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LAMBERTVILLE/NEW HOPE: Playhouse to feature documentary about bridge

   On Sept. 12, 1814 the Board of Directors of the New Hope Delaware Bridge Company called a special meeting to declare the bridge “this day ready for crossing.”
   The board authorized that a dinner be prepared to which the contractor and workmen were invited.
   On April 10, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bucks County Playhouse, the New Hope Historical Society will premiere its documentary about the 200-year history of the bridge, which was produced in conjunction with Delaware Valley Video of Lambertville.
   Nearly two years in the making, the documentary, “The New Hope-Lambertville Bridge: Connecting Two Towns-Spanning Two Centuries,” includes rarely seen images of the bridge from the past 200 years. Experts, historians and residents of the two communities have contributed their perspectives and knowledge about the bridge’s history.
   Eminent bridge designer and engineer, Lewis Wernwag, was selected by the New Hope Delaware Bridge Company, headed by Benjamin Parry, in February 1813.
   Mr. Wernwag was well-known for his grand designs of bridges. The most prominent at the time was the “Colossus” that spanned the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia from the area now occupied by the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the west bank of the river.
   ”We are truly excited about this production,” said Historical Society President Dee Dee Bowman. “I congratulate all of those who have dedicated so much time, research and effort to tell the story about the amazing history of the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge,” she added.
   Roy Ziegler, chairman of the committee that produced the documentary, is past president and current member of the society’s board of directors.
   He praised the Historical Society’s board for its strong support of the project.
   ”From the very beginning our board of directors voiced its unanimous backing for this project. We have been fortunate to receive donations from the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau, Wells Fargo Bank, Brian C. Meadows, Ballard Sparh, LLP and Andy Prestipino. We are still short of our fundraising goal and contributions are most welcome,” added Mr. Ziegler.
   The documentary begins with a story about the ferry operations in both towns that were used for generations before Gen. George Washington and the entire Continental Army crossed there in June 1778 on their march from Valley Forge to the strategically important Battle of Monmouth.
   It traces the growth of commerce and industry that bridge travel brought to both sides of the Delaware River. The disastrous floods that destroyed the bridge — in 1841 and 1903 and the worst of them in 1955 — are chronicled, as well as the crippling floods of the early 21st century.
   Prior to the premiere of the documentary, rare footage of the early history of the Delaware Canal and interviews with some of the great New Hope Impressionist artists — including William Lathrop, Daniel Garber and Edward Willis Redfield, a charter member of the New Hope Historical Society — will be presented.
   Admission to the premiere is $20 for members of the New Hope and Lambertville historical societies and $25 for nonmembers.
   The ticket price includes a complimentary copy of the documentary.
   At 6 p.m., a champagne reception will be held at the Parry Mansion where guests can mingle with the cast and crew of the documentary.
   Admission to the reception is $75. Reserve now at newhophs.org or call 215-862-5652.