The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-01-18

The bridge was about $40 feet In
length and was built of old pump
kin pine. 1t was of the truss type,
and, as can be seen from the accom-
panying photographs. covered. 1t
had two roadways. There was
enough timber in 1t to frame out an
entire village the way framing is
done these days. The charter for
the bridge company was put thru
the legislature by Franklin Smith,
who was a member of the House of
Representatives at the time from
North Arson, he afterward went to
live in Waterville.
1t cost about $1,000 to build the
bridge, which was originally cover
ed with long shingles, split out and
shaved by hand and fastened in
place by the old time three cornered
hand wrought nails.
FIRST BRIDGE TENDER
"Old Uncle Henry Bickford, was
the first toll gatherer or bridge ten
der" said Mr.. Fletcher, and he was
noted character turnout this re-
gion. Besides tending the bridge
he was engaged In the manufacture
/
the toll house. He lived in the toll
house as did all those who follow
ed him. There was gate to pre-
vent passage without paying toll.
I 1t consisted of a large plank, Sc
curely fastened to support at one
end, which could be swung COM
pletely across the roadway.
/ Uncle Henry was followed by
/ Samuel Thompson. who served as
toll gatherer for number of years
off and on, and then came Widow
Healey. She was the widow of Cy
rus Healey of Concord. She held the
job until she married Tom Pushor
and the bridge was abandoned as a
toll structure and given to the pub
/ lie to use free of charge at its own
risk. This was several years ago.
1.-THE tote teams which hauled
these supplies" explain Mr.. Fletcher,
were all huge four. horse rigs and
the transfers, or toters as they were
called were husky rough men. who
rUuiri rwvur INV, .s.s:i: ;fts, nnd n@ht
aud required very little provocation
to do all three. II would be difficult
to say how many of those teams pass
ed thru the bridge in q day; there
would be more some days and less
others, but always there were some
OF them going and coming up and
down the river, I'd say there. were
from 10 to 20 a day.
HAULED POTATOES TO SKOWHE-
INT
Skowhegan, there was an added
business for the bridge" continued
Mr.. Fletcher. 1.-The farmers were
growing potatoes and the railroad
gave them better outlet. The.
could haul them to that place, sell
the load and return in a day. HaC
to make long day of it. but then
farmers were used TO making Ions
days.
i've seen 80 teams cross the
bridge in an hour, all of them load
ed with potatoes They'd start out
early in the morning, making Skow
hogan in the forenoon, self the load
buy such supplies as they wanted
and then start back home. getting
there by dark. All this added tt
the income of the bridge, which fol
many years was big paying prop
erty
THE rates of toll varied from
two cents for foot passengers up tt
The highest amount for the big tote
teams. There were. rates for sheep
for swine. pigs. horses and riders
cattle and all sort of vehicles. These
were all set forth on the big blach
sign board fastened to the front o
the toll house.
Some three years ago III the spring
freshet the ice and water swept ava,
the Madison span of the bridge, which
was over the land leaving a space Of
about 40 feet between the bridge ant
the Madison approach. This endef
the use of the old structure for teams
A ladder was built, however. ant
raised to the end of the bridge. 81
that. except In food season. foot pas
sengers. by climbing this ladder OF
the Madison shore, can cross to thu
North Arson shore. The old bridge
is sagging in all its spans so that i
would be unafe for teams. 1t is onl,
a question of time when 1t will al
tumble into the Kennebec, a wreck
1t is hoped that eventually the state
will take hold and replace the bridge
with modern structure, as 1t is al
important factor in the matter of in
tercourse in this region.
LEWISTON JOURNAL