Several thousand people turned out on Main Street in Nicholson on Sunday to help celebrate the 99th anniversary of the mammoth Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, commonly known as the Nicholson Bridge.
Kay Parkinson of the Nicholson Women’s Club, which has hosted the event since 1992, praised the “gorgeous day,” as nearly 60 vendors sold their wares and local residents took part in a talent show.
Bob and Debbie Brown drove about 120 miles from Middleburg so Mr. Brown could see the bridge his grandfather helped build 100 years ago, before dying in the process.
Nicholson Heritage Association President Marion Sweet told the couple a number of people lost their lives building what was, at one time, the largest concrete bridge in the world. The association raffled off large frame photographs of the bridge in the winter, as well as other mementoes.
Ms. Sweet noted that plans are underway for the women’s group and heritage association to host a three-day bridge day event in 2015.
“Hopefully we’ll get train excursion rides from Steamtown to go over it once again,” Ms. Sweet said, noting that Canadian Pacific now uses the lone remaining lane on the track for several freight trains daily.
She also spoke of the possibility of the association converting an 1849 Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad freight station into a visitor’s center. She said she was keeping her fingers crossed that funding would be announced by the end of the month.
Contact the writer: bbaker@wcexaminer.com