Photo of the Month

March, 2002

SECOND MIFFLINVILLE BRIDGE,

A GROUP OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, 1907

Construction of the first bridge over the Susquehanna River to Mifflinville was nearing completion when the 1904 winter flood destroyed it on February 10. The state enacted legislation in 1905 to provide funding to build the second bridge. While under construction a terrible accident occurred on December 10, 1907, when one of the bridge spans gave way when the river began to rise from another flood. Forty workers fell into the icy water with fifteen injured and seven killed. Those who searched the river succeeded in finding the bodies of six of the seven men who drowned. The second bridge with a length of 1,226 feet opened for travel in 1908. Through the efforts of State Representative Ted Stuban, a new and modern style bridge replaced the old one in 1994 when Mifflinville celebrated its bicentennial. The Society appreciates the use of the photograph provided by Bill Hartzell of Mifflinville.