N.J.’s Riegelsville Bridge spans the Delaware River and gives a glimpse to our past.

Wednesday June 10, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m:
an illustrated talk by

Robert P. Thomas, AIA

Join us for a slide-show adventure to the scenic Upper Delaware River above tidewater at Trenton NJ and its historic bridges up to Port Jervis NY.  We’ll learn not only about the bridges’ details and many of their wooden predecessors, but also about their social and commercial position in the history of this beautiful valley.  We’ll learn as well about bridges that no longer exist, and why they were never replaced or completed.

The program will be also be simulcast on Zoom at this link: : https://freelibrary-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bqfc0ZqfSTutKhE3_vq4KQ

Our speaker: 
Our speaker, Bob Thomas, is a founding partner of Campbell Thomas & Co. architects and an early member of the Oliver Evans Chapter. Bob has served over 20 years on the Philadelphia Historical Commission, 8 years as chair. He chaired the City of Philadelphia’s Accessibility Advisory Board for 12 years and he is now co-chair of the Schuylkill River Greenways Tidal Schuylkill Committee. He is very active in promoting the Schuylkill River Trail, the September 11th National Memorial Trail, the East Coast Greenway, and the Great Schuylkill to Susquehanna Passage.

Location: Parkway Central Free Library, 1901 Vine Street, Room 108.

The easiest way to travel to Room 108 is through the front entrance to the library. The room is located down a hallway to the right of the main staircase in the lobby. Our accessibility entrance is located at the back of the library on 20th and Wood Street. There is metered parking around the library building and a paid parking lot behind the library with an entrance off Callowhill Street.
The Free Library has Bicycle Racks at the main entrance on Vine Street, and is directly served by the following SEPTA routes:  32, 33 and 49 and within 2-3 blocks by SEPTA routes 7 and 48.

The room will be open at 5:30 for members and visitors to mingle.

An Additional Program on Historic Upper Delaware River Bridges:

A Motor and Walking Tour of a Selection of the Historic Bridges of the Upper Delaware 

Guided by Robert P. Thomas, AIA 

Join us for a motoring tour up and down the Delaware River north of Trenton. We’ll make stops for walking tours across several of the most interesting and scenic historic bridges as well as parts of the charming river towns they serve in these rural parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We’ll meet at SEPTA’s Yardley station which is accessible by train, bicycle and private car.  To minimize the use of fuel and our impact on the quaint towns we visit, we’ll organize carpools at the Yardley Station to minimize the number of cars in our group. While there is no charge by the SIA for this tour, all participants are required to share driving expenses.   
Our leader, Bob Thomas, is a founding partner of Campbell Thomas & Co. architects and an early member of the Oliver Evans Chapter. Bob has explored and led  tours of this entire  valley for over sixty years by foot, bicycle, canoe and car, authoring a few guides to some of its treasures. 

DATE: Saturday, June 20, 2026      
TIME: 9am – approximately 4pm    
RAINDATE: June 21, 2026 
MEET AT: Parking Lot of the SEPTA Yardley Regional Rail Station, 13 Reading Ave., Yardley PA
There is parking available at the Yardley Station for $2 a day, 7 days a week.   Some people will need to leave their cars there when we form carpools on June 20th at the Station for the tour.
By Train:  Please join those of us who will be taking SEPTA Train #8312 to Yardley. It runs from Chestnut Hill West to Yardley as follows:   
Dp Chestnut Hill West:   7.15am 
Dp 30th Street Station:  7.45am 
Dp Jefferson Station:     7.50am 
Dp Jenkintown Station:   7.55am 
Dp Temple University:     8:00am 
Dp Jenkintown Station:   8:14am                 
Ar  Yardley:  8.47am 

COST: No Charge – But, carpools expenses will  be shared by everyone.  REGISTRATION:  To avoid overcrowding in this quiet area, the tour will be limited to fifteen participants. Please register at robertthomas96943@gmail.com  
Also, please contact  Bob  Thomas there if you have any questions about the tour.  

LUNCH: We’ll have lunch at one of the excellent cafes in one of the small river towns. Bring snacks and drinking water for the several walks we’ll enjoy as well.
PETS: Please leave your pets at home.