BRIDGE WORK: Many of our readers undoubtedly will recall that
scary old Seneca Junction bridge which spanned the Allegheny River
on Route 219 near the state line.

Memories of this unique edifice were brought to mind when we
scanned an old Bradford Board of Commerce booklet which touted the
enormous effort to have this bridge constructed, among many other
things.

The booklet titled, “Bradford, the Oil Metropolis of
Northwestern Pennsylvania,” is not dated but does make reference to
its writing in April of 1926. Our thanks to Barbara Smith for
sharing it with us.

Along with being “the Oil Metropolis of Northwestern
Pennsylvania,” Bradford is proclaimed in the publication as “the
friendliest oil town in the world.”

The promotional booklet, not unlike pamphlets still printed by
Chambers of Commerce and tourist groups today, boasts of many of
the achievements of Bradford and the surrounding area.

As such, it is a snapshot of Bradford at that time, telling of
its factories, oilfield, history and geography, and many of its
“assets” – including its many concrete roads.

A two-page spread describes efforts to construct what we now
know as U.S. Route 219 or, perhaps a bit loftier, “Continental
One.” In that day, it was called “The Buffalo-Pittsburgh
Trail.”

And at the junction of these two pieces of roadway, of course,
was the Seneca Junction Bridge which has also been called Bradford
Junction Bridge.

In any case, the old span is pictured in all its glory – said to
be a 900-foot span of the Allegheny River (then, the “Allegany
River”).

It undoubtedly was a thing of beauty and modern construction at
the time but our memories of the old bridge are harrowing. You may
remember that the bridge had metal decking which tossed a car’s
tires back and forth, seemingly on the verge of a plunge into the
river below.

It has since been abandoned and a modern bridge constructed. For
awhile, the old span was still visible but now only some pilings
remain – and we’re not even sure they belonged to the highway
bridge.

Included with the photo are two inserts, one of Martha Louise
Koch of Bradford, representing Pennsylvania; and one of Elizabeth
Whipple, representing New York. Both are attired in appropriate
regalia, having dedicated the bridge.

The bridge story is only part of the information about the
“Buffalo-Pittsburgh” Trail. More tomorrow.