The "The Singing Bridge" Story

Looking south as the water begins to cover the "Singing Bridge."

It was an ordinary day.  Talking with Carol about the time we drove her dad's big Harley motorcycle with the saddlebags and wrap-around windshield across the "Singing Bridge" at Engleside.  I guess I need to give you the background as to how we came to have his motorcyle in the first place.  Carol's mom and my dad worked together and set up a blind date for Carol and me.  I made a call and told her I would stop and take her for a ride on my Honda motorcycle.  

This shows the bridge sitting next to the railroad bridge
after it has been knocked from its foundation.

Knocked on the door, not knowing what to expect, the door opened and there stood this beautiful young girl with long dark hair.  I introduced myself and before long we were riding on my cycle.  Ten minutes into the ride the rain came so we headed back to her house for the remainder of the date.  When her dad found out I rode a motorcycle, he offered his Harley to us from time to time.  Well, within a year we were husband and wife and riding her dad's Harley once again across the "Singing Bridge" heading down to southern Lancaster County for a visit with relatives.  

The newer northbound bridge can be seen on the top while
half of the "Singing Bridge" lays against the railroad bridge
at the bottom.  I found this photo on Pinterest and believe
it is from the Lancaster Newspapers.

Now, I should tell you about the "Singing Bridge" since it is the topic of my story today.  The base or bed of the bridge, which was an all metal bridge, has a woven metal bed where you can see the waters of the Conestoga River through it.  The openings are rather large and when you ride a motorcycle across it you must be careful so you don't lose control of the cycle.  The sound created by traffic crossing the bridge reminds one of someone singing, thus the name given to the bridge.  That was back in 1967 and since that time the "Singing Bridge" has been destroyed.  Happened in June of 1972 when Hurricane Agnes blew up the coast into Lancaster County, PA, causing rivers to swell, knocking trees down and wreaking havoc.  Pennsylvania's governor named the storm "Hurricane Agony."  

Photo as the bridge looks today heading southbound.

He had to flee his governor's mansion in nearby Harrisburg when the mighty Susque- hanna River flooded the town.  The storm caused the loss of 68,000 homes and 3,000 businesses as well as displacing 220,000 residents.  The damage in PA was $2.1 billion with 48 deaths.  My Aunt Lillian's home, which was located along the Conestoga River in an area known as Bridgeport, went underwater shortly after we were able to salvage some of her furnishing and keepsakes.  

I took this photo from the east side of both bridges.  The
northbound bridge is in the foreground while the newer
southbound bridge is slightly hidden in the background.
Click on photos to enlarge them.

Downriver in Engleside, the Conestoga River knocked the "Singing Bridge" partially off it's concrete foundation, pushing it into the neighboring railroad bridge that was perhaps 30 feet away.  The amount of damage done to the railroad along the Conestoga caused them to shut down the line permanently.  The railroad bridge still remains today, but the "Singing Bridge" was replaced with a cement bridge.  Luckily the "Singing Bridge" was southbound only, since in 1970 another cement northbound bridge had been built which had to become two-way while another bridge was constructed.  A Bailey bridge was eventually erected next to the destroyed "Singing Bridge" to aid in the construction of the new cement southbound bridge which was finished in 1975.  I miss that old "Singing Bridge" and all the memories Carol and I have of making our crossings on her dad's Harley while watching the Conestoga rush under it.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.