| On this night the 1st ever light up night of the Stone Bridge, a bridge with a deep long History. The Stone Bridge Project.. The Stone Bridge, located on the edge of Johnstown's downtown, is an arched bridge built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887. On May 31, 1889, its seven arches blocked tons of debris carried by the waters of the Johnstown Flood, but the bridge itself withstood the flood's impact. An enormous fire broke out at the bridge, killing 100's of people trapped in the flood debris. The fire would burn for three days. Today, the bridge is a Johnstown landmark, and is still an active railroad bridge with three tracks. Owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad, the bridge is located along Route 56, the most heavily-traveled road in the region. It is highly visible from Route 56, downtown, JAHA's newly-established Festival Park, and the restaurant and visitors center above the city at the Inclined Plane. A committee of community leaders is leading an effort to restore the stone bridge, including cleaning for physical and aesthetic improvements. The concrete on the southern side of the bridge wwas replaced.. The bridge will also be lit using energy-efficient LED lighting that can be adjusted to different colors and intensities. Closer view, with rail traffic."The significance of the Stone Bridge is that it stood its ground against the flood waters and altered the future of Johnstown completely and forever. It created the backdrop for the event that put Johnstown on the ... |
