New York, Monroe County, Rochester
![]()
Hojack Swing Bridge
The later decades of the 19th Century were a time of rapid growth. Much of Rochester's infrastructure - its rail, river, and canal transportation network - was built at this time. As part of the 21 bridges that at one time crossed the Genesee River, an earlier version of the Hojack Swing Bridge was built by Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad Company (RW&O) in 1875.
The origin of the name "Hojack" is speculative at best. The most common story regarding the nickname involves one of the original train engineers named Jack Welsh. It was said that Welsh, a former farmer, would call out "Whoa Jack!" when stopping the train like he did when halting his horses. The phrase purportedly evolved into the "Hojack" that is used today.
The Hojack Swing Bridge was built in 1905 utilizing the substructure of the earlier Charlotte Bridge that was constructed by RW&O in 1875. Within a decade, Charlotte would be annexed into Rochester. The Hojack Swing Bridge was used for over 90 years, and at the height of operations, the RW&O rail line ran from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, then east through the City of Rochester to Oswego. The last train crossed its deck in 1978, it ceased operations in 1995 and was removed in 2012/2013.
King Bridge Company
The King Bridge Company was the creation of Zenas King, a Vermont born mercantile and agricultural equipment tradesman. After a number of years learning the trade, King moved to Cleveland and established the King and Foris Company. The company manufactured iron bridge parts and steam boilers for the first few years of its existence. In 1861, King received his first of many patents for his innovative bridge truss system, the iron bowstring. Along with his pioneering designs, King helped champion the use of iron over wood in Bridge construction. In 1864, King was granted another patent for his novel plan for a new type of swing or pivot bridge, a design he would promote for over twenty years. In 1871, King formed the the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company based in the strategically located city of Cleveland. King's company would design and construct dozens of Pratt truss, deck, trestle, beam girder and swing bridges across the U.S. bolstered by the nation's western expansion. In 1887 King stepped down as president of the company, leaving it in the hands of his two sons, James and Harry. After sixty-four years of business, the King Bridge Company finally closed its doors in 1922 following the death of Zenas' eldest son James.
Bridge Engineering
1) The Hojack Swing Bridge was an excellent example of an early through truss swing bridge, a design that eventually declined due to the increased demand for wider tracks and the incorporation of multiple railroad tracks. Railway bridges such as the center-bearing Hojack Swing Bridge rotated about a vertical axis to allow the passage of ships along a waterway. The Hojack Swing Bridge sat on a man-made island (center pier) centrally located within the Genesee River at River mile 0.9.
2) The substructure of the Hojack Swing Bridge consisted of a single center pier, timber fender system, and north and south timber starkwaters. Starkwaters are stuctures placed on the support pier that are shaped to deflect flood-borne debris and ice, as well as to ease the flow of water around the bridge to reduce damage caused by erosion.
3) One of the most definitive elements of the Hojack Swing Bridge, if not one of the least visible, was the center pivot bearing. The balance wheels, track, and rack were also located on the center pier below the truss.
4) The timber fender system was located under the deck, originated from the center pier, and extended in either direction from the center pier, ending with the starkwaters at either end of the bridge. These features provided protection to the center pier, allowing for a buffer against water vessels potentially hitting the bridge.
5) The superstructure of the Hojack Swing Bridge included everything from the deck and above. The deck was a combination of timber and steel components. The floor beams were steel and supported the timber railroad ties. The top of the deck was a combination of railroad track and steel grating. There were two railroad tracks on the bridge, which were separated by a centrally-placed, two-foot wide steel grate. The entire deck was supported from above by steel stringer beams that formed a symmetrical truss structure with portal struts and bracing, lateral bracing, and sway bracing all within a latticed design. The tubular stringers were solid steel on the sides with lattice slats forming the top and bottom.
6) The swing movement of the Hojack Swing Bridge was operated by the machinery located in the control house suspended on the truss far above the tracks and center pier. The control house was located in the center of the polygonal top chord and was a small one-story building with a front gable roof. The most significant element of the control house was the machinery it housed. The bridge was operated day and night by crews of one or two men stationed in the control house. From there the bridge crew operated the controls and maintained a coal-fired steam engine and piles of coal for fuel. Later on the coal-fired steam engine was replaced by a diesel powered engine.
(Railroads & Streetcars • Bridges & Viaducts) Includes location, directions, 7 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Hojack Swing Bridge
The later decades of the 19th Century were a time of rapid growth. Much of Rochester's infrastructure - its rail, river, and canal transportation network - was built at this time. As part of the 21 bridges that at one time crossed the Genesee River, an earlier version of the Hojack Swing Bridge was built by Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad Company (RW&O) in 1875.
The origin of the name "Hojack" is speculative at best. The most common story regarding the nickname involves one of the original train engineers named Jack Welsh. It was said that Welsh, a former farmer, would call out "Whoa Jack!" when stopping the train like he did when halting his horses. The phrase purportedly evolved into the "Hojack" that is used today.
The Hojack Swing Bridge was built in 1905 utilizing the substructure of the earlier Charlotte Bridge that was constructed by RW&O in 1875. Within a decade, Charlotte would be annexed into Rochester. The Hojack Swing Bridge was used for over 90 years, and at the height of operations, the RW&O rail line ran from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, then east through the City of Rochester to Oswego. The last train crossed its deck in 1978, it ceased operations in 1995 and was removed in 2012/2013.
