Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1942-1945], Part 26

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 206


USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1942-1945] > Part 26


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35


Snell, J. O., Fort Plain staple and fancy dry goods, Main.


Snell, Levi, St. Johnsville, staple and ! fancy dry goods, Main. Snell, Orville, Fort Plain (with Charles) dairyman and farmer 225. Snyder, Abin, Hallsville, laborer. Snyder, Albert, Sprout Brook (with Peter W.) farmer.


Snyder, Benjamin, Fort Plain, far- mer 5. Snyder, Christian, Fort Plain, dalrymanandfarmeh


dailyman and farmer leases 188. Suyuer, Jacob Mrs., Hallsville, dalry 30 cows and farmer 14.


Snyder, J., Freys Bush, laborer." Snyder, Jerome, Fort Plain, stone mason, Wagner.


Snyder Peter W., Sprout Brook,,. dairyman, 20 cows and farmer 145 ... Souger, Charles, Fort Plain, far- mer 18.


Sparks, Isaac, Fort 'Plain, stone. quarry and farmer 30 . Sparks, Joslah, Fort Plain (Cyrus: Sparks and Co.)


Sparks, Menzo,, Fort Plain, labor- er. Sparks, Nathan, Fort Plain, far- mer.


Sponable, David, Fort Plain, dairy- man, and farmer 134. Steele, Stephen, Freys Bush, coop- er Stichel, Frederick, Fort Plato,, carrlage maker, Canal.


Sticht Bros. Fort Plain (Peter G. and Henry C.) boots and shoes, Main .. Sticht, Henry C., Fort Platia (Sticht Bros.) :


Sticht, Peter G., Fort Plain (Sticht Bros.)


Stone, Wm. H., Hallsville, datry- man 50 cows and farmer leases 270 .. Stonehouse, John, Fort Plain,, dalryman and farmer 80.


Straltmire, 'Ernst, Fort Plain, far- mer 10. Stripe, Fred, Fort Plain shoemak-


er. Stripe, Fred, Fort Plain, farmer 31%. Surnear, Garret, Fort Plain (Green and Surnear.)


Taylor, Luke A., Fort Plain, prop. Montgomery Hall, corner Canal and Mohawk.


Thorowoods, Peter, Fort Plain,


farmer 30.


Tiddle, John, For t Plain, farmer; 12. Timmerman, Daniel E., Fort Plain; llvery stable (In connection with Un- ion Hall) River.


Timerman, David T., Fort Plain,.


dairyman and farmer 250. Unlon Hall, Fort Plain, corner River and Willett, Fritcher and Smith, props. Uttermarks, Mrs., Sprout Brook, restaurant. -


GREAT IDEA


Order a case of Utica Club Ale or Beer today and join the millions who prefer It .- Adv.


1


Moyer, Chauncey L., Freys Bush. dalryman and farmer 102.


Moyer, C. L., Sprout Brook, dairy-


Moyer, Daniel, Fort Plain, 'dairy- man, 30 cows, hop ralser and farmer. 110.


Moyer and Elwood,' Fort - Plain (John Moyer and C. W. Elwood). boots, shoes, hats, caps, trunks, Var lises, etc. Canal.


Moyer, Ezra, Fort Plain, dairymaz and farmer 60.


. Moyer, George, Minden, farmer 75. Moyer, Jacob A., Fort Plain, far- mer 120.


Moyer, Jacob H., Fort Platz, dairyman, 30 cows and farmer 111. Moyer, J. F., Fort Plain (Moyer and Elwood.)


Moyer and King, Fort Plain. Moyer, Marcy, Fort Plain, dairy- men, 20 cows and farmer 90.


Moyer, Peter, Freys Bush dairy- man, 22 cows an dfarmer 110.


Moyer; Peter C., Fort Plain, dairy- mah and farmer 70


Moyer, Peter D. Fort Plain, dairy- man, 25 cows, hop raiser and farmer 116.


Moyer, Robert E., Fort Plain, gen- eral trader and dealer' in . horses, Center.


