Thousands of Red Hook youth in 1952 experienced being on the water thanks to a summertime excursion that took them up the river and out of the hot city for a day in the country.  On August 26,  2500 kids loaded on to a boat docked at the foot of Wolcott (spelled Walcott in the article) Street and sailed up the Hudson River to Bear Mountain.  The trip was orgainized by the newly formed Red Hook Betterment Association.  

There was a tradition of summertime excursions leaving from Red Hook.  In 1942 the Roman Catholic Church of the Visitation (aka Visitation Church) marked its 50th annual excursion by chartering the S. S. Americana which left from the foot of Coffey street and sailed to Rye Beach.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 26, 1952
Photo Caption: OUTING - Part of a boatload of 2,500 Red Hook youngsters waves farewell as there as there vessel pulls away from pier at the foot of Walcott St. They were to spend day at Bear Mountain, guests of the newly formed Red Hook Betterment Association, 143 Pioneer St., headed by Anthony Pimpinella.