When The Milton Bridge Was A Covered Bridge

In 1832, Twin Brothers Abraham & Isaac Straub erected the first bridges over the West Branch of the Susquehanna at Milton.  Those bridges  were carried away by the flood on March 17, 1865.  

the first bridge shown here is the railroad bridge.  The covered bridge is in the back of the photo, where the buildings are on the island.

The bridges were rebuilt,  they show up in various picture post cards as well as on the Milton Map from 1883 

The 1883 Map of Milton, showing the covered bridge.

This was a toll bridge, as all bridges were in these years.  When this bridge was lost in the 1889 flood, Milton was without a bridge for a number of years.  During this time, the newspapers were full of editorials for, and against, the idea of free bridges.  

The Covered Bridge In The 1889 Flood

The bridge was still standing in these photos of the 1889 flood.  But not for long. The water weakened the pillars until the bridge was washed away. 

Pictures from the Island, showing the bridge after the flood.

Another view of flooding on the island, and the covered bridge.

And, the bridge is gone.  This is the view looking into Milton.  

Milton would be without a bridge for a number of years.  By 1894 there were plans for a new metal bridge, but it had not yet been built. Fortunately, as the spring of 1894 brought another flood that washed away the railroad bridges once again.

The Railroad Bridge

Although it's unreadable in this version of this photo, 

There is a sign at the bridge that says "Notice All Persons are Forbidden to Cross This Bridge".  And if you look close, you can see a boy crossing the bridge.  

The railroad bridge was also lost in the 1889 flood.  Trestles were thrown up and were used as a temporary bridge until the new railroad bridge could be built  a year later. 

==========================

Find More Of Milton's History Here
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html

Find An Index Of Local Covered Bridges Here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-covered-bridges-index.html

And An Index To All Of My History Tidbits Here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/milton-pa.html
==========================