Moyer, Spaulding, Fort Plaln, dairyman, 30 cows and farmer 125. Moyer, Sylvester, Fort Plaln, dai- ryman and farmer 128.


National Fort Plain Bank, Fort Plain, lumber dealer, wards and of- fice on Canal opposite P. J. Wag- | ner's and office corner Canal' and River.


Nellis,'George H., Fort Plain (with Henry H.) dairyman and farmer 200. Nellis, Henry G., Fort Plain, re- tired farmer. (To be continued)


Send in your queries.


DOUBLE ENJOYMENT


.From Utica" Club ' Pilsner Lager and XXX Cream Ale. They're dry,


Reid, John E., Fort Plain (H. E.


Williams and Co.)


(Continued from last week) Smith, Levi, Sprout Brook, farmer 6. 1 'Smith, Moses, Hailsville dairyman,


Gazetteer, Business Directory of Montgomery and Fulton Counties


(For the years 1869-70)


Johnstown, Fulton County


Able, George W., Keck farmer 50.


Center


!Ackerman, S. J., Mrs., Gloversville, { jobber.


custom boot and shoe. making. Acket, Calvin, Gloversville farmer 1. Adams, John Q.', Johnstown, In- dian dressed leather and smoking Fulton. ..


Adams, W. H., Gloversville (with James S. Neff,) buck and sheep leather dresser.


Akin, F., St. J., Johnstown, manuf. of gloves and mittens, Melchu.


· Allen, Archibald, Gloversville far- mer 25.


Allen and Christie, Kingsborough, (Ethan Allen and Edward Christie) kid and white leather dressers.


Allen, Ethan Kingsborough . (Allen .. and Christie.)


Allen, Ethan P., Kingsborough, custom shoe maker and farmer 13. Allen Jacob, Johnstown farmer 35. Allen, Lucius C., Gloversville, fore- man in skin mill.


Allen Otheniel, Bleecker, farmer 5. Allen, Simon, Gloversville, skin finisher.


Allen, William C., Gloversville, manuf. of all kinds of gloves and mittens and owns 5, 92 Main.


Allworth, Charles N., Johnstown, kid dresser and manuf. of kid gloves, south side Main.


Allworth, Charles N. Mrs., Johns- town, milliner and dealer in fancy and millinery goods, south side Main. Alvord, C. G. Gloversville, prop. of Alvord House, Main. Anderson, Alexander, Johnstown, skin dresser, jobber, prop. of skin mill and farmer 16.


Andrews, Phebe C., Gloversville, dealer in ladies' furs and repairer of furs 135 Main.


Anthony, Sillec M., Gloversville, steam saw mill, blacksmith and far- mer.


Apfelbaum, Elias, Johnstown deal- er in dry goods, boots and shoes, etc., Streeter's Block, south side Main.


Argersinger, B., Johnstown (with Albert Moats) farmer 96.


Argersinger, Baltis J., Johnstown, farmer leases of Thomas J. Briggs, 90.


Argersinger, George, Johnstown, leather finisher.


Gazetteer, Business Directory of Montgomery and Fulton Counties


(For the years 1869-70)


(Continued from last week) JOHNSTOWN


Hutchinson, John C., Gloversville, dealer in drugs, medicines, books, statlonery, paper hangings, etc., 125 Main.


Hutchinson, J. C. and Co., Johns- town,'manufs. of buckskin gloves and mittens, south side Main.


Hutchinson, Robert S., Glovers- ville (Copeland and Huitchinson.)


Hyman, John, Gloversville, manuf. of paper boxes, Bleecker.


Hyman, J. S., Gloversville, laying off gloves by steam, 19 Bleecker. Hyman, Robert R., Gloversville, (Burton and Hyman.) Irving, John, Johnstown, glove 43.


manuf.


Irwin, Philip, Sammonsville, mer 2.


far-


Jackson, Peter, Johnstown, stone mason and farmer 35. .


Jacobs, Harvey L .; Gloversville, blacksmith.


