File:Potomac River Bridge Looking towards the east end of Brunswick.jpg

Summary

Looking towards the east end of Brunswick from the hills of Loudoun County, VA. See the toll house at the entrance to the old Potomac River bridge on the Virginia side. The structure of the bridge leveraged the foundation of the original bridge that was destroyed during the Civil War.

According to "Lovettsville: The German Settlement" by Yetive Rockefeller Weatherly: "Most authorities cite 1898 as the date when the bridge weas built; yet a marker says 1895, and some residents of Lovettsville insist upon 1893. No doubt construction lasted several years.

Built upon the piers of the old bridge, the new one had a steel super-structure with a wood flooring that rumbled a thundering protest when it was later subjected to the heavy wheels of motoorized traffic."

Mrs. Weatherly also wrote: "In about 1900, Americus (Meck) Wenner, who lived on the farm on the west side of the turnpike (Rt. 287) adjacent to the bridge entrance, allowed a row of about a dozen stables to be built on his property at the bridge.

After this, people could leave their horses on the Virginia side and walk to Brunswick for 10 cents instead of 30 cents for a horse and buggy. The toll for two-horse buggies and wagons was 75 cents; for four horses, $1.00; and for six horses, $1.25."

(Photo courtesy of Brunswick Heritage Museum)