MG-217 The Columbia Bridge Company Collection, 1809-1843

4 Boxes 181 Folders 2 cubic ft.

Description: Valuable source of information concerning construction of bridges in the early 1800s. There are signatures of many prominent people. Documents concern the building of the first two bridges across the Susquehanna River in 1814 and 1832. Includes minutes, form for stock certificate, invoices, legal papers, proposals, receipts, stockholders, promissory notes, by-laws, settlement of stage tolls with Samuel Slaymaker 1813, salary receipts, circulars and announcements, bridge tolls, orders for payment, correspondence, and a stock certificate 1842.

The papers of the First Columbia Bridge built in 1814 are filed in folders #1 to 157. The papers of the Second Columbia Bridge built in 1832 are filed in folders #158 to 181.

There is a list of oversized items following the contents.

Box 1

Folder 1 Manuscript form for bridge stock certificate, 1809.
Folder 2 Invoice from the printer Wm. Hamilton of Lancaster for costs of advertising from 1809 to 1813.
Folder 3 "Minutes of Bridge Co., 12/28/1811". This was their first meeting to ascertain the exact width of the river, "To Draw up Rules And Regulations..." to advertise in newspapers, etc. 1811.
Folder 4 Authorized appointments of representatives to vote for the undersigned shareholders in elections and other matters related to the operation of the Company. Many important signatures. 1811-1812.
Folder 5 Items related to James Hopkins and the trial for illegal loan of Bridge Co. money from 1811 to 1813.
Folder 6 Minutes of meetings, including many important signatures and resolutions (some duplicates). 1811, Feb. - June 1812.
Folder 7 Minutes of meetings, including many important signatures and resolutions (some duplicates). July - Dec. 1812.
Folder 8 Letter from Charles Varle dated 2/28/1812, offering his "new method of constructing bridges" to the directors with 6 page detailed description of plan. 1812.
Folder 9 Proposal dated 7/7/1812 by the subscribers to build "a bridge across the Susquehanna River...for the sum of $150,000". Annexed is a draft of the bridge superstructure. Signed by Henry Slaymaker, John Wolcott, and Samuel Slaymaker. 1812.
Folder 10 Proposal signed by Evan Lloyd describing his method of constructing the bridge including costs and materials and methods employed.
Includes 3 sketches of pier elevations and arch supports. 1812.

Folder 11 Proposals and contracts pertaining to various aspects of the construction of the bridge, and proposals and misc. receipts pertaining to labor and materials in the building of the bridge, also 2 typescripts of the proposals. 1812-1816.
Folder 12 Receipts for payment to contractors involved in the building of the first bridge. Many are for payment to Henry Slaymaker. 1812-1814.
Folder 13 2 printed receipts signed by Thomas A. Wilson. 1812, 1813.
Folder 14 Partially printed and/or manuscript stock receipts and related ledger sheet entries. 1812 -1814.
Folder 15 15 pages of records of shares of stock issued, accompanied by the signatures of those in receipt of the shares. Also a 2 page list of shares sold by A. Witmer. 1812, 1813.
Folder 16 Receipts from various printers and engravers including Thomas A. Wilson, Murray Draper and Co., William Albright, Quaker printers Joshua and Thomas Gilpin, Joseph Rittenhouse, Benjamin Grimler, William Hamilton, John Reynolds, etc. Most are signed by the printers. 1812-1814.
Folder 17 Promissory notes and some interesting signatures from 1812 - 1815.
Folder 18 Cashiers checks and related demands for payment placed upon the head cashier of the Bridge Co. from 1812-1813.
Folder 19 Manuscript receipts pertaining to the construction of the bridge, the gate house, the toll house, and their repairs. 1812-1813.
Folder 20 Letters pertaining to Bridge contractors and their credentials from 1812-1829.

Folder 21 Receipts for office expenses for 1812 through 1821.
Folder 22 Accounts & receipts, 1812-1814.
Folder 23 Minutes of meetings, including many important signatures and resolutions (some duplicates). March-June 1813.
Folder 24 Minutes of meetings, including many important signatures and resolutions. July-Dec. 1813.
Folder 25 By-Laws, 1813.
Folder 26 Stampless cover to William Wright and signed by Leonard Harbaugh offering his services as bridge superintendent, dated 4/14/1813.
Folder 27 Manuscript pages pertaining to settlement of stage tolls with Samuel Slaymaker. 1813.
Folder 28 3 partially printed stock receipts, 1 printed by William Hamilton of Lancaster, 1 by Thomas Wilson of Columbia, and 1 dated 6 December 1813 for printing signed for Lancaster printer William Hamilton by Joseph Hubley. 1813.
Folder 29 2 Letters of Attorney to transfer shares of stock, 1 signed by Robert Coleman (the ironmaster) and 1 signed by Casper Shaffner, John Hubley, and John Hoff, all important Lancastrians. 1813.
Folder 30 1813 article of agreement by King Masons to carry out stonework, etc.