'Jacobson, Henry, Gloversville, far- mer 3. 3


Jeannisson, Louis, Johnstown,


Aucock, William, Gloversville, manuf. of kid gloves and castor. Jeans, Charles, Johnstown (Jeans


prop. of kid manufactory coloring


and finishing corner West and and Grimes.)


Spring.


Austin, D. O., Gloversville, joiner 127 West Gulton.


Avery, A. H. and Son, Gloversville (Charles A.) dealers in crockery, glassware · paper "hanging, cutlery, etc 110 Main.


Avery, Charles A., Gloversville (A.


H. Avery and Sơn.)


Avery, Cyrus P., Rockwood, far- mer 60.


Ayers, Stephen, Gloversville livery stable, dairyman and farmer 203, Bleecker. (To be continued)


Washing Earthenware


To wash earthenware rinse as soon as empty with water the tem- perature of the dish and set in room temperature surface to cool, before placing in the sink. Never put hot pottery under cold faucet or plunge into cold water, or handle with wet cloth, If you have been cooking a strong-flavored food like fish or onions wash earthenware in hot suds, sprinkle utensil and its cover with baking soda. After a little, wipe with absorbent


paper toweling, wash and dry.'


Gazetteer, Business Directory of Montgomery and Fulton Counties (For the years 1869-70)


(Continued from last week)


. JOHNSTOWN


farmer 1.


Kenedy, Michael, Gloversville, far- mer 677. Kennedy, James, Gloversville (with


Michael,) farmer. Kennedy, John H., Gloversville, farmer 7 and leases of Wm. T. Con- rey 250. Kennedy, . Martin, Johnstown, stoves and house furnishing goods, south side Main. . Kennedy, Sammuel R., Johnstown, foreman of saw Dept., Livingston Manuf. Co. , Kent, James, Gloversville, kid leather dresser, North Elm, Kiffany, Patrick, Kingsborough, farmer 125. Kiffeny, John, Johnstown, farmer 16.


King, John V., Johnstown; leather dresser and prop, of skin mill.


King, Robert, Gloversville, carpen-


Johnson, John, Johnstown, farmer .. 30. Johnson, L. P., Gloversville, prop: of skin mill and tannery and manuf. of gloves and mittens, Fulton.


Johnson, L. P. and Co./ GIovers- ville (H. T. Cole,) manufs. of gloves and mittens, 3 Spring.


. Johnson, Ralph, Kingsborough, far- mer leases of P. C. and D. G. Hea- cock 150.


Johnson, Ralph, Jr., Gloversville,


glove cutter. Johnson, Wm., Johnstown, farmer 180.


Johnson, William L., Johnstown,


physician and surgeon, Main. Joyce, Patrick, Johnstown, farmer


Judson,


Alanson,


· Gloversville.


glove and mitten factory, corner Freemont and Fulton, also farmer 75. Judson, D. B., Kingsborough, man- uf. of gloves and mittens, merchant. prop. of skin mill, tenement houses and owns 56 acres.


Kasson, H. A., Gloversville, agent for Campbell and Beach, manufs. of gloves and mittens, 58 Main.


Kasson, W. A., Gloversville, man-


ufs. of gloves and mittens, 58 Main. Kosson, A. J., Gloversville (H. ... and A. J. Kosson,) under sheriff of Fulton county. Kosson, H. Z. and A. J., 'Glovers- ville, manufs. of gloves and mittens, 136 Main.


Keck, George H., Sammonsville, (Martin and Keck.) Keck, Isaac, Keck Center, saw


Keck, Jerry, Johnstown, lawyer.


Keck, Joseph, Keck Center, post- master, straw board manuf., general merchant, prop.' of Keclt' Center ho- tel and farmer 40. Keck, Timothy, Keck Center, far- mer 11. ' Kelley, William, Mayfield, farmer


20.


