The Chesapeake City Lift Bridge Destruction

Here is a south view of the bridge damage by the tanker, Franz Klassen. The ship smashed into the south tower at 11:38 AM on Tuesday, July 28^th, 1942. I was six years old and playing outside on our farm, which was about a quarter mile south of the bridge. I heard the crash and looked in and saw that the familiar bridge towers were not there. That evening after work my father took me in to see the destruction. He parked very close so we could see all the black steel lying across the ship’s bow. This aerial view shows parts of north and south Chesapeake City. Notice the old buildings on Lock Street and George Street. At left is the City Dock area (now Pell Gardens).