Arroyo, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Arroyo was a lumber
town in western Pennsylvania
in the United States
, founded by Thomas Irwin
and located in the township of Spring Creek
, on the Clarion River
, and 10 miles (16.1 km) from Ridgway
. The Arroyo Bridge Company was incorporated in April, 1883, with F. Shaffner, E. M. Rogers, C. H. Smith, James B. Wickes and Charles Millen, directors. The object was to bridge the Clarion at Arroyo.
The Arroyo Bridge, located in Elk County
, was originally constructed in 1882 by the Arroyo Bridge Company, which consisted of a group of local residents who operated it as a toll bridge
until 1899. Elk County purchased the bridge and replaced it in 1901, when it became the site for many summer social events and dances.
The Arroyo Bridge (1901-2004), a three-span, metal Pratt Truss bridge, 287 feet (87.5 m) long, built by the Nelson and Buchanan company of Pittsburgh and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
, crossed the Clarion River here. This bridge was built to replace the Arroyo bridge company's toll bridge. Squire Webster, the toll master, lived at one end of the bridge and collected the tolls from travelers. A family with a horse and wagon could cross for 10 cents. The bridge was such an important structure in the town that dances and parties were held on its deck during Arroyo's heyday.
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
town in western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, founded by Thomas Irwin
Thomas Irwin
Thomas Irwin was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, and later a United States federal judge....
and located in the township of Spring Creek
Spring Creek Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania
Spring Creek Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 260 at the 2000 census.-History:The Lake City School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.-Geography:...
, on the Clarion River
Clarion River
The Clarion River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately 110 mi long, in west central Pennsylvania in the United States...
, and 10 miles (16.1 km) from Ridgway
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
Ridgway is a borough in and the county seat of Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States.-History:Ridgway was founded by Philadelphian shipping merchant Jacob Ridgway and James Gillis. Jacob Ridgway earned substantial wealth both in Philadelphia and abroad in London. He constantly sent sums of money...
. The Arroyo Bridge Company was incorporated in April, 1883, with F. Shaffner, E. M. Rogers, C. H. Smith, James B. Wickes and Charles Millen, directors. The object was to bridge the Clarion at Arroyo.
The Arroyo Bridge, located in Elk County
Elk County, Pennsylvania
Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,946.Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. Its county...
, was originally constructed in 1882 by the Arroyo Bridge Company, which consisted of a group of local residents who operated it as a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
until 1899. Elk County purchased the bridge and replaced it in 1901, when it became the site for many summer social events and dances.
The Arroyo Bridge (1901-2004), a three-span, metal Pratt Truss bridge, 287 feet (87.5 m) long, built by the Nelson and Buchanan company of Pittsburgh and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chambersburg is a borough in the South Central region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is miles north of Maryland and the Mason-Dixon line and southwest of Harrisburg in the Cumberland Valley, which is part of the Great Appalachian Valley. Chambersburg is the county seat of Franklin County...
, crossed the Clarion River here. This bridge was built to replace the Arroyo bridge company's toll bridge. Squire Webster, the toll master, lived at one end of the bridge and collected the tolls from travelers. A family with a horse and wagon could cross for 10 cents. The bridge was such an important structure in the town that dances and parties were held on its deck during Arroyo's heyday.