The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Pennsylvania's Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge-- Part 3

So, the bridge was burned on June 28th.  Confederates had been planning to cross it, but with it gone, they had to change plans and ended up coming together at the small crossroads town of Gettysburg, and the rest is history.

Afterwards, the Columbia Bank and Bridge Company appealed to Congress for reimbursement, but never received any money.  In 1864, they sold the piers and what little remained of the bridge to the Pennsylvania Railroad for $57,000.

A third bridge was begun in 1868 and this one cost $400,000.  It remained in use until a hurricane in 1896 destroyed it.

The fourth bridge at the site was known as the Pennsylvania Railroad Iron Bridge and built in just two months using prefabricated sections.  It was built on those original 27 piers.  By 1928, the Lincoln Highway's vehicular traffic over it got to be a real problem.  Traffic jams were the rule of the day, especially when vehicles had to stop and wait for trains.  It remained open until 1958 when the new Veterans Memorial Bridge was built.

Crossing That bridge When We Come to It.  --Old Secesh

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