Folder 31 Bill from Zachariah Poulson for advertising expenses incured 1813.
Folder 32 Printed circular, "BRIDGE-OFFICE, COLUMBIA, DEC 11TH, 1813," announcing the "calling the whole of the balance of stock at once...". (2 copies).
Folder 33 Receipts pertaining to the construction and repair of the bridge office and toll house and other misc. office expenses in 1813.
Folder 34 Proxies to vote, many signatures. 1813 - 1816.
Folder 35 Receipts pertaining to payment of salaries to Bridge Company employees from 1813 to 1815.
Folder 36 Bridge Company offers 1000 additional shares of stock, 1813.
Folder 37 Documents pertaining to the transfer of shares of stock in the Bridge Company. Many important signatures. 1813.
Folder 38 Papers pertaining to minutes of meetings, election returns, appointments of committees, etc from 1813 to 1819.
Folder 39 Letters and notes pertaining to bridge business including one from Benjamin Chew, from 1813 to 1825.
Folder 40 Bridge circulars and announcements from 1813, 1815, and 1820.

Folder 41 Receipts from contractors. 1814, 1815.
Folder 42 Documents related to company stock, including 1 printed by Thomas A. Wilson of Columbia, from 1814 to 1817.
Folder 43 Receipts and accounts pertaining to conduct of business by Columbia Bridge Co., 1814 - 1846.
Folder 44 Election Returns, 1814
Folder 45 Board Minutes 1814.
Folder 46 Supplement to Act of Incorporation of the 1st Bridge Co.
Folder 47 Bills & Receipts, 1814.
Folder 48 Bills, receipts of bridge office and toll house, 1814.
Folder 49 Order for payment, 1814.
Folder 50 Office expenses, 1814.

Folder 51 Proposals and contracts and memos relating to the building of the 1st bridge. 1814, 1823.
Folder 52 2 manuscript agreements, 1 pertaining to the sale of 60 acres of land along the York County shoreline for the purposes od building the first bridge. 1814, 1823.
Folder 53 Tallies of votes for 1814 & 1830.
Folder 54 Bridge tolls collected, 1814 - 1820, 1822.
Folder 55 3 bonds and 3 bond forms. 1814, 1820
Folder 56 Bridge stock accounts of Edward Wilson, William Dickson, and others with the first Bridge Co. 1814 - 1818.
Folder 57 Financial papers related to the first bridge including an accounting of stage tolls due by Samuel Slaymaker. 1814 - 1821.

Box 2

Folder 58 Letter of Attorney, dated 1/14/1815 and signed twice by John Hoff. (Lancaster Clockmaker).
Folder 59 Board Minutes. 1814.
Folder 60 1815 stampless cover to William Wright pertaining to the bank notes issued and their appearance. 1815.
Folder 61 Receipt dated 8/29/1815 for printing costs and signed by Thomas A. Wilson of Columbia.
Folder 62 Proposal to cover or roof the bridge, 2 October 1815. Signed.
Folder 63 Bills and receipts, 1815.
Folder 64 Office expenses, 1815.
Folder 65 Notice of dividends declared 8/3/1815.
Folder 66 8/8/1815 manuscript receipt for"turnpiking" Second Street in Wrightsville.
Folder 67 Requests for payment of dividends, 1815.
Folder 68 Bills & Receipts of Office & Tollhouse, 1815

Folder 69 Newspapers containing announcements related to the bridge.
1. Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, July 7, 1815.
2. Lancaster Journal, June 15, 1821.
3. Lancaster Journal, Sept. 18, 1816.

Folder 70 Committee reports, 1815 - 1821.
Folder 71 PA State Treasurer's Receipt for Dividends, 1815 - 1828.
Folder 72 Tax assessments, 1815 - 1827.
Folder 73 Bills and receipts, 1815 - 1817.
Folder 74 Order for payments, 1815 - 1816.
Folder 75 Letters of Attorney for transfer of stocks, 1815- 1816.
Folder 76 Broadside "Passed 25th May, 1815" stating that there shall be no galloping etc. on the bridge and no cigar tossing, etc. under penalty of fine. Signed in print Joseph Mifflin, printed by Thomas A. Wilson, Columbia.
Folder 77 Printed broadsides "Columbia (PA) Bridge Notice to Travellers" dated Dec. 5, 1816, which was printed and posted as a result of the act passed (Folder 76).
Folder 78 Bills and receipts, 1816.
Folder 79 Office expenses, 1816.
Folder 80 Bills and receipts of Toll house and office, 1816.

