Canal bridges in the Chesapeake City area – circa 1907 – 1949: Long Bridge, part 4

 

Here we see a southwest view of South Chesapeake City, with, at left, Long Bridge spanning across Back Creek. Notice the grain building just to the right of it. This building in this old picture was replaced by a newer one that I used to go under in the late forties and early fifties. In the distance is Franklin Hall, the Ohrel Building (once a tailor shop and existing now as one of the smallest bed and breakfasts in the country), and the Bayard House at right. The boys in town around that time (John Sager, Walter Cooling, Dick Titter and others) used to dive off Long Bridge and swim in this area of Back Creek. John Sager told me that Rube Hevalow operated this center pivot bridge by turning an iron crank, which took a good bit of energy. The boys would sometimes help him turn it when a vessel had to get through. John told me that one time Rube got mad at the boys for some reason and chased them away. Well, the boys came back later to get even and went under the bridge and put a rock in the gears to keep Rube from operating the bridge.