The River Reporter
Thursday, January 30, 1986, p. 1.
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Skinners Falls bridge to close for repair

By ED WESELY

SKINNERS FALLS - The historic Skinners Falls bridge which has linked Upper Delaware communities since 1902 will be closed for rehabilitation work during the summer of 1986.

"We're going to rehabilitate the existing structure," explained Tom Soya of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) District Four bridge unit. "The bridge is posted for nine tons now. The weight limit won't be raised. We'll strengthen the stringers and floor beams; replace some pin connections where the truss members meet; and correct any deficiencies in the truss itself."

"Strengthening the floor beams means removing the existing wood deck, which will force PennDOT to close the bridge.

"Bids will be let in late March," confirmed Foster Sankey of PennDOT's Region Four. "Work will begin at the end of May or early June and finish in the late fall." During construction the bridge will be closed to automobile and pedestrian traffic "for the majority of the time."

When major structural work is completed, PennDOT will install a new deck and repaint the bridge.

Since Skinners Falls is one of four Upper Delaware bridges which qualify for the National Register of Historic Places, PennDOT will also make sure that rehabilitation work is historically accurate.

In addition, the National Park Service (NPS) will consult with PennDOT on proper safety measures to protect river recreationists.

"We ask that you include appropriate safety measures to protect river recreationists passing under the bridge," NPS Superintendent John Hutzky wrote PennDOT on December 23, 1985. "In addition we place great importance on consideration for the needs of local residents. We ask you to remain sensitive to those living in the area, especially in regard to scheduling of rehabilitation work and maintenance of detours.

"The reason for the bridge was lumbering," Region Four Environmental Manager Edward Osnick told The River Reporter this week. "Timothy Skinner and Simeon Calkins built a mill near the bridge site, right on the river. They were there in 1900, a hundred feet downstream on the Pennsylvania side."

"In 1900 Milton Skinner operated a ferry there. It shuttled people and livestock; and took finished lumber to the Erie Railroad. But for the sawmill, the Erie Railroad was on the wrong side of the river."

To the chagrin of the upstream Cochecton Bridge Company, Skinner formed the Milanville Bridge Company and soon applied to New York State for a charter. He got the charter in 1901, and the American Bridge Company completed the new bridge in November 1902.

An ice-jam flood soon accomplished what the Cochecton Bridge Company could not: the great flood and ice-jam of March 26, 1904 ripped out the New York half of the bridge, from the center pier to. the shore. This was rebuilt by the Owego Bridge Company later in 1904 and reopened to traffic in the fall.

When the Joint Interstate Bridge Commission purchased the Skinners Falls bridge for $19,542.21 On July 13, 1922, it came under PennDOT's jurisdiction.

A roster of the company's officers and directors in 1901 reads like a page of local history: Milton L. Skinner, president; L.J. Hocker, treasurer, Charles E. Beach, secretary; W.S. Brandt, H.W. Tegeler, George S. Schoonover, Joseph Page, and Isaac Lovelass -- directors.