The Calhoun Street Bridge linking Trenton NJ and Morrisville PA was built in 60 days in 1884 on the original piers of an 1861 wooden covered bridge lost to a fire, and has carried everything from trolleys to the Lincoln Highway.
————————————————————————-
The Society for Industrial Archeology — Oliver Evans Chapter
presents
The Historic Bridges of the Upper Delaware
from Port Jervis to Trenton and their Social Importance
An Illustrated talk ON ZOOM by Robert Thomas, AIA
Join us for an 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.
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.
DATE: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 TIME: 6:00 to approx 8:00 p.m.
LOCATION: On Zoom, please use this link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87308272606?pwd=Uje7RzU52R7ivIpHkg6b2RYEb95mNw.1
COST: Free, no registration required
The Society for Industrial Archeology — Oliver Evans Chapter
presents
A Motor and Walking Tour of a Selection of the
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 speaker, 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, October 10, 2026 TIME: 9am – approx 4pm
RAINDATE: Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
MEET AT: Parking Lot of the SEPTA Yardley Regional Rail Station, 13 Reading Ave., Yardley PA
Parking: 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 (Correct as of September 1, 2026)
Dp Chestnut Hill West: 7.15am
Dp 30th Street Station: 7.45am
Dp Suburban Station: 7.50am
Dp Jenkintown Station: 7.55am
Dp Temple University: 8:00am
Dp Jenkintown Station: 8:14am
Dp Bethayres Station 8:23am
Arv 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 to enjoy along the way.
PETS: Please leave your pets at home.
OLIVER EVANS CHAPTER 
You must be logged in to post a comment.