Courtesy of LancasterHistory.Įarly designs of this bridge called for two decks: lower for rail traffic and upper for all other traffic. Notice the iron spans are still standing in the middle. Photograph of the third bridge after being destroyed. Photograph of the third bridge across the Susquehanna. Some pieces landed near iron furnaces south of Marietta. It was so powerful that it swept the bridge from the piers. In September 1896, the Cedar Keys Hurricane which devastated much of the East Coast hit Columbia. Style: Wooden Covered Bridge with two Iron Truss SpansĬost: $400,000 financed by the Columbia Bridge Company Pratt trusses were as strong as Howe trusses but used lighter, less expensive steel. These spans were meant to be fire-resistant.The fourth bridge constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad was made of 200 foot-long, pre-fabricated Pratt trusses. The third was primarily a wooden covered bridge but had two spans of iron Howe trusses. The third and fourth Columbia-Wrightsville bridges used open truss design. Development of truss design and readily available wrought iron and steel grew the popularity of truss bridges by the 1870s. This need led to a change in materials from wood to metal, primarily iron then steel. The expansion and development of railroad transport caused the need for better, stronger bridges. Courtesy of .Įngraving created after the burning of the second bridge during the Civil War. Inside the tow path, mules connected to boat lines pulled the boats across. The second bridge had two tow paths that allowed two canal boats to be pulled across the river simultaneously. We will feature that event in another RiverRoots blog. This bridge was burned in June, 1863 to prevent Confederate troops from crossing the Susquehanna River. A double railroad track was added in 1850. Location: Just north of Route 462 Bridge on the piers that still standĪlong the outside, two tow paths for moving canal boats were added in 1840. Second Bridge (1834 to 1863)Ĭost: $157,300 financed by the Columbia Bank and Bridge Company Bartlett traveled to America between 18 – after the first bridge was destroyed. Although many believe this image is of the first bridge, the artist, W. Water and ice rose up and lifted the bridge off the piers. The ice jammed up south of Columbia creating a natural dam. A spring thaw came quickly in February causing ice to break up and flow down the river. Thick ice hardened in the winter of 1832. Location:1/4 mile north of Route 462 bridge Length: 5,600 feet long on 53 stone piers Burr Truss First Bridge (1814 to 1832)Ĭost: $231,771 financed by the Columbia Bank and Bridge Company Burr designed five bridges along the Susquehanna between Port Deposit and Northumberland. He was commissioned to design and oversee construction of Columbia’s first bridge across the Susquehanna. Theodore Burr improved upon covered bridges through his Burr Arch Truss design, which created more stability and strength. These wooden bridges were given roofs to prevent rot from weather. The first three bridges to span across the Susquehanna at Columbia and Wrightsville were constructed with wood because it was readily available. Six bridges have connected our region at Columbia: Two were destroyed by mother nature, two more destroyed by man, and two remain standing. The only other bridges along the Lower Susquehanna were miles away at Harrisburg and Port Deposit, Maryland, both of which were opened in 1817. Without a bridge, residents would be forced to resort back to a seasonal ferry for transportation. A bridge connecting York and Lancaster County at Columbia was seen as an essential infrastructure improvement, vital to expansion into central Pennsylvania. In the early 1800s, it was common for over 150 wagons to descend upon Columbia, Pennsylvania, sitting and awaiting their turn to be ferried across the Susquehanna. Construction methods, materials, and the needs of each bridge changed from generation to generation. The piers that sit just north of the Veterans Memorial Bridge held three of the Susquehanna’s six bridges. The two bridges that still stand are important cross county transportation connectors. RiverRoots Heritage Blogįor so many visitors to the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, the bridges across the river at Columbia are of great interest. River Roots is Susquehanna NHA’s blog series featuring history from York and Lancaster Counties that showcases the Susquehanna River’s historic, cultural, and natural resources contributions to our nation’s heritage.
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