(To be continued)


In 1810 the Seneca Indian Chief Cornplanter visited Fort Plain, where Johnson, J. C., Gloversville, gro- with Chief Joseph Brant he conduct- ceries and provisions. 17 Bleecker. ed a bloody raid on August 2, 1780.


dresser.


Kring, James A., Johnstown, dairy- man and farmer 73.ª


Kenedy, Lysander, Gloversville, Kuoff, Henry, Johnstown, kld dresser, Fulton. Ladew, Oliver, Gloversville, dairy- man, farmer 49 and leases of Geo, W. Hildreth 170.


Laittaur, Nathan, Gloversville, manuf. of gloves and mittens and dealer in glove and mitten trimmings 99 and 101 Main. Lake, Alexander P., Gloversville, (N. D. and A. P. Lake.)


Lake, Benjamin; Johnstown, far- mer 200. Lake, Jonathan' T., Gloversville, farmer 140.


Lake, N. D. and 'A. P., Glovers- ville (Norman D. and Alexander P.) draying, carting, etc., Fulton and Elm.


Lake, Norman D., Gloversville (N. D. and A. P .~ Lake.) Lake, William, Johnstown; farmer 100.7


Lake, William, Johnstown, farmer


P. Argersinger and Co.)


Argersinger, Leonard,, Johnstown, skin dresser.


Argersinger, Michael, Johnstown, jobber.


Argersinger, Michael, Gloversville, farmer 80.


Argersinger, Michael M., Johns- town, skin dresser.


Argersinger, Philip, Johnstown, farmer 140.


Argersinger, P. P. and Co., Johns- town (J. P. Argersinger) manufs. of gloves, mittens and farmers, 67, Wil- liam.


Argersinger, Wm., Johnstown, gro- ceries and provisions north side Main.


Arms, Robert, Rockwood, farmer 200. Atty, Wm., Gloversville, leather staker.


Jeans and/ Grimes, .Johnstown, (Charles Jeans and Wm. Grimes). manufs. of gloves nad mittens, 48


Bleecker.


Jeffers, John, Gloversville, farmer 125. Jeffers, Robert S., Johnstown,


dairyman and farmer 220. Jeffers, Solomon, Gloversville, (Lowry and Jeffers ) inspector of mill. 1


elections and owns 141% acres. Johnson, Aaron, Sammonsville. farmer.


Johnson, Abner A .. Gloversville, ( Johnson and Hildreth. )


Johnson, C. W .. Johnstown, manif. of paper boxes and labels, Case Building, corner Main and Market. Johnson, Emery, Gloversville, skin dresser.


Johnson and Hildreth, Gloversville, ( Abner A. Johnson and G. W. Hil- Areth), laying off gloves by . steam.


Argersinger, Hiram, Johnstown,


(Thompson and Argersinger.)


Argersinger, Jacob,, Johnstown,


Argersinger; John H., Johnstown, farmer 7.


Argersinger, J. P., Johnstown (P.


etc., Streeter's Block, south side Main. Argersinger, B., Johnstown (with Albert Moats) farmer 96:


Argersinger, Baltis J., Johnstown, farmer leases of Thomas J. Briggs, 90. Argersinger, George, Johnstown, feather finisher.


placing in the sink. Never put hot pottery under cold faucet or plunge into cold water, or handle with wet cloth. If you have been cooking a strong-flavored food like fish or onions wash earthenware in hot suds, sprinkle utensil and its cover with baking soda. After a little, wipe with absorbent paper toweling, wash and dry.'


( Abner A. Johnson and G. W. Hil- -- In 1810 the Seneca Indlan Chief Johnson, J. C., Gloversville, gro- Cornplanter visited Fort Plain, where with Chief Joseph Brant he. conduct- ceries and provisions. 17 Bleecker, ed a bloody raid on August 2, 1780. "reth), laying off gloves by , steam.


Gazetteer, Business Directory of Montgomery and Fulton Counties


(For the years 1869-70)


(Continued from last week)


dresser.


Kring, James A., Johnstown, dairy· man and farmer 73."


farmer 1.


