Everyone in North Jersey Knew the Binghamton. Few People Know Her Whole Story.
Once a Hudson River ferry and later an Edgewater landmark, the Binghamton hosted decades of celebrations before a shocking murder and a long decline changed her story forever.
Find out the whole truth in The Secret History of the Binghamton. Coming in January 2027.
Get Book UpdatesA Landmark With More Than One Life
For generations, the Binghamton carried passengers across the Hudson. After her ferry days ended, she found a new life on the Edgewater waterfront as a restaurant where families gathered, milestones were celebrated, and New York City glittered just across the river.
But the story did not end with those memories.
The Secret History of the Binghamton traces the people behind her transformation, the 1997 murder of owner Nelson Gross, and the years that followed.
Built on court records, public-records requests, archival photos, and interviews with the people who were there, it's the first full account of the Binghamton's complete history as a working ferry, an iconic presence on the Hudson River, and the murder that changed the course of its future.
Everyone remembers the parties. Some people remember the murder. Almost no one remembers what came after.
About the Author
Marilyn Rodriguez
Marilyn Rodriguez grew up along the Palisades in Hudson County, New Jersey, where the Binghamton was a fixture of the waterfront landscape. A Seton Hall University alumna, she spent seven years as a licensed private investigator before building a three-decade career in branding, marketing, and design.
After asking people what happened to the Binghamton – and getting many different answers – she decided to do some research to find out what actually happened...
READ MARILYN'S STORYThe Investigation
Following the Evidence
Every discovery leads somewhere unexpected. Court records, archival photographs, public documents, and the people who were there — each thread pulls the story further into the past, and closer to the truth.
EXPLORE THE INVESTIGATIONShare Your Story
Were You There?
If you have memories of the Binghamton — as a ferry passenger, a restaurant regular, or someone connected to the events of 1997 — your story matters. This history belongs to everyone who lived it.
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