The History of the Jay Street Bridges

The History of the Jay Street Bridges. . , Covered Bridge , The Jay Street Bridge was once one of the oldest and longest covered bridges in Pennsylvania, spanning more than 800 feet. It was built in October of 1852 by E. Kirkbride and Company under the auspices of the Lock Haven Bridge Company, and had a tollhouse at the south end, near where you are standing. In January of 1919, the bridge burned down. It was investigated as arson; the bridge began burning at about 1:00 in the morning and kerosene was used as an accelerant. No arrest was ever made, however the story goes that a woman set the bridge ablaze to keep her unfaithful husband from returning home. A ferry service was established until the bridge could be rebuilt in the form of an iron span., The photo to the left shows Veterans Bridge that replaced the iron span in 1986., [Other photo captions, clockwise from top left, read] , . [Photo of the expansive covered bridge] , . The Toll House , . The ferry service shown above was used after the wooden bridge in 1919 and before the iron span was completed in 1921. , . [Postcard] One of the oldest bridges in the state, crossing the Susquehanna River, Lock Haven, Pa. , . The Jay Street Iron Bridge from the south side of the river