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Archive

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/2233eaab-6463-43c0-b788-149756332089
Collection
Columbia Bridge Company Collection
Title
Columbia Bridge Company Collection
Object ID
MG0217
Date Range
1809-1843
Content Note: The Columbia Bridge Company Collection is a valuable source of information concerning construction of bridges in the early 1800s. Documents concern the building of the first two bridges across the Susquehanna River in 1814 and 1832. Items in the collection include minutes, form for stock
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Collection
Columbia Bridge Company Collection
Title
Columbia Bridge Company Collection
Description
The Columbia Bridge Company Collection is a valuable source of information concerning construction of bridges in the early 1800s. Documents concern the building of the first two bridges across the Susquehanna River in 1814 and 1832. Items in the collection include minutes, form for stock certificate, invoices, legal papers, proposals, receipts, stockholders, promissory notes, by-laws, settlement of stage tolls with Samuel Slaymaker 1813, salary receipts, circulars and announcements, bridge tolls, orders for payment, correspondence, and a stock certificate from 1842
Admin/Biographical History
First Bridge
Construction of the first Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge was begun in 1812 and completed December 5, 1814, by J. Wolcott, H. Slaymaker, S. Slaymaker at a total cost of $231,771, which was underwritten by the newly formed Columbia Bank and Bridge Company. The bridge was 5,690 feet (1,730 m) long and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide and had 54 piers and twin carriageways. Constructed of wood and stone, the covered bridge also included a wooden roof, a whitewashed interior and openings in its wooden sides to view the river and surrounding areas. It was considered the longest covered bridge in the world at the time. The bridge accommodated east-west traffic across the Susquehanna River for 14 years before being destroyed by ice, high water and severe weather on February 5, 1832.
Second bridge
Construction of the second Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge, also covered, started mid-1832 and was completed in 1834 (opening on July 8, 1834) by James Moore and John Evans at a cost of $157,300. It was 5,620 feet (1,710 m) long and 28 feet (8.5 m) wide and also enjoyed the distinction of being the world's longest covered bridge. The wood and stone structure had 27 piers, a carriageway, walkway, and two towpaths to guide canal traffic across the river. Much of the mostly oak timber used in its construction was salvaged from the previous bridge. Its roof was covered with shingles, its sides with weatherboard, and its interior was whitewashed. The structure was modified in 1840 by the Canal Company at a cost of $40,000 concurrent with the construction of the Wrightsville Dam. Towpaths of different levels and with sidewalls were added to prevent horses from falling into river, as happened several times when the river flooded. The roof of the lower path formed the floor of upper path. In this way, canal boats were towed across the river from the Pennsylvania Canal on the Columbia side to the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal at Wrightsville. Sometime after 1846, a double-track railway was added, linking the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad to the Northern Central Railway. Due to fear of fire caused by locomotives, rail cars were pulled across the bridge by teams of mules or horses.
Information from "Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia%E2%80%93Wrightsville_Bridge. Accessed 3 February 2020.
System of Arrangement
The papers of the First Columbia Bridge built in 1814 are filed in folders #1 to 157. The papers of the Second Columbia Bridge built in 1832 are filed in folders #158 to 181.
Date Range
1809-1843
Year Range From
1809
Year Range To
1843
Date of Accumulation
1809-1843
Creator
Goodell, Robert Hilliard, 1899-1992.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 05
People
Albright, William
Chew, Benjamin
Coleman, Robert
Dickson, William
Gilpin, Joshua
Gilpin, Thomas
Grimler, Benjamin
Haldeman, C.
Hamilton, William
Harbaugh, Leonard
Hoff, John
Hopkins, James
Hubley, John
Hubley, Joseph
Lloyd, Evan
Mifflin, Joseph
Poulson, Zachariah
Reynolds, John
Rittenhouse, Joseph
Shaffner, Casper
Slaymaker, Henry
Slaymaker, Samuel
Varle, Charles
Wilson, Edward
Wilson, Thomas A.
Witmer, A.
Wright, William
Wolcott, John
Subjects
Bridges
Business records
Columbia (Pa.)
Letters
Minutes (Records)
Stockholders
Stocks
Susquehanna River
Search Terms
Advertising
Applications
Board of Directors
Bonds
Bridges
Broadsides
Business records
By-laws
Checks
Columbia
Columbia Bridge Company
Construction
Contracts
Correspondence
Farmers Bank of Lancaster
Financial records
Finding aids
Gatekeepers
Invoices
Letters
Loans
Manuscript groups
Minutes
Murray Draper and Company
Promissory notes
Receipts
Reports
Salaries
Stockholders
Stocks
Susquehanna River
Taxes
Tollhouses
Tolls
Extent
5 boxes, 190 folders, 3 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0217
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. The original items in Folder 69 may not be used due to their fragile condition. All other original documents may be used by researchers--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit or request at Reference Desk.
Copyright
Collection may be photographed. Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org with questions or for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-217
Classification
MG0217
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Added to database 13 January 2022.
Documents
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Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/f3d7bbb0-a1a9-450b-86b6-494293837500
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I001
Date Range
1915
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Description
Document type: Condition of bridge reports
1. Bridge No. 11
[Little Britain Twp. and Chester County]
2. Bridge No. 10
Lee's Bridge
[Little Britain Twp and West Nottingham Twp., Chester County]
3. Bridge No. 9.5
[Little Britain Twp. and West Nottingham Twp., Chester County]
Location: At Greist's Fording.
4. Bridge No. 9
[Colerain Twp. and Chester County]
Location: At Blackburn's.
5. Bridge No. 8
Kirk's Bridge
6. Bridge No. 7.5
Harkness Fording
[Little Britain Twp. and Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County]
7. Bridge No. 7
Pine Grove Bridge
8. Bridge No. 6
Bunting's Fording Bridge
[Colerain Twp. and Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County]
9. Bridge No. 5
Worth's Mill Bridge
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Date Range
1915
Year
1915
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Bridges
Bunting's Ford
Bunting's Ford Bridge
Colerain Twp.
Covered bridges
Creeks
Fords
Greist's Ford
Harkness Ford
Kirk's Bridge
Lee's Bridge
Little Britain Twp.
Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania
Octoraro Creek, East Branch
Pine Grove Covered Bridge
Reports
West Nottingham Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania
Worth's Bridge
Worth's Mill
Extent
9 items, 9 pieces
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I001
Box Number
013
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
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Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/7067448d-cbdb-43ac-a03c-993188291143
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Object ID
Bridge F0820 I002
Date Range
1913
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Description
Document type: Condition of bridge reports
1. Bridge No. 5
[Ephrata Twp.]
2. Bridge No. 6
Ephrata Twp. and Warwick Twp.
Location: At Millway, Warwick Twp.
3. Bridge No. 7
[Warwick Twp. and West Earl Twp.]
4. Bridge No. 8
5. Bridge No. 9
6. Bridge No. 10
Bucher's Mill Bridge
7. Bridge No. 11
Location: Near Hiram Mentzer.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Date Range
1913
Year
1913
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
People
Mentzer, Hiram
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Bridges
Bucher's Mill
Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge
Cocalico Creek
Covered bridges
Creeks
Ephrata Twp.
Millway, Warwick Twp.
Reports
Warwick Twp.
West Earl Twp.
Extent
7 items, 7 pieces
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0820 I002
Box Number
013
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
Less detail

Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/c869151d-4115-4868-a77c-454542031612
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I002
Date Range
1915
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Admin/Biographical History
Papers filed for construction and repair of bridges. The types of petitions presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions include: petitions for bridge construction and repair, petitions for inspections, and petitions for bridge funds. Other types of items include: specifications, proposals, and contracts for bridge construction and repair; bridge blueprints and plans; correspondence; bills for materials; and bridge condition reports. Many papers show date; court term and case number; names of petitioners, viewers, inspectors, and contractors; costs and fees; location of bridge; and name or number of bridge. The order and report of viewers documents are of particular interest as they usually include a copy of the original petition; the order and names of viewers to inspect the site; the public announcement for the viewers meeting; the report and recommendation of viewers, often with a drawing of the site and surrounding area; and the court decision.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Date Range
1915
Year
1915
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Andrews Bridge
Andrews Bridge, Colerain Twp.
Bell's Ford
Bridges
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Christiana, Pennsylvania
Christiana Bridge
Colerain Twp.
Creeks
Fords
Long's Ford
Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania
Mercer's Ford
Mercer's Fording Bridge
Newcomer's Bridge
Octoraro Creek, East Branch
Reports
Ross Ford
Sadsbury Twp.
Steeleville Bridge
Upper Oxford Twp., Chester County
West Fallowfield Twp., Chester County
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I002
Box Number
013
Additional Notes
Document type: Condition of bridge reports.
1. Bridge No. 4
[Colerain Twp. and Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County]
Location: At Long's Fording.
2. Bridge No. 3
[Colerain Twp. and Chester County]
Location: At Bell's Fording.
3. Bridge No. 2.5
Newcomer's Bridge.
[Colerain Twp. and Upper Oxford Twp., Chester County]
4. Bridge No. 2
Andrews Bridge.
5. Bridge No. 1.5
[Sadsbury Twp. and West Fallowfield Twp., Chester County]
Location: At Ross Fording.
6. Bridge No. 1
Steeleville Bridge
7. Bridge No. 00
Mercer's Fording Bridge
8. Bridge No. 0
Christiana Bridge
Christiana and [Chester County]
8 items, 8 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
Less detail

Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/910a340e-f1d9-4b89-8e59-462625198620
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I003
Date Range
1916
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Description
Document type: Condition of bridge reports.
1. Bridge No. 1
Steeleville Bridge
[Sadsbury Twp. and West Fallowfield Twp., Chester County]
2. Bridge No. 1.5
Ross' Fording Bridge
3. Bridge No. 2
Andrew's Bridge
[Colerain Twp. and Upper Oxford Twp., Chester County]
4. Bridge No. 2.5
Newcomer's Bridge
5. Bridge No. 3
Bell's Fording Bridge
[Colerain Twp. and Chester County]
6. Bridge No. 4
Holmes' Fording Bridge
[Colerain Twp. and Lower Oxford Twp.], Chester County
7. Bridge No. 5
Worth Fording Bridge
8. Bridge No. 6
Bunting Ford Bridge
Admin/Biographical History
Papers filed for construction and repair of bridges. The types of petitions presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions include: petitions for bridge construction and repair, petitions for inspections, and petitions for bridge funds. Other types of items include: specifications, proposals, and contracts for bridge construction and repair; bridge blueprints and plans; correspondence; bills for materials; and bridge condition reports. Many papers show date; court term and case number; names of petitioners, viewers, inspectors, and contractors; costs and fees; location of bridge; and name or number of bridge. The order and report of viewers documents are of particular interest as they usually include a copy of the original petition; the order and names of viewers to inspect the site; the public announcement for the viewers meeting; the report and recommendation of viewers, often with a drawing of the site and surrounding area; and the court decision.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Date Range
1916
Year
1916
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Andrews Bridge
Andrews Bridge, Colerain Twp.
Bell's Ford
Bell's Fording Bridge
Bridges
Bunting's Ford
Bunting's Ford Bridge
Colerain Twp.
Creeks
Holmes' Ford
Holmes' Fording Bridge
Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania
Newcomer's Bridge
Octoraro Creek, East Branch
Reports
Ross Fording Bridge
Ross Ford
Sadsbury Twp.
Steeleville Bridge
Upper Oxford Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania
West Fallowfield Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania
Worth's Bridge
Worth's Ford
Worth's Fording Bridge
Extent
8 items, 8 pieces
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I003
Box Number
013
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
Less detail

Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/0151c9a3-9e76-4d72-b76d-978947101055
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I004
Date Range
1916
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Description
Document type: Condition of bridge reports.
1. Bridge No. 7
Pumping Station Bridge
Lancaster County and Chester County
2. Bridge No. 7.5
Harkness Fording Bridge
[Little Britain Twp. and Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County]
3. Bridge No. 8
Kirk's Fording Bridge
[Little Britain Twp. and West Nottingham Twp., Chester County]
4. Bridge No. 9
Blackburn's Fording Bridge
[Colerain Twp. and Chester County]
5. Bridge No. 9.5
Greist's Fording Bridge
6. Bridge No. 10
Carter's Fording Bridge
[Little Britain Twp. and West Nottingham Twp.], Chester County
7. Bridge No. 11
Kin[s]eyville Bridge
[Little Britain Twp. and Chester County]
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Date Range
1916
Year
1916
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Blackburn's Ford
Blackburn's Fording Bridge
Bridges
Carter's Ford
Carter's Fording Bridge
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Colerain Twp.
Creeks
Greist's Ford
Greist's Fording Bridge
Harkness Ford
Harkness Fording Bridge
Kinseyville Bridge
Kirk's Ford
Kirk's Fording Bridge
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Little Britain Twp.
Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County, Pennsylvania
Octoraro Creek, East Branch
Octoraro Water Company
Pumping Station Bridge
Pumping stations
Reports
West Nottingham Twp., Chester County
Extent
7 items, 7 pieces
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0845 I004
Box Number
013
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
Less detail

Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/80225225-7f97-4f92-88f9-097610869360
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Bridge Records
Object ID
Bridge F0850 I001
Date Range
1913
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Bridge Records
Date Range
1913
Year
1913
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Bridges
Creeks
Ephrata Twp.
Hammer Creek
Reports
Warwick Twp.
Place
Ephrata Twp. and Warwick Twp.
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0850 I001
Box Number
013
Additional Notes
Document type: Condition of bridge reports.
[Ephrata Twp. and Warwick Twp.]
1. Bridge No. 0
2. Bridge No. 1
2 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
Less detail

Documents

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/d0576db2-0f7f-49ef-b934-077468253645
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Bridge Records
Object ID
Bridge F0850 I002
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Bridge Records
Description
Papers filed for construction and repair of bridges. The types of petitions presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions include: petitions for bridge construction and repair, petitions for inspections, and petitions for bridge funds. Other types of items include: specifications, proposals, and contracts for bridge construction and repair; bridge blueprints and plans; correspondence; bills for materials; and bridge condition reports. Many papers show date; court term and case number; names of petitioners, viewers, inspectors, and contractors; costs and fees; location of bridge; and name or number of bridge. The order and report of viewers documents are of particular interest as they usually include a copy of the original petition; the order and names of viewers to inspect the site; the public announcement for the viewers meeting; the report and recommendation of viewers, often with a drawing of the site and surrounding area; and the court decision.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Year
1916
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
People
Erb, Samuel
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Creeks
Hammer Creek
Ephrata Twp.
Warwick Twp.
Reports
Bridges
Place
Ephrata Twp. and Warwick Twp.
Object Name
Documents
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0850 I002
Box Number
013
Additional Notes
Document type: Condition of bridge reports.
[Ephrata Twp. and Warwick Twp.]
1. Bridge No. 1
Location: At Samuel Erb's.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
Less detail

Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/c3996fa7-2b3b-42ea-a82e-696941739580
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Bridge Records
Object ID
Bridge F0855 I001
Date Range
1915
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Bridge Records
Date Range
1915
Year
1915
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Bridges
Creeks
Kelly's Run
Reports
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0855 I001
Box Number
013
Additional Notes
Document type: Condition of bridge report.
1. Bridge No. 1
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
Less detail

Report

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/23f1a526-dfa1-4b41-a2ce-130641292625
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Object ID
Bridge F0860 I001
Date Range
1913
More detail
Collection
Bridge Records
Title
Condition of bridge reports
Description
Document type: Condition of bridge reports
1. Bridge No. 1
[Mount Joy Twp. and Rapho Twp.]
2. Bridge No. 2
Location: At Eby's.
3. Bridge No. 3
Horst Mill Bridge
4. Bridge No. 4
5. Bridge No. 5
6. Bridge No. 6
[East Donegal Twp. and Rapho Twp.]
7. Bridge No. 6.5
8. Bridge No. 7
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Date Range
1913
Year
1913
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives West
Storage Container
Box 0013
Subcategory
Documentary Artifact
Search Terms
Bridges
Creeks
East Donegal Twp.
Horst Mill
Horst Mill Bridge
Little Chickies Creek
Little Chiques Creek
Mount Joy Twp.
Rapho Twp.
Reports
Extent
8 items, 8 pieces
Object Name
Report
Language
English
Condition
Fair
Object ID
Bridge F0860 I001
Box Number
013
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Classification
RG 02-00 0324
Description Level
Item
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93 records – page 1 of 10.