Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-09
THE OLD BRIDGE KEEPER
A Quarter of Century at His
Place.
Has Witnessed Growth Of HrnnbIc-
ton, from a Few People 10 IL IiIs lsIy
Throng Little Girls tIavo NOW
sdttIc Girls of Their Own.

The Bramblcton Toll Bridge is now
the property of the city and Will be
thrown open to the public as soon as
the transfer is made and the money
paid.
Yesterday tolls were being collected
as usual. Notwithstanding the bridge is
now virtually the property of the city.
AN OLD BRIDGE.
The old bridge from the head Of Holt
street To Mayreld has been used near
ly fifty years. At the meeting of the
Councils Tuesday night, when Mr.. T..
j. Whitehurst was speaking in the in
terost OF the scheme TO build bridge
from the head of Mariner street, he
remarked that the Brambleton Bridge
Company might not be able to transfer
their property, having no title To the
Mayiield bridge. Mr.. w. f. Allen said
b. -l4uGhL lhe lille -Mnull he all right
as the company had been in possession
of the property FOR nearly a hundred
years.
THE PEOPLE PLEASED
The people of Bramblcton are very
much pleased on account of the pur-
chase of the bridge. They have become
tired of paying taxes for The privilege
OF taking a direct route from their
homes 10 the business part Of the city.
THE TOLL KEEPER
Mir Thos Clogan said yesterday that
he had been keeper of the bridge since
1874, twenty-five years. He came 10
America from Ireland when boy. MIR.
Clogan has been Il faithful servant or
the company and during the past quar-
ter of a century has gathered in many
thousands OF dollars
From his place at the gate he has
seen the village of Bramblcton grow
into one OF the most important wards
Of Norfolk. He has seen its population
pass ana repass daily. at first II few
farm hands, at present nearly twelve
thousand people At his window pen
MES have been gathered daily. 30 days
in every Year, for Il quarter of cen
fury.
HE KNEW THEM ALL.
Mr. Clogan has seen the children OF
fifteen years ago who had IN step on
tiptoe to get their tiny hands up To the
window TO deposit their contributions.
develop into handsome women. and as
he says with little girls of their own"
The old toll taker knew them all. He
has from his place on the bridge. seen
the winters come and go, and with the
years familiar faces disappeared TO
come no more. He must now so. He
is swept aside by the wheels of pro-
cloSged too long.
y PATHETIC SIDE
There is a pathetic side To this pic
ture-this sale of the bridge
When the Wings met in Boston to
discuss the ACCESSIBILITY OF disbanding
their party organization. Henry Clay
stepped upon the platform and said
If YOU disbaud this great party, where
viii | go" Ills very presence electri-
fled the assembly and there was a re-
organization and victory. This old toll
collector could ask with as deepearnest-
ness. but less potency: If you sell this
bridge where will I 80. II has been
my home the best years OF my life
have been spent here What this
means Will be forcibly brought TO the
mind Of the old keeper for the first time
in twenty-five years. He took charge
of the bridge a young man. Collecting
tolls has been his LIES work. He leaves
it without an occupation and without
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