Kenedy, Lysander, Gloversville, Kuoff, Henry, Johnstown, kid dresser, Fulton. Ladew, Ollver, Gloversville, dairy- man, farmer 49 and leases of Geo, W. Hildreth 170.


Kenedy, Michael, Gloversville, far- mer 677. Kennedy, James, Gloversville (with


Michael,) farmer.


Kennedy, John H., Gloversville, farmer 7 and leases of Wm. T. Con- rey 250.


Kennedy, . Martin, Johnstown,


stoves and house furnishing goods,


south side Main. 1


Kennedy, Sammuel R., Johnstown, foreman of saw Dept., Livingston


Manuf. Co. .. Kent,' James, Gloversville, kid


leather dresser, North Eim, "Kiffany, Patrick, Kingsborough, farmer 125.


„Kiffeny, John, Johnstown, farmer 16.


King, John „V., Johnstown; leather


dresser and prop. of. skin mill."


. King, Robert, Gloversville,, carpen- ter and farmer 4. . "


King, Wm. H., Gloversville, brick maker.


Kirby, John, Johnstown (with Wil- liam,) farmer 95.


Lamphere, Sardius, Rockwood, carpenter and farmer 30.


Laneger, Alexander, Johnstown,


(A. and S. Laneger.)


Laneger, A. and S., Johnstown (Alexander and Solomon,) shoe maxi- ers, south side Main. - Laneger, Solomon, Johnstown, 'A. and S. Laneger.)


Lansing, David, Gloversville, team- ster and farmer 2.


Lansing, Martin L., Gloversville (Miller and Lansing.) ).


Lansing,, William A., Gloversville, tailor.


Larkins, John, Gloversville, team- ster and farmer 30.


and shoes, Main.


Krause, H. G., Gloversville, skin


(To be continued)


Laittaur, Nathan, Gloversville, manuf. of gloves , and mittens and dealer in glove and mitten trimmings 99 and 101 Main. Lake, Alexander P., Gloversville, (N. D. and A. P. Lake.)


Lake, Benjamin; Johnstown, far- mer 200.


Lake, Jonathan T., Gloversville, farmer 140.


Lake, N. D. and 'A. P., Glovers- ville (Norman D. and Alexander P.) draying, carting, etc., Fulton and Elm.


Lake, Norman D., Gloversvlile (N. D. and A. P. Lakė.)


Lake, William, Johnstown, farmer


100.


Lake, William, Johnstown, farmet 100.


Lake, William, Gloversville, mas- ter builder, Judson.


Kirby, Wm. B. and Co., Glovers- ville (Rufus Washburn,) ready made' clothing, hats, caps, etc., 117 Main. Kirby, William, - Johnstown (with John,) farmer 95.


Kisor, Anthony, Gloversville, mas- ter mason, 9 Chestnut.


Klein, A., Gloversville (M. Beeber and Co.)


Kling, Marcus, Johnstown, pastor


of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Knoff, Louis, Gloversville, kid leather dresser, Main. - Korn, Andrew, Johnstown, boots


- JOHNSTOWN


1


Mohawk Val


ST. JOHNSVILLE, N. Y.


$3.00 Per Year


New York State Covered Bridges


By Richard Sanders Allen


(Mr. Alien is seeking pictures of covered bridges in the Mohawk Val- ey. If you have any please write he Enterprise and News.)


After the War for Independence, America began to feel its new-found inity, and sought better means of


communication between the member tates. This meant connecting roads, ind roads must find a way to cross he rivers that flowed from the East- :rn mountains to the sea, intersect- ng all the main arteries of travel.


Where the Post-Revolutionary oads crossed small streams, simple bridges, consisting of iogs and rude :imbers, were erected. The larger streams were crossed, by means of ferries. These larger, deeper streams became the stumbling block of trans- portation, and the need arose for per- manent crossings by means of perma- nent bridges, even if they had to. be expensive structures of many spans.


