Answer To Question #11

Answer To Question #11. . Pike's Past by Jim Henry , This week's sketch shows the old Kilgore Bridge which was over the Ohio Erie Canal at the intersection of Columbia Drive near Cherry Street at the north end of Waverly., Let's think back. Place yourself at Cherry Street. looking north. Imagine the time around 1876 and you are busy watching a southbound canal boat taking on corn from a farm wagon sitting inside the bridge., Most bridges outside of town had a trap door which was used to unload grain and other commodities as coal. Fortunately, there is one of these old bridges left in Pike County located north of Waverly on the Barger Farm., The canal was a boom to Waverly for freight and was probably the most important reason for the industrial area of Waverly being built., After 1876, the canal started losing its importance as during this year two railroads, the Scioto Valley and Springfield, Jackson and Pomeroy started operations Later, these two became par of the Norfolk and Wester and the Detroit, Toledo an Ironton system. Page 6 - Waverly Watchman, Thursday, Dec. 2, 1965 , People, Places And Things , Scene About Town - By "Cumie", For a number of years I had hoped to find a picture somewhere of the Old Kilgore Bridge. But it would always end up by the person saying, "Well I think that it is Kilgore". So, I never felt free to state for sure that the picture I had secured was the Kilgore Bridge. Now, this one (above) is the bridge for certain., It was across the Ohio and Erie Canal, so called because the adjoining land was at one time owned by Kilgore. You would not recognize the land now because there are now many beautiful homes in this spot, but the red brick mansion still stands, just above the Norfolk and Western Railroad as it was built so many years ago., Now, if I am correct, the land is now known as Kilgore Estates and there is a filled in road, flat and level, leading into the Kilgore Estates which is now owned by Mrs. Joseph Jones of Second St., Gone with the years are the stone abutments and the bridge itself, the floor of which opened as a door and canal boats could be loaded with grain, etc. there as they passed under the bridge, for shipping to far away places., This bridge stood almost oppo- site the home and dental office of Dr. John W. Laymaster of the Omega Pike which is now known as 543 Second St. for post office delivery purposes., Underneath this bridge and to one side of it there was a wide watering place in the canal and here each one seemed to stop, unfasten the check reins on their horses, wagons, mules or cattle the driver drove into this more shallow water to let his stock get a refreshing drink. The water also felt good around the hoofs of the stock. After resting there, the stock was again driven on the road, check reins, etc. fastened up again and away the refreshed  stock went on their appointed journeys., This picture was made made by Joseph White of East North St. who is connected with the News- Watchman staff of this city.