Valley Girl Views: The Washingtonville Truss Bridge

On a recent drive home, I took the long way, and stopped to read the sign over the bridge here in Washingtonville. This is on Bush road leading south off 54.

The Marker Reads:

"A pin connected Pratt Pony Truss Bridge spanned the Chillisquaque Creek at this site from 1887-1987. The 73 foot span truss was constructed by the engineering firm of Dean and Westbrook of New York City. The patented tubular section Phoenix Column was used for the top chords and end posts of the truss. The bridge was one of the earliest metal truss bridges in Montour County."

In 1986 they appear to have done a thorough inspection of the bridge for a Historical Survey, before removing the bridge in 1987. One article states "Bridge structure relocated to Knoebels Grove Amusement Park in 1987 and reconstructed for adaptive reuse on a steam-powered miniature amusement railroad."

From the Historical Survey Done in 1986:

The Washingtonville metal truss had replaced a wooden bridge called the "De Long Bridge" in Montour County records. The bridge site is located on the road to the De Long mansion, home of one of Montour County's prominent historical figures.

"Washingtonville was settled sparsely prior to the nineteenth century. In the early nineteenth century, it became a stopping place for travelers on the mail stage route through the county.

By 1838, there were four hotels and four stores in Washingtonville. The settlement was known as Washington at that time. When it received its charter as a borough in 1870, the name was changed to Washingtonville. "

"One of the early settlers in Washington(ville) was Henry De Long. His grandson, Frank Emerson De Long, was a successful inventor (the De Long hook and eye), manufacturer and real estate magnate. His business offices were located in the De Long Building at Thirteenth and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. He maintained the family estate in Washingtonville as his country home, developing it by adding acres and buildings to the family holdings. The home exists today, not far from the Washingtonville Eridge."

Read more about how a hump in a hook made Delong a millionaire, and left a lasting legacy for Washingtonville: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/10/how-hump-in-hook-made-millionaire-and.html

"The Washingtonville Bridge is one of eight pin-connected Pratt pony trusses determined significant as a result of the Pennsylvania historic bridge survey.

Results of the survey indicate that these pin-connected Pratt pony trusses, built between 1871 and 1894, were the earliest truss type built for Pennsylvania roadways.

This data corresponds to the national trends of the late nineteenth century when the pony truss was a popular type of highway bridge for small bridges carrying light loads, because it was inexpensive and easy to construct.

The construction history of the Washingtonville Bridge confirms the ease with which this bridge type was built. The fabrication and erection time for completing it was less than forty-seven days. "

The Washingtonville Bridge remains essentially unaltered in its truss configuration. The narrow truss measures 13'-6" from centerline of north truss to centerline of south truss. The pins are intact, measuring 3-1/2" in diameter. Alterations which have occurred to the bridge have been primarily routine maintenance. For example, a 2" x 4" timber deck is now covered with a 2-1/2" asphalt wearing surface. The only substantive alteration affects the abutments; the lower portions of the masonry abutments were reinforced with concrete jackets in 1975."