From the Map Box - Blairsville Covered bridge

Here is another sheet of information that was in the Map Box again it's impossible to copy and scan - these are typed on old typewriter paper, which isn't really paper, it looks more like transparent film. If your old enough to remember what typewriter paper was back in the 60's and 70's you will understand. So I will retype it.

- it's titled

NOTES AND DATA ON THE BLAIRSVILLE COVERED BRIDGE

* Erected 1821-22 by the Conemaugh Bridge Company. In November 1822 passable for wagons. Fully Completed September 1823

* Cost $15,000. James Moore, Contractor. Covered arch structure. Wernwag plan, 300-feet span with (no?) piers. Said to have been in 1822 and for some years afterward the longest single-span structure of it's kind in the United States.

* First bridge to cross the Conemaugh River

* First schedule of tolls:

Foot pedestrian 2 cents,

six horses and four-wheeled wagon 75cents,

five horses, four-wheel wagon 62 cents,

four horses, four wheels 50cents,

three horses, four wheels 44 cents,

two horses, four wheels 37 cents,

one horses, four wheels 31 cents,

sleighs of sleds with four horses 37 1/2 cents

single horses with or without riders 6 cents

sheet or swine 2 cents per head

cattle 4 cents

gig and one horse 18 cents

- the above from history of Indiana County (Newark, Ohio. J.A. Caldwell, 1880) Pages 349-350

* Bridge traffic in 1829:

pedestrians on foot 12,527

One horse wagons 374

Two-horse wagons 245

Four-horse wagons 781

Five horse wagons 1566

Six-horse wagons 1438

Cattle 497

Sheep 98

Swine 475

Stagecoaches 730 times

Yearly subscribers 325

- the above from Thomas F Gordon, A Gazetteer of the State of Pennsylvania ( T. Belknap, Philadelphia, 1833)

* Act of the General Assembly, March 28, 1820, "Authorising the Governor to incorporate the President, Managers, and Company of the Conemaugh Bridge Company" George Mulhollan, junior; Moses Murphy, Nathaniel Doty, Samuel Bard, and Edward Howard named Bridge Commissioners. To Commence selling stock at $50 per share on or before August 1,

Notices to be published in each of the newspapers of Indiana and Westmoreland Counties for at least one calendar month. $2 fee payable immediately as each share of stock in subscribed; the balances to be paid in installments. The Governor to issue letters patent after 200 shares subscribed. Books to be closed when 300 shares subscribed. Bridge must be completed within 10 years.

* Act of March 26, 1821 authorizes Governor to subscribe 100 shares at $50 each to the stock of the Conemaugh Bridge Company on behalf of the Commonwealth.

* First officers of the Conemaugh Bridge company:

Andrew Brown, president

John Doty, Treasurer

Managers - James Moorhead, Samuel Baird, Nathannel Doty, John Bingham, John Anderson, and R. K. Simpson

William Clark, First tollgate-keeper

- the above from J.T Stewart, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

Volume 1 pages 463 (Chicago, J. R. Beers and Co. 1913)

* The Commonwealth sold its 100 shares of stock at a sale in Harrisburg, November 28, 1842

* Specifications of the Bridge:

Length between abutments 295 feet,

35 feet above water level (from Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, Volume 2 page 297

* Bridge had 2 wagon tracks separated by timbers and small windows at intervals, painted white and yellow. Toll house on the west side of the River. (Westmoreland County)

* Tolls November 1822- September 1823 $1569.30 1/2

* On December 31, 1831 a 14% yearly dividend declared to stockholders.

* Yearly Pass cost $1.50

- The above from Lois F. Smith, History of Blairsville (Pennsylvania State College, Master's thesis, 1939) Page 36

** Bridge fell at 10:00 pm on Thursday January 22, 1874

More information about this bridge can be found at Lost Bridges. org here