Private companies were formed to


have bridges erected at necessary crossings on the new turnpikes. The building contracts for the bridges were let to the famous bridge-build- ers of the day; Theodore Burr, Tim- ›thy Palmer, Lewis Wernwag, and other masters in the framing of wood, many of whom had served their ap- prenticeship in' the shipyards along the New Eigland Coast. These men who built the early big bridges were the first of the Empire Builders.


In New York State, the first iarge wooden bridge was erected in 1804, icross the Hudson at Waterford, un- ler the direction of Theodore Burr. Burr used the principle of the arch in his bridge, a principle which had Jeen forgotten since the Italian Ren- aissance, but, thanks to Burr, was rediscovered and is the main feature in the construction of thousands of steel bridges today.


The Waterford Bridge was a won- derful structure built of huge yellow pine timbers, such as were then avail- able, and stretching 671 feet across the Hudson. It stood for 105 years before it was finally destroyed by Mire in 1909.


Theodore Burr went on to build inother famous New York bridge, the Mohawk bridge at Schenectady, in 1808. This Schenectady bridge was a magnificent failure. It was the first American suspension bridge, the sus- pension members being made of heavy wooden planks, lapped and bolted together, and suspended from wooden superstructure erected on the abutments and piers. After 20 years it showed such alarming signs of collapsing that new piers were built in the river under the sagging suspension members. Then it was covered and each span being at dif- ferent heights and angles, it became an odd, serpentine appearing struc- ture which lasted another 45 years.


The early big bridges were not originally covered. Covering seems to have been an afterthought that in- creased the life of the bridge from 10 o 50, and sometimes 100 .years. The wooden bridge builders of the past


signed are found in steei bridges of the present day.


It is a surprising fact that over 2,000 covered wooden bridges are in use in the United States and Can- ada today. In Oregon, Northern Cal- ifornia and Quebec, where timber is pientiful, they are still being built. Among the states, Ohio leads with 609 covered bridges, followed by In- diana, Pennsylvania and Vermont. In the Green Mountain State 165 of these, structures still exist, on the! main travelled highways , as well as' on little used hill roads.


Our own state of New York has 46 covered bridges still standing within its boundaries. 18 of these are in Delaware county and the rest are scattered about the Eastern part of the state.


New York's most famous existing covered bridge is at North, Blenheim, over Schoharie creek. It is the long- est single span covered wooden bridge in the world, with a ciear span of 210 feet. Its construction is also unique, for it is built. with. a singie arch, extending from the abut- ments to the peak of the roof. The entire bridge which has two road- ways, is dependent upon this arch and upon the Howe Trusses which comprise the remainder of the con- struction. -


Nicholas Montgomery Powers of Pittsford, Vt. was the designer and builder of this bridge. Powers was a profesisonal bridge builder usually building bridges on Town's patent lattice design, but this bridge shows that he had good ideas of his own. Blenheim Bridge is no longer used, but, preserved as a public monument, it stands today staunch as the day it was completed, 87 years ago.


Contrary to general belief, few ex- isting covered 'bridges are over 100 years old. In New York, the oldest known covered structure is Per- rine's Bridge over the Walikill ,at Rifton, in Ulster County. This bridge waserected in 1850 and is almost a pure example of the type of arch bridge such as Theodore Burr origi- nally designed at Waterford.


Other bridges dating from the 50s are found in Washington and Dela- ware counties, usually lattice bridges on Ithiel Town's plan. Washington county has taken the admirable course of preserving her five cover- ed structures, and has restored, strengthened and painted them.


In Delaware and Sullivan counties, the iattice bridges all have wooden buttresses further to strengthen and hold the lattice trusses upright; a feature that found favor in this re- gion, but seems to have been neglect- ed in other parts of the country. These buttresses are also found, on the west branch of the Delaware, in bridges at Hamden, Hawleys and Col- chester Sta. These bridges were con- structed just prior to the Civil War by Robert Murray, a capable Scottish born carpenter-builder of Andes, N. Y. Mr. Murray also built the bridge at Downsvilie, in 1854, furnishing ali the material for the bridge. from the


across the Hudson at Waterford, un- der the direction of Theodore Burr. Burr used the principle of the arch in his bridge, a principle which had been forgotten since the Italian Ren- aissance, but, thanks to Burr, was rediscovered and is the main feature in the construction of thousands of steel bridges today.


