All,
Because Sim Place is and has been private, many individuals may not know that there was a large concrete bridge located along the main road through Sim Place from Warren Grove to Stevenson Road. When exactly the bridge was built is still in question; however, I am quite confident it was before 1931 as you can see it in the 1931 aerial. One suggestion to me has the bridge being built by the CCC which may be true, but with the property being private I would think the owners at the time may have been involved in the construction. Then again, maybe not.
The next three aerial photo's from 1931, 1995, and 2006 show you the location.
1931
1995
What you can't see is the fact that the bridge was quite narrow, and todays modern equipment and basic vehicles would not fit through it. A pickup truck with mirrors was just able to make it though with inches to spare. I have been told that an ambulance once had to sit there and wait while another vehicle brought the person to them. You can imagine that today this would be a problem, and so in 2006 when the the Haines family acquired the property the bridge was removed. Today, large plastic pipes allow the water to flow through on it's way down to Oswego Lake.
2006. Notice the bridge is gone.
Bing Maps showing the plastic pipes currently there.
Recently, myself and Lost Town Hunter were able to spend most of the day with a few individuals who graciously allowed me to scan many photo's relating to Sim Place and the individuals who resided there at certain times in the past. I learned of the owners of the the photo's from a member of this site who has helped me tremendously over the years. In their collection where multiple photo's of the bridge in question during it's construction. These are rare photo's most likely displayed here for the very first time.
These photo's were faded and yellow and I played with them to brighten them for better viewing.
If you want to view them larger.
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/06102012Sim/bridge1large.jpg
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/06102012Sim/bridge4large.jpg
Guy
Because Sim Place is and has been private, many individuals may not know that there was a large concrete bridge located along the main road through Sim Place from Warren Grove to Stevenson Road. When exactly the bridge was built is still in question; however, I am quite confident it was before 1931 as you can see it in the 1931 aerial. One suggestion to me has the bridge being built by the CCC which may be true, but with the property being private I would think the owners at the time may have been involved in the construction. Then again, maybe not.
The next three aerial photo's from 1931, 1995, and 2006 show you the location.
1931
1995
What you can't see is the fact that the bridge was quite narrow, and todays modern equipment and basic vehicles would not fit through it. A pickup truck with mirrors was just able to make it though with inches to spare. I have been told that an ambulance once had to sit there and wait while another vehicle brought the person to them. You can imagine that today this would be a problem, and so in 2006 when the the Haines family acquired the property the bridge was removed. Today, large plastic pipes allow the water to flow through on it's way down to Oswego Lake.
2006. Notice the bridge is gone.
Bing Maps showing the plastic pipes currently there.
Recently, myself and Lost Town Hunter were able to spend most of the day with a few individuals who graciously allowed me to scan many photo's relating to Sim Place and the individuals who resided there at certain times in the past. I learned of the owners of the the photo's from a member of this site who has helped me tremendously over the years. In their collection where multiple photo's of the bridge in question during it's construction. These are rare photo's most likely displayed here for the very first time.
These photo's were faded and yellow and I played with them to brighten them for better viewing.
If you want to view them larger.
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/06102012Sim/bridge1large.jpg
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/06102012Sim/bridge4large.jpg
Guy
As you can see, to stop the water from flowing under the bridge, they kept filling the reservoir with dirt allowing them to drive the vehicle alongside the bridge.
