands and water-front along the river explored by Henry Hudson in the original Half Moon and possessing ample financial resources, has formally requested the honor of acting as the permanent official custodian of the Half Moon; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Chairman of the Half Moon Committee be and he hereby is authorized and directed, upon the passage of a Concurrent Resolution by the Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park, New York Commission, accepting the terms of this resolution, to deliver the Half Moon to said Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park, New York Commission, in perpetual trust for the people of the State of New York; upon the following conditions:

1st, That the Half Moon shall ordinarily be kept floating upon the Hudson River in the State of New York;

2nd, That the Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park, New York Commission, shall keep in repair, protect and preserve the vessel with the utmost possible care;

3rd, That the public shall be permitted to visit and inspect the vessel under suitable regulations, and

4th, That with the approval of the Governor of the State of New York the vessel be permitted to take part in public ceremonies relating to the science of navigation or to the Hudson River in the State of New York.

The conditions of the foregoing resolution having been formally accepted by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, the Half Moon was delivered to that Commission on Friday, July 13, 1910, and was anchored in the Hudson River.

Ringwald, Donald C., "HUDSON RIVER DAY LINE: The Story of a Great American Steamboat Company," Howell North Books, California, 1965, Pages 120-122

The centerpieces of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration and cynosure of all eyes were the replicas of Henry Hudson’s ship, the Half Moon, a gift of the people of Holland, and of Robert Fulton's first Hudson River steamer, the North River Steam Boat. During the course of the festivities these replicas made a lengthy passage up the Hudson to the head of river navigation at Troy, greeted with a succession of elaborate civic ceremonies en route.

What to do with the Clermont and the Half Moon when the celebration was over presented a problem. Although the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission had presented one of the great events in Hudson Valley history, it ended with a deficit of over $50,000 and little in the way of assets to meet its unpaid bills. As a gift of the people of a friendly foreign land, the Half Moon had to be treated with care, and was placed in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the winter of 1909-1910. Then, in June of 1910, the Executive Committee of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission decided to turn her over to the Commissioners of the Palisades Interstate Park, New York Commission, which had “ample financial resources” and had requested the little ship. The Half Moon was accordingly delivered on July 15, 1910, “. . . in perpetual trust for the people of the State of New York.”

The Half Moon ended her days in a park in Cohoes, New York. Here she became the center of a controversy as to whether she should be kept in repair or disposed of. The problem was solved when the replica burned in 1931.

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