Local historical blog Ephemeral New York recently dug up this great vintage ticket from 1903 in the Museum of the City of New York's Digital Collection. Shortly after the bridge opened, you needed one of these paper tickets if you wanted to ride the trolly across.
Before coin tokens came into use, passengers riding the New York City subway in its early days needed a paper ticket. And apparently a paper ticket also allowed you to take a trolley across the Williamsburgh (note the h!) Bridge after it opened in 1903. […] The caption reads: “Good for one passage over Williamsburgh Bridge on local bridge cars only. Three rides 5 cents.” That’s a bargain; when the subway opened in 1904, a ride ran you a nickel.
Matt Coneybeare
Editor in Chief
Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.
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