NOT JUST A BRIDGE.....
SOUTHAMPTON'S HILLIARD'S BRIDGE OVER THE RANCOCAS
On July 14, 2004, Vincentown and Southampton Township, along with other Burlington County towns, experienced one of its most devastating floods in memory. Among the flood casualties was a small one-lane iron bridge across the South Branch of the Rancocas on the outskirts of the Village of Vincentown on Hilliard's Bridge Road, just off Main Street near Route 206. To the average person, it was just another bridge that had to be replaced. But to the residents of Vincentown, many of whom had travelled both over and under the bridge many times over the years, it was a piece of our community's history. Every resident who had ever canoed the Rancocas from the Mill Pond to Retreat remembers going under this bridge -- it was a real experience. Depending on how high the creek was, you often had to duck to get under the bridge. Those who had travelled over it recall the clickety clack of the wooden planks -- and how they often had to practice chivalry to allow someone coming the other way to cross before them. For those who walk, run or bike, the Hilliard's Bridge was a part of a 2.5 mile circuitous trail through the Village of Vincentown, down Mill St. and along Red Lion Road, and finally down Hilliard's Bridge Road and over this unique bridge. Not only was the loss of the bridge on July 14 an inconvenience -- but it was the passing of an old friend. How would it be replaced? The quick answer was with a new, modern bridge -- wider, of course, to accommodate the increased traffic in town -- and paved -- no more clickety clack of the wooden planks. But that was the quick answer.
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The job would fall to the Burlington County Engineering Department to get the bridge replaced. We are fortunate to live in a county with a sense of history. As always, the county began planning for the replacement of the bridge by involving the local community. In recent years, the county has coordinated the replacement of a bridge on Main Street over Stop-the-Jade Run at the entrance to the town from the north, and the bridge on Race Street, Vincentown, which is both the Mill Dam and a bridge. In each case, care was taken to incorporate the design features and historic relics of the earlier bridges into their replacements. During the design period, consideration was also given to the well preserved rural setting which makes our community unique. The county's sensitivity continued to prevail as plans were laid out for the replacement of the old iron bridge on Hilliard's Bridge Road.. . .
The stone chosen for the abutments matches the stone on the two other Vincentown bridges
-- the one on Main Street and the one on Race Street (click on highlighted words for descriptions and photos of these other bridges).
Beyond the sentimental value to the residents of Vincentown, it was determined that this iron bridge on Hilliard's Bridge Road holds a significant place in the history of bridges. It was originlly constructed in 1893, with the steel truss constructed in 1907. The county determined that because of its historic significance, it would not be replaced, but rehabilitated. It is a 3-panel rivet-connected Warren pony truss bridge and, even before the flood, was considered a well-preserved example of its type and fabricator, the Canton Bridge Company (Ohio). The Canton Bridge Company, founded 1876, was one of the most prolific bridge companies during the late 19th and 20th centuries. This early and complete Warren pony truss span is a signficant example of this type. The bridge has been designated a local landmark and has been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.The bridge is 40 ft. in length and a little less than 14 ft. wide. The damaged bridge was removed, rebuilt and then replaced under the supervision of the Burlington County Engineer's Department. Burlington County is to be commended for the sensitive manner in which it dealt with the restoration of this very historic bridge, maintaining the historic design and creating a setting which fits the rural nature of its location, surrounded by both fields and woods. Note: This material has been adapted from New Jersey Historic Bridge Survey completed 1990 by A.G. Lichtenstein & Assoc., Inc.
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The basic iron ornamentation ("finals") and plaques remain intact. Also, the wooden roadbed remains a unique feature of the bridge. The required modern safety features have been blended into the old design in a way that does not destroy the original look. Chivalry will again have to prevail, as the bridge has not been widened -- which will not only preserve its originality, but also hopefully serve as a deterrent to speeding on Hilliard's Bridge Road.
Plaque on left commemorates the Advisory Bridge Committee (1907) (Click here for larger view)
Center plaque commemorates 2006 rehabilitation (Click here for larger view)
Third plaque names original builder, the famous Canton Bridge Company, Canton, Ohio
A little over two years after the Thousand Year Flood of 2004, Hilliard's Bridge has reopened to the traffic, the walkers, the runners, the bikers, and, yes, the canoers. Thanks to everyone who cared enough to do it right!
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