Page 138 - John Anderson

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The towns of Ormond and Daytona competed to build the first bridge
across the Halifax River. In 1887, that same year, Anderson and Price
managed to finish their bridge in Ormond first. It was a simple
wooden bridge, with a drawbridge device for boats to pass.

The first bridge to span the Halifax River was not wide enough for two
vehicles to pass, but the driver of a wagon or carriage would have to
look across the bridge to see if another vehicle was on its way.

It was a toll bridge, and tolls cost five
cents per person. It has been reported
that the first man to walk across the
bridge when it was completed was
Joseph Price, who started on the
peninsula side, and was greeted with
cheers when he reached the mainland.
In later years the bridge was widened,
and had a manually operated draw
bridge. On the north side, just west of
the bridge tender’s house, was a large
wooden fruit packing house where citrus fruits were loaded onto
boats. Some Ormond citizens today can remember the rattling of the

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