Folder 81 Promissory notes, 1816.
Folder 82 Stock receipts and ledger sheets, 1816 - 1824.
Folder 83 Notes and bonds, 1816 -1824.
Folder 84 Salary slips, 1816 - 1817.
Folder 85 Requests for payments of dividends. Seal of the Bank of North America. 1816 - 1821.
Folder 86 Banking Correspondence, 1816.
Folder 87 Banking correspondence, mostly transfer of funds (checks), 1817.
Folder 88 Promissory notes, 1816 -1830.
Folder 89 Receipts from contractors, 1817 -1819.
Folder 90 Bills and receipts, 1817 -1821.
Folder 91 Letters, 1817 - 1820.

Folder 92 Orders for payments, 1817 - 1820.
Folder 93 Papers relating to legal matters including judgments, summons, drawing of deed, services rendered, etc. 1817 - 1820.
Folder 94 Bills and receipts, 1817.
Folder 95 Office expenses, 1817.
Folder 96 Letters of Attorney to transfer shares of stock, 1817 -1818.
Folder 97 Proxies to vote, 1818 - 1823.
Folder 98 Banking correspondence, includes one stampless cover. 1818 - 1829.
Folder 99 Bills and receipts, 1818.
Folder 100 Bills and receipts for Tollhouse and office. 1818, 1819.

Folder 101 Office expenses, 1818.
Folder 102 Salary slips, 1818 - 1821.
Folder 103 Bills and receipts, 1819.
Folder 104 Office expenses, 1819.
Folder 105 Manuscript and/or printed Acts and Petitions to the State Legislature and U.S. Congress related to the building of the first bridge and the second bridge.
Folder 106 Letters of Attorney to transfer shares of stock, 1819 - 1821.
Folder 107 Board Minutes, 1820.
Folder 108 Board Resolutions, no dates.
Folder 109 Bills and receipts, 1820.
Folder 110 Small partly printed broadside announcing "Sheriff's Sale" of 6 shares of stock in Columbia, PA Bridge Co. and dated 27 October 1820.
Folder 111 Office Expenses, 1820 - 1822; 1824.
Folder 112 Stockholders' letters requesting refund of bridge shares, 1820-1821.

Box 3

Folder 113 Stampless cover, dated Feb. 5th, 1821, signed by Casper Shaffner.
Folder 114 Board Minutes, 1821 - 1825; 1830.
Folder 115 Transfer of shares of stock and Letter of Attorney to vote, 1821.
Folder 116 Orders for payment, 1821 - 1825.
Folder 117 Bills and receipts, 1821
Folder 118 Legal papers, 1821 - 1830.
Folder 119 Bills and receipts, 1822.
Folder 120 Bills and receipts, 1822, 1823.

Folder 121 Office expenses, 1822, 1823.
Folder 122 Salary slips, 1822, 1823.
Folder 123 Tax receipts, 1822 - 1824.
Folder 124 Bills and receipts, 1823.
Folder 125 Bills and receipts, 1824.
Folder 126 Advertising receipt, 7/27/1824, signed by Joseph Rittenhouse of Philadelphia.
Folder 127 Requests for payment of dividends on the stock. Numerous important signatures. 1824.
Folder 128 Proxies to vote, 1824.
Folder 129 Letters of Attorney to transfer shares of stocks, 1824 - 1825.
Folder 130 Salary slips, 1824 - 1827.

Folder 131 Office expenses, 1824 - 1827.
Folder 132 Election returns, 1824, 1825.
Folder 133 Request for payments of dividends, including several signed by Benjamin Chew. Jan - May 1825
Folder 134 Requests for payments of dividends, June - Dec 1825.
Folder 135 Proxies to vote, 1825.
Folder 136 Manuscript accounting of Company expenses with Benjamin Chew and signed by him, 1826.
Folder 137 Bills and receipts, 1826, 1827.
Folder 138 Requests for payments of dividends, Jan - May 1826.
Folder 139 Requests for payments of dividends, June - Dec 1826.
Folder 140 Election returns, 1826.