The Waterford Bridge was a won- derful structure built of huge yeliow pine timbers, such as were then avail- able, and stretching 671 feet across the Hudson. It stood for 105 years before it was finally destroyed by fire in 1909.


Theodore Burr went on to build another famous New York bridge, the Mohawk bridge at Schenectady, in 1808. This Schenectady bridge was a magnificent failure. It was the first American suspension bridge, the sus- pension members being made of heavy wooden planks, lapped and bolted together, and suspended from wooden superstructure erected on the abutments and piers. After 20 years It showed such alarming signs of collapsing that new plers were built in the river under the sagging suspension members. Then it was covered and each span being at dif- ferent heights .and angles, it became an odd, serpentine appearing struc- ture which lasted another 45 years.


The early big bridges were not originally covered. Covering seems to have been an afterthought that In- creased the life of the bridge from 10 o 50, and sometimes 100 years. The wooden bridge builders of the past century builded better than they inew, and when they, or the custo- lians of their bridges adequately pro- ected thelr main timbers from mols- ure, the possible life-span of th.\r structures is still unknown.


After the War of 1812, the demand 'or adequate bridges Increased to an even greater extent. Bridges were needed for the smaller and medium sized' streams, as weil as for the road rivers.


A simply constructed, yet strong ridge was the order of the day, and to fili this need the lattice bridge was designed. This was the invention and patent of Ithiel Town, an archi- tect of New Haven, Conn. Town's patent bridge used small, easily avaliable wood planking that could be obtained or sawed at any saw mill. The sidewails were composed of a criss-cross of many planks bolted to- gether, with diamond-shaped spaces between, so that the walls them- selves heid up the bridge floor. ' Al- though Town designed the state cap- itol buildings in North Carolina and Indiana, his covered bridge patent made his fortune, for royalties' from the builders who used his , patent poured in from all over the Eastern states.


Various other trusses were devel- ›ped for use in covered bridge bulld- ng, some of which received promi- ience in the different sections of the country in which they were designed, und all of which, good and bad, con- ributed to the science of bridge Jullding.


The next type of widely used truss was patented in 1840 by William Howe of Springfield, Mass. This russ, the appearance of which rough- y resembles the letter "X" in a box, narks the transition between wooden and iron bridges, for iron rods and bolts were used extensively in its construction. Howe. Truss bridges were held in high esteem and the principles.on which they were de-


lattice design, but this bridge shows that he had good ideas of his own. Blenheim Bridge is no longer used, but, preserved as a public monument, It stands today staunch as the day it was completed, 87 years ago.


Contrary to general belief, few ex- isting covered bridges are over 100 years old. In New York, the oldest known covered structure is Per -! rine's Bridge over the Wallkill ,at Rifton, in Ulster County. This bridge waserected In 1850 and Is almost a pure example of the type of arch bridge such as Theodore Burr origi- nally designed at Waterford.


Other bridges dating from the 50s are found in Washington and Dela- ware counties, usually lattice bridges on Ithiel Town's plan. Washington


county has taken the admirable course of preserving her five cover- ed structures, and has restored, strengthened and painted them.


In Delaware and Sullivan counties, the iattice bridges all have wooden buttresses further to strengthen and hoid the lattice trusses upright; a feature that found favor in this re- gion, but seems to have been neglect- ed, In other parts of the country. These buttresses are also found, on the west branch of the Delaware, in bridges at Hamden, Hawieys and Col- chester Sta. 'These bridges were con- structed just prior to the Civil War by Robert Murray, a capable Scottish born carpenter-builder of Andes, N. Y. „Mr. Murray also built the bridge at Downsvilie, in 1854, furnishing ail the material for the bridge, from the river bed up, for $1700.00.




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