Canal bridges in the Chesapeake City area – circa 1907 – 1949: The Lift Bridge

This is a south west view of the lift bridge that opened for traffic in 1926. Notice the heavy weight at right. There was one at left also (out of the picture). These weights balanced the structure somewhat, allowing less stress on the electric motor that powered the raising and lowering of the span. In the distance stands the Masonic Hall and above that on the span is the shack from which men used to operate the bridge. After a ship destroyed the St. Georges bridge in 1939 (killing Mr. Oaks and Mr. Quinn), our bridge was operated from a small building on the South Side.