King Bridge Company
The King Bridge Company was the creation of Zenas King, a Vermont born mercantile and agricultural equipment tradesman. After a number of years learning the trade, King moved to Cleveland and established the King and Foris Company. The company manufactured iron bridge parts and steam boilers for the first few years of its existence. In 1861, King received his first of many patents for his innovative bridge truss system, the iron bowstring. Along with his pioneering designs, King helped champion the use of iron over wood in Bridge construction. In 1864, King was granted another patent for his novel plan for a new type of swing or pivot bridge, a design he would promote for over twenty years. In 1871, King formed the the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company based in the strategically located city of Cleveland. King's company would design and construct dozens of Pratt truss, deck, trestle, beam girder and swing bridges across the U.S. bolstered by the nation's western expansion. In 1887 King stepped down as president of the company, leaving it in the hands of his two sons, James and Harry. After sixty-four years of business, the King Bridge Company finally closed its doors in 1922 following the death of Zenas' eldest son James.
Bridge Engineering
1) The Hojack Swing Bridge was an excellent example of an early through truss swing bridge, a design that eventually declined due to the increased demand for wider tracks and the incorporation of multiple railroad tracks. Railway bridges such as the center-bearing Hojack Swing Bridge rotated about a vertical axis to allow the passage of ships along a waterway. The Hojack Swing Bridge sat on a man-made island (center pier) centrally located within the Genesee River at River mile 0.9.
2) The substructure of the Hojack Swing Bridge consisted of a single center pier, timber fender system, and north and south timber starkwaters. Starkwaters are stuctures placed on the support pier that are shaped to deflect flood-borne debris and ice, as well as to ease the flow of water around the bridge to reduce damage caused by erosion.
3) One of the most definitive elements of the Hojack Swing Bridge, if not one of the least visible, was the center pivot bearing. The balance wheels, track, and rack were also located on the center pier below the truss.
4) The timber fender system was located under the deck, originated from the center pier, and extended in either direction from the center pier, ending with the starkwaters at either end of the bridge. These features provided protection to the center pier, allowing for a buffer against water vessels potentially hitting the bridge.
5) The superstructure of the Hojack Swing Bridge included everything from the deck and above. The deck was a combination of timber and steel components. The floor beams were steel and supported the timber railroad ties. The top of the deck was a combination of railroad track and steel grating. There were two railroad tracks on the bridge, which were separated by a centrally-placed, two-foot wide steel grate. The entire deck was supported from above by steel stringer beams that formed a symmetrical truss structure with portal struts and bracing, lateral bracing, and sway bracing all within a latticed design. The tubular stringers were solid steel on the sides with lattice slats forming the top and bottom.
6) The swing movement of the Hojack Swing Bridge was operated by the machinery located in the control house suspended on the truss far above the tracks and center pier. The control house was located in the center of the polygonal top chord and was a small one-story building with a front gable roof. The most significant element of the control house was the machinery it housed. The bridge was operated day and night by crews of one or two men stationed in the control house. From there the bridge crew operated the controls and maintained a coal-fired steam engine and piles of coal for fuel. Later on the coal-fired steam engine was replaced by a diesel powered engine.
(Railroads & Streetcars • Bridges & Viaducts) Includes location, directions, 7 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
The only known Revolutionary War soldier buried in Dickenson County rests on knoll, to the left of intersection McClure and Mullins Avenues (State Highway 83). Died in 1849 at home of his son John who, in 1829, was the first settler on Holly Creek at what is now Clintwood. The Mullinses came from Toe River, Mitchell County, N.C. Family tradition has it “great-grandsir” John joined Col. William Campbell’s Over Mountain Men as they passed his home, and was one of that little band of Patriots to turn the tide of battle at Kings Mountain that glorious October day in 1780.
Senator Roland Ephraim Chase built this historic home around 1903. It was the first brick home in Clintwood. His father, Captain John Perry Chase, C.S.A., a founder of Clintwood, gave the adjoining land for the Dickenson County Court House. Senator Chase raised his large family in this four-story home. His law office was on the ground level. This home was the focal point of town activities for almost fifty years.
The Pomeroy-Academia bridge is a two span covered timber burr arch truss bridge built by James M. Groninger in 1902. At 270 feet it is the longest remaining covered bridge in the Commonwealth. It was erected to replace another wooden bridge damaged in the floods o 1901. Its name is derived from the nearby mill operated by Joseph Pomeroy and the village of Academia located a short distance from here. This bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pomeroy-Academia Bridge is owned by the Juniata County Historical Society.
Founded in 1836, it operated as an academy until 1912. Building, erected 1816, was used as a church until 1849. Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
The site of this stockaded blockhouse is a few miles west in Tuscarora Valley. Built about 1754 to protect traders and settlers in this region. In 1756 it was destroyed by Indians
A stockade built about 1755 to protect settlers from Indian marauders. Capt. James Patterson was builder and commandant. It was located nearby to overlook the Juniata.
The name originally was Holly Creek. In 1882 the county seat of Dickenson County was moved from Ervington to this place, which was named Clintwood for Major Henry Clinton Wood. The town was incorporated in 1894. With the coming of the railroad to the county in 1915, the population rapidly increased as the mineral and timber resources were opened.
Iron and steel have been made here for over 150 years. Freedom Forge, 1795, became Freedom Iron and Steel Co., 1867. The third Bessemer plant in nation. Open hearth steel first made here in 1895.
Logan, son of Shikellamy, and famous Mingo chief, lived in a cabin near the spring opposite. It was his home from about 1766 to 1771, when he moved to the Ohio country.
Preserved here are three locks of the Pennsylvania Canal, Juniata Division. Unique in that three locks and levels were adjacent. Stonework and the old bed of the canal can be seen.
