Through My Lens - The James River

click on photos to enlarge

Taken from the Swinging Bridge in Buchanan

“Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.”
― Emma Smith

Linking with Mersad's Through My Lens

Signs, Signs, A Message From The Pope & A Good Fence In Buchanan

Rte 11 . Troutville (across the street from this week's water tower)

Buchanan Swinging Bridge

Constructed in 1851, burnt down in the Civil War, rebuilt, washed away in a flood, rebuilt again...this bridge has been through it all! I've shown you the bridge before HERE

More snaps of the bridge:

Birds like it...

Looking back into town from the bridge...

And here's the concret bridge that was built in 1937. This sits right next to the Swinging Bridge. That's the James River. For more info on the bridge(s) CLICK HERE

Linking with Signs, Signs & Good Fences

Have a great day!

Buchanan Swinging Bridge

(click on photo to enlarge)
Braden.


After picking up Christian's girlfriend in Buchanan on Friday I wanted to walk around a bit and snap some pictures with my new camera. The boys wanted to cross the bridge. So we did. Ashlyn's boyfriend carved their initials somewhere on it a while back. We tried to find them but couldn't. It was cold. We were walking fast.

Here's some history on the bridge:

"The Buchanan Swinging Bridge is 366 feet long, 57.5 feet tall, the only one of its type to cross the James River and owned by VDOT. In 1999 the Swinging Bridge was recognized as a National Register Historic Landmark as part of the Town of Buchanan National Register Historic District.
Portions of the large stone piers were constructed in 1851 for the Buchanan Turnpike Company's Toll Bridge. Toll for every person was five cents with an additional five cents for each horse, mule or oxen and five cents for each wagon.

On June 13, 1864 the covered bridge was burned by Confederate General McCausland in an effort to prevent Federal troops from crossing the James River on their way to Lynchburg. The bridge was rebuilt but washed away in a flood of 1877. At this time, the R&A Railroad Company rebuilt a toll free covered bridge. In 1897 this wood covered bridge was replaced with a steel bridge that remained in use until 1938.

In July of 1937 construction of the current concrete James River Bridge was started with an agreement to maintain pedestrian access. On July 4, 1938, the bridge was dedicated. The bridge is adjacent to many shops & restaurants in downtown Buchanan."
FOUND HERE

Took the boys back to Buchanan yesterday to see EPIC at the old Buchanan Theatre. I've shown you a picture HERE. It's my favorite place to catch a movie! Oh, and EPIC was so cute so I rented it for today and invited Ashlyn and her boyfriend over for lunch and a movie. You should watch it!

Hope you all have a very happy New Year and be safe if you are headed out tonight to celebrate!

**UPDATE**

I'm adding a photo here that Sunnybrook Farm sent me of the Buchanan Bridge back in the day:

How cool is that?!! Thank you Sunnybrook!!

Sunday Bridges - Another Buchanan Swinging Bridge

Nick and Braden crossing the Buchanan Swinging Bridge. To learn about this cool old bridge see this post and to see bridges from all over the world, go visit Louis La Vache over on the west coast!

Sunday Bridges - Buchanan Swinging Bridge

The Buchanan Swinging Bridge is 366 feet long, 57.5 feet tall and the only one of its type to cross the James River. Portions of the bridge date back to 1851 as the Buchanan Turnpike Company Toll Bridge. On June 13, 1864, Confederate General McCausland burned the covered bridge to prevent Federal Troops under General Hunter’s command from crossing the James River. Following a series of replacement bridges, the Buchanan Swinging bridge was constructed on the earlier piers in 1939.

(that's one of my little boys Braden to the right, about to cross the bridge!)

More bridges from all over the world can be found at Louis La Vache's blog!