THE BRIDGE – The Alexandria Delaware Bridge Co. was organized in 1842 and it got quick results. Pedestrians could cross the new covered bridge in 1843, and wagons could cross in 1844. Levi Mettler was appointed toll collector, quickly succeeded by low-bidder Ambrose Silverthorn, a tailor who served for six years.
The flood of 1903 destroyed one third of the bridge – the two spans on the Jersey side. Ferry service was resumed until the bridge reopened in 1905. For decades the bridge would be two-thirds covered and one-third iron – “an eyesore,” according to Clarence Fargo in his "History of Frenchtown" (1933).
Ruth Apgar, who was an adolescent during the covered-bridge days, told me that the bridge was a congenial place for smooching. And if the bridge-tender knew that the object of your desire was closer at hand than Pennsylvania, he wouldn't charge for use of the tunnel of love.
In 1928 the Frenchtown and Milford river bridges were purchased by the Free State Bridge Commission, a joint enterprise of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Frenchtown bridge cost the commission $45,000.
At that time, these were the posted tolls:
Pedestrian 1 cent, monthly rate 25 cents paid in advance; pedestrian with wheelbarrow, 4 cents; bicycle, 2 cents; wagon with single horse 10 cents, with two horses 15 cents, with three horses 20 cents, and with four horses 25 cents; automobile with one seat 15 cents, with two seats 20 cents and with three seats 25 cents; auto truck under 2 tons 20 cents, 2-3 tons 25 cents, 3-4 tons 50 cents; motorcycle 10 cents; cattle, 5 cents per head; cow with one calf 5 cents; horse and rider 7 cents; and man leading a calf 4 cents. Happily there was no specified toll for amorous couples.
Students from Pennsylvania, who attended school in Frenchtown, would gather into crowds so they could distract and confuse the toll-taker and maybe save a few pennies.
In 1929 the tolls were lifted from both bridges, which was a relief to one and all.
The current new all-steel bridge was opened Oct. 10, 1931, with much pageantry. Councilman S. Frank Opdycke's teenage daughter Frances (later Anderson, 1913-2006) was chosen to represent Frenchtown and Thelma Sigafoos was her Pennsylvania counterpart.
A luncheon was first on the agenda. “Thelma and I were the only women at the Warford House banquet with all those important men,” Frances recalled 50 years later. “They gave Thelma and me each the most beautiful bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums and there were speeches after the dinner down near the river. The Frenchtown Cornet Band played. Besides the mums we carried, we wore wide sashes across our dresses. Mine said 'Miss Frenchtown' and Thelma's said 'Miss Uhlertown.' I will never forget my dress. It was a long, sleeveless black dress and I wore long back gloves. Fortunately it was a warm day for October, a beautiful Indian summer day.
“I rode on the back of an open roadster, can't remember now if it were George Hummer's or Joe Heisel's, but I sat there … smiling and waving at everybody. Then when I reached the middle of the bridge, Thelma and I cut the ribbon they had strung across the bridge.
“Following behind us were cars with the bridge commissioners, the senators, Mayor Hoff, the council including my dad. An old black roaster with Jerry Zich and George Vocke from Flemington was in the parade. Jerry and George were dressed up in costumes to go with that old 1900 roadster.
“Dear Mary Moore pushed the baby carriage that she had been pushed in 50 years before, across the bridge.” When interviewer Gloria Sipes Paleveda marveled at how exciting that must've been for a 17-year-old girl, husband Asie Anderson laughed and said, “She's still not over it.”
Excerpt from "Rick's Frenchtown Encyclopedia" (a work in progress)
(The Bridge, Part 2 coming soon.)
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