Folder 141 Letters of Attorney to transfer shares of stock, 1826 - 1829.
Folder 142 Election returns, 1827.
Folder 143 Requests for payment of dividends, 1827.
Folder 144 Election returns, 1828.
Folder 145 1828 stampless cover from Farmer's Bank of Lancaster on transfer of funds.
Folder 146 Requests for payment of dividends, 1828.
Folder 147 Election returns, 1829.
Folder 148 Requests for payment of dividends, 1829.
Folder 149 Proxies to vote, 1830.
Folder 150 Vol. 1, #1 of the Columbia Spy for 6/17/1830 with notice of dividend declared by directors of the Bridge Co. Also requests for payment of dividends, January-June 1830.
Folder 151 Requests for payment of dividends, Nov, Dec 1830.
Folder 152 Letters of Attorney to transfer stock, 1830 - 1832.
Folder 153 2 cashier's checks, 1831, 1838.
Folder 154 Election returns, 1831.
Folder 155 Requests for payment of dividends, Jan - May 1831.
Folder 156 Requests for payment of dividends, June - Dec 1831.
Folder 157 Requests for payment of dividends, 1832.

Box 4

Folder 158 Typescript of proposals pertaining to the building of the second bridge over the Susquehanna River, 1832 -1834.
Folder 159 Manuscript proposals for building the bridge and for various aspects in the construction of the bridge, Feb., 1832.
Folder 160 Manuscript proposals for building the bridge and for various aspects in the construction of the bridge, April, 1832.
Folder 161 Manuscript proposals for building the bridge and for various aspects in the construction of the bridge, April, 1832.
Folder 162 Manuscript proposals for building the bridge and for various aspects in the construction of the bridge, May - Dec, 1832.
Folder 163 Documents pertaining to the transfer of "public ground" into the hands of the Bridge Co. from that of the inhabitants of "Old Columbia", 1832.
Folder 164 Applications and recommendations for Superintendent of the construction of the bridge, 1832.
Folder 165 Documents related to meetings of the Board of Directors and Building Committee, 1832.
Folder 166 Statements pertaining to dividend requests and payments, 1832 - 1843.
Folder 167 Items include bundle of lists of names of directors, a bill for work completed, a letter of the inability to provide some iron on time, etc. 1832, 1834.
Folder 168 Documents pertaining to transfer of stock, 1832 - 1836.

Folder 169 Pocket ledgers including an accounting of gatekeeper's salaries (1832-38), post office account (1840), check endorsed goods (1836), expenses in law suits against C, Haldeman's administration (1839-43), and 1834 list of stockholders.
Folder 170 Bridge proposals, 1833 - 1834.
Folder 171 Proposals and related drawings for construction of Toll House and related matters (1833 -1834).
Folder 172 Applications for Gatekeeper, 1833 - 1834.
Folder 173 5 cashier receipts; 4 are printed, 1833 - 1841.
Folder 174 Arbitration notice from District Court, 1837.
Folder 175 Proxy statements, 1837.
Folder 176 Proxy statements, 1840.
Folder 177 Proxy statements, 1841 - 1842.
Folder 178 Manuscript and/or partially printed documents between the Bridge Co. and the State of PA, 1840 - 1843.
Folder 179 Documents pertaining to elections of Directors of the Co., 1841.
Folder 180 List of stockholders, no date.
Folder 181 1 stock certificate for Columbia Bridge Co. for 1842.

Oversized Items transferred to Oversized Items Box 5, Folder 6

Folder 34 Proxies to vote, many signatures. 1813 - 1816. Item #8.
Folder 69 Newspapers containing announcements related to the bridge. Item #1.
Folder 76 Broadside "Passed 25th May, 1815" stating that there shall be no galloping etc. on the bridge and no cigar tossing, etc. under penalty of fine. Signed in print Joseph Mifflin, printed by Thomas A. Wilson, Columbia. Item #1
Folder 115 Transfer of shares of stock and Letter of Attorney to vote, 1821. Item #1, 2.
Folder 132 Election returns, 1824, 1825. Item #1, 2, 3, 7.
Folder 136 Manuscript accounting of Company expenses with Benjamin Chew and signed by him, 1826. Item #1.
Folder 150 Vol. 1, #1 of the Columbia Spy for 6/17/1830 with notice of dividend declared by directors of the Bridge Co. Also requests for payment of dividends, Jan - June 1830. Item #16.
Folder 162 Manuscript proposals for building the bridge and for various aspects in the construction of the bridge, May - Dec, 1832. Item #12, 13.
Folder 171 Proposals and related drawings for construction of Toll House and related matters (1833 -1834). Item #6, 7, 8, 9.