Building and re-building connections across the Susquehanna Greenway!
The Susquehanna River is a piece of living history, connecting communities to the natural landscape throughout Pennsylvania. Bridges make up one building block in this network of connections, and many of them used to be covered. Of the 14,000 covered bridges constructed across the United States, 1,500 were built in the State of Pennsylvania between 1820 and 1900. To celebrate the engineering and history of these architectural treasures, let’s explore a few of our favorites along the Susquehanna River’s West Branch.
Northumberland Bridge
Built in 1824, the “West Branch Bridge” was first constructed to span the Susquehanna River between Northumberland and Blue Hill, (present day Shamokin Dam). Construction of the 1300-foot-long covered toll bridge was made with wood, sourced from the virgin forests of the West Branch. It had two carriage lanes and could accommodate foot traffic on both sides.
Photo by Valley Girl Views
After almost 100 years, with a period of repairs and replacements due to ice and flooding, a fire of unknown origin started at the center of the bridge. On June 3, 1923, the blaze grew quickly and powerfully. Citizens watched from the banks of the Susquehanna River as the landmark bridge collapsed into rubble in less than an hour’s time. A ferry service was considered to replace the loss of the bridge, but proved to be too expensive. A new bridge opened in 1926, which stood until its destruction by massive flooding in 1972 from Hurricane Agnes. The bridge we see today spans the Susquehanna River as a part of SR 11 from Shamokin Dam to Northumberland.
Views of the bridge and the stunning backdrop of the Shikellamy Overlook can be admired from the Shikellamy State Park Marina. The park boasts 1.5 miles of paved trails at the marina, perfect for walking, jogging, cycling, or just taking in the scenery. The Central Susquehanna Valley Riverboat Society has also announced plans to host a new paddlewheel riverboat at a dock site in Northumberland, which would offer another way to admire the bridge and surrounding views.
Lewisburg Railroad Bridge
The Lewisburg Railroad Bridge is a recognizable landmark for locals on the Susquehanna Greenway, but did you know that it used to be covered? Completed on February 9,1818, at a cost of $59,000, the bridge connected Montandon to Lewisburg. Tolls were collected at the toll house on Market Street when travelers reached the end. It became a part of the Lewisburg, Centre & Spruce Creek Railroad (a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad) in 1853. Flooding and destruction plagued this bridge, however, and it had to be rebuilt on more than one occasion.
The steel structure we see today was constructed atop the original piers in 1912. The line was eventually abandoned sometime in the 1980s, and was acquired for the purpose of building a rail trail in 2008. Construction on the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail began in 2011, resulting in a 10.28-mile route from Mifflinburg to Lewisburg. A fire on the bridge in 2012 delayed plans to extend the trail to the railroad bridge, but recent refurbishments on the Lewisburg side in Soldier’s Memorial Park have been made in preparation for the extension in the near future.
The Bridges of Milton
Keeping Milton and West Milton connected has been a story of struggle and triumph for 192 years. Abraham and Isaac Straub built the first set of bridges crossing the Susquehanna River at Milton in 1832, a covered bridge and a railroad bridge respectively. The 800-foot-long covered toll bridge sustained damage in the flooding of 1865. In 1889, both bridges were completely washed away. The railroad bridge was rebuilt the following year. However, it was only available for rail traffic (though, people could be occasionally spotted crossing it on foot).
In 1891, an iron bridge was built to accommodate foot traffic and bicycles. It was popular among the locals and required no toll. Yet, the structure didn’t last even 25 years. Frequent closures were normal, and some reports from the time claimed that the metal was so weak it could be broken with a stick. Officials decided a replacement was needed for the failing bridge in 1922, and a new concrete arch bridge was fully operating by 1926. Sidewalks were added to the island as a part of the construction.
On March 27, 1987, more than 60 years later, the concrete bridge unexpectedly collapsed in the middle of the day. Rodney W. Finan was crossing the bridge on a motorcycle that day. He felt the bridge begin to drop and, when he got across, took it upon himself to stop traffic. The bridge collapsed on itself shortly after and, miraculously, no one was injured. A new bridge was very quickly rebuilt and on November 4th, 1987, Rodney was the first to cross.
Today, the bridge connecting Milton and West Milton is still standing strong as a part of SR 642. Preservation work on the bridge’s approaches was completed in the spring of this year. The span crosses the Susquehanna River and runs through Milton State Park, an 82-acre island that offers hiking trails, biking, a soccer field, and a public park.
Lock Haven Bridge
The Jay Street Bridge, commissioned in 1852 by the Lock Haven Bridge Company, was constructed by the E. Kirkbride Company and connected Lock Haven to Lockport across the Susquehanna River. The original Burr truss bridge was 800 feet long and had a roofed pedestrian walkway that doubled as a canal towpath. A toll house was added on the Lock Haven side. It had an archway in the center for carriages to pass through. Tolls were 5 cents for pedestrians, 10 cents for horse-drawn wagons, and free for children on school days.
On January 27,1919 at 1:00 am, the bridge was lost to an unexplained fire. Kerosene was used as an accelerant, so by the time fire crews could respond, they could only hope to keep the fire from spreading. Rumors spread that the arsonist was a woman who set the bridge ablaze to prevent her unfaithful husband from returning home. These rumors were never substantiated, and the fire still remains a mystery.
The covered bridge was replaced by an iron structure in 1922 and remained for 64 years. In 1986, Veterans’ Memorial Bridge was dedicated, replacing the iron bridge. It spans 822 feet long and 28 feet wide as a part of SR 664. The Veteran’s Memorial Bridge is still colloquially known as the Jay Street Bridge.
A stunning view of the bridge and Lock Haven skyline can be seen from the Woodward Township Access and Boat Ramp just across the river. Not only is this a fantastic vantage point of the city, but it’s a great location to launch a kayak and paddle right underneath this iconic bridge! Located just above a dam, the lake-like waters make for a great out-and-back paddle trip.
McGee’s Mills Covered Bridge
The McGees Mills Covered Bridge in Mahaffey, Pennsylvania is the only covered bridge on the West Branch that has lasted over 150 years. Built in 1873 by Thomas McGee, the 109-foot bridge features a Burr truss design and gabled roof, all made of white pine from the old-growth forests of western PA. It is currently the only remaining covered bridge that crosses the Susquehanna River. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, the McGees Mills Covered Bridge is one of 750 that are still standing across the United States.
Today, visitors to the area can enjoy picnicking on the banks of the river near the bridge. Paddlers traversing the West Branch Water Trail between Cherry Tree and Bells Landing can pass underneath the bridge for a first-hand look. It is known as a coveted local fishing spot, and its quaint, historical charm has made it a popular subject for photographers. It is one covered bridge that has stood the test of time!
From ‘Then’ to ‘Now’
The covered bridges and the modern spans that have replaced them are a testament to the history of connectedness along the Susquehanna Greenway. It is the goal of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership to continue to facilitate connections across the land trails, water trails, parks, and communities along the Susquehanna River. Where will the next bridge take you?
