Paddleboats on the Delaware Canal 1977

Paddleboats on the Delaware Canal 1977 Paddleboats on the Delaware Canal near Washingtons Crossing (Jersey side). My Dad would take us here in days now long ago and I was so happy to find this picture. This was Abbotts Rentals and was about a mile north of Washington Crossing State Park up on Route 29. A bit about the owner James Abbott... Born and raised in Titusville , he was a lifelong resident. Upon his graduation from Pennington High School in 1944, he enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and served his country in Okinawa and the Pacific Theater until 1946. Jim Abbott was the owner of Abbott 's Marine Center, a business that began in 1948 in the basement of his parents' home on Grant Street and relocated to River Road where it expanded and thrived for more than 32 years selling boats, outboard motors, canoes and marine equipment and supplies. From this location he also operated Abbott 's Canoe Rental where people from miles around would come on a summer day to relax and spend their afternoon paddling along the Delaware and Raritan Canal or those that were more adventurous would spend several days canoeing the beautiful Upper Delaware River. After selling his business he enjoyed "semi-retirement" for a brief period before he found his next calling overseeing the boating and safety operations on Lake Mercer for the next 10 years for the Mercer County Park Commission. His knowledge and love of the Delaware River earned him the nickname "River Jim" and he was involved in hundreds of rescue and recovery operations since the 1940s. For 51 years he served as head of boat security for the annual re-enactment of Washington's crossing of the Delaware on Christmas Day ensuring the safety of all participants. His service to his community began in 1943 when he became a junior volunteer with the Union Fire Department and shortly thereafter helped to form the river rescue and recovery squad. He served his community for the next 60 years holding 11 different offices in the Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad as well as being first vice president, trustee and historian, serving in dual capacities for many of those years. His most recent honor was having an ambulance bay at the Firehouse dedicated in his name for his 60+ years of service to the Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad.