As an operator principally of towboats, Cornell might have been expected to add Santa Claus to his towboat fleet, but instead, he decided to return her to passenger service. In order to do so, he first had the steamer repaired and refurbished, which work included the addition of more staterooms. Then in August and September 1853, he organized two excursions for Santa Claus, firstly for three Rondout military companies, and secondly for the local firefighters, with Cornell on both occasions taking great pains to ensure the satisfaction of his clients. With this scheme having garnered the steamer favorable publicity, Cornell then returned Santa Claus to regular passenger service from Rondout, with the steamer leaving the town at 4 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and returning from New York on alternate days, with a departure time of 5 pm.Ringwald 1981. pp. 80–81.
