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A history of the 120-year-old Washington Crossing Bridge By Joe donneLLy
The narrow, weightrestricted, and operationally challenged Washington Crossing Toll-Supported Bridge’s steel superstructure turned 120 years old last month. The bridge, which was constructed for two former closely aligned shareholder-owned Runners get set to for the start of the annual Pennington 5K on Pennington Day, May 17, 2025. local companies, opened on the Women winners were Megan Pearson, Lisa Cialino and Allison Webb. For men: Christopher morning of April 11, 1905. It was Freeland, William Cooper and Ned Armour. (Photo courtesy of the Hopewell Valley YMCA.) operated as a privately owned tolled crossing for the next 17 years. The long-defunct New Jersey Bridge Company of Manasquan built the six-span steel double-intersecting Warren-truss superstructure in 1904 and 1905. The small steel-bridge-building outfit had been contracted by By riCh Fisher of victory. Maybe a year ago it Vlasac finished the round the crossing’s two ownership might have blown up the final tied for third at 75, which made companies — the legacy TayThe most significant sign of three holes and spoiled a stellar him one of just two Colonial Val- lorsville Delaware Bridge ComGrayson Vlasac’s growing matu- round. ley Conference players to reach pany established in the 1830’s, rity in golf came on May 6 at But the Hopewell Valley the Tournament of Champi- and a companion Washington Lakewood’s Eagle Ridge Golf Central High junior chastened ons. He credited his new mind- Crossing Bridge Company that Course. himself. set as part of the reason for his was created in 1904 to raise It was the NJSIAA South Jer“When I left that hole my advancement additional capital for purposes of sey Group II match and Vlasac mindset wasn’t, ‘Why did I do “My mental state has erecting the 1905 replacement was leading the charge until he this?’” he said. “I left the hole improved a lot,” Vlasac said. bridge. The construction conWelcome Capital Health. had a triple bogey on the 15th and said, ‘Let’s go make a few “I’m to realizing that hitting one tract was for $24,500. See VLASAC, Page 9 hole that ruined his chances pars and birdies.’” The bridge originally lacked When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
HoVal’s Vlasac reaches golf how far would Tournament of Champions you go if they were sick?
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a number of features it has today. It did not have a walkway. Its roadway deck was wooden and timber rails were the sole vehicular-collision-prevention measure along the trusses. The bridge’s steelwork went unpainted for its first three years of operation. When it opened, the bridge’s vehicular traffic was predominantly animal-powered. Motorpowered vehicles were rarely seen luxuries for a privileged few. Mass production of automobiles affordable for the middle class did not begin until 1908 — a development that radically changed transportation and America itself over the next three decades. The bridge was constructed on portions of piers and abutments that supported two prior covered wooden bridges at the location. The first coveredwooden bridge opened Jan. 1, 1835. It was partially or entirely destroyed — the accounts are unclear — in a major 1841 river flood. According to New Jersey legislative records, the replacement wooden bridge opened by 1842 (actual date uncertain). Later published accounts suggest the post-1841-flood bridge was positioned three feet higher over the river than its shortlived predecessor. Despite the enhanced elevaSee BRIDGE, Page 7
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