BRIDGE NOTES: We continue to get input about the old Seneca
Junction Bridge located on U.S. Route 219 only a few miles north of
Limestone, N.Y.

Geraldine Demarkey of Anaheim, Calif., who is 91 years old,
writes: “About the Seneca Junction Bridge … I remember very well
the day the Seneca Junction Bridge was opened and dedicated. I was
one of the Girl Scouts who were driven by car and truck (standing
crowded into the truck bed) to the bridge.”

“We were probably at the end of the procession, as I don’t
remember seeing much of the ceremony. Just being there was an
exciting memory for a 10- or 11-year old.

“In later years, Seneca Junction became known as Bradford
Junction. There was a large building there where dances and
roller-skating parties were held.

“I also remember going by street car to Salamanca where my
mother’s sister lived. One of my aunts took me on Saturdays to
visit. Sometimes that street car went straight through to
Salamanca. At other times, we had to change cars at Seneca Junction
as Olean was also on that trip.

“I suppose the route was rotated so that one time a rider had to
change cars for Olean or Salamanca. Of course, when street cars
were discontinued in Bradford, we went to Salamanca by train.

“Concerning gasoline prices being more expensive in Bradford
than nearby towns brings back more memories.

“In the 1930s when gas money was hard to come by, there was a
so-called gas war, and people from Bradford crossed the state line
to New York state to fill up, as gas was cheaper there. It sounds
like history repeating itself.”

1937 NOTES: Jack E. Jones of Emporium passes along a list of
prices from 1937 which he clipped from a recent edition of
Reminisce magazine. Get a lot of these!

“Annual income, $1,259; a man’s dress shirt, $1.39; nurse’s
uniform, $1; large eggs, 45 cents a dozen; floor wax, 39 cents a
pint; ground beef, 2 pounds for 29 cents; linoleum, 22 cents a
square yard; gasoline, 20 cents a gallon;

Bacon, 18 cents a pound; lemons, 11 cents a dozen; potatoes, 10
cents for 3 pounds; toilet paper, 6 cents for two rolls; yeast, 3
cents a cake; first-class stamp, 3 cents; daily newspaper, 2 cents;
split peas, 1 cent for 2 pounds.”