01/16/2026
For those who do not receive the Wild Acres newsletter, here is an article I wrote about the history of the the Dingman Bridge. - Barbara Bonney
The Bridge With A Heart
Based on the memoirs of Elsie A. Bensley, Bridge Manager Emerita.
“The Bridge has a life of its own that comes from the stories about it and the people who cross it”, Elsie Bensley once said. She spoke in a way that made her audience appreciate those exciting years in the Bridge's history. She and her husband Carl were selected to manage the Bridge in 1974 and Elsie loved her work and loved sharing stories to children, adults and community groups.
Local folks know all about “our” bridge – or do they? Well, I hope this story may offer you some memorable insights into life on the river. Many bridges cross the Delaware, but this bridge not only links two states but is a link to more than two centuries of history. The Dingman Bridge saw the Civil War with busy teams of horses and wagons carrying grain and lumber. The bridge has witnessed and survived nearly two centuries of history! Yet what it could not survive was Mother Nature!
In 1735, a fellow named Andrew Dingman was searching for a place to settle and chose the shores of the Delaware River. As this area was his choice, and being a sensible fellow, he named the area Dingmans Choice. No need to complicate matters with an apostrophe he'd say! He started a ferry business which continued to serve both NJ and PA until 1834 when a charter for a toll bridge was granted. In 1854, this unfortunate little bridge was washed away in a flood and the locals again relied on the ferry service. Ferries had to be used so often that the village came to be known as Dingmans Ferry. A second bridge was built but met with the same fate as the original, swept away by wind and water.
In 1865,a third bridge was built and it's believed to have been a covered bridge. There are accounts of folks hauling snow to the bridge so that sleds could cross in winter. It is believed that poor construction caused this bridge to collapse into the river.
In 1900, a discarded wrought iron railroad bridge was purchased and set on the original stone pilings and that is the bridge that remains today. This sturdy bridge has survived two major floods. It is the only privately owned span in the state, or perhaps in the entire country, but this bridge seems different from other bridges. As you drive across it's rattling planks and stop at the little white toll house, you come to appreciate its rustic simplicity.
Back then the toll was 35 cents! Did you know that the original charter of 1834 stated that no tolls would be collected from folks going to church, those transporting school children or funeral processions. Those provisions remain today. Venturing across on Christmas Day will also get you a free ride but the toll irks some motorists, especially commuters who pay twice a day as they drive to and from jobs in New Jersey. Most of the customers are friendly but there are always those who try to beat paying the toll! We've got people coming across saying I've got no money and they're driving all the way from New York. Bicycles do not have to pay to cross the bridge but they must abide by traffic rules. Once a cyclist crossing the bridge collided with the toll collector and both went down.
A lot of tourists come over the bridge just to see it, hear it and view the river. People have wanted to get married on the bridge and there was once a TV ad for a new credit card filmed at the Bridge! It showed a handsome young man driving a sporty red roadster, using the newest gold credit card as he traveled. The ad was filmed from a cherry picker with photo equipment. Elsie recalled that special day telling of “a lunch wagon which fed us all breakfast”.
News stories even televised "the Bridge with a Heart". It was the most popular segment of Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt which can be seen on the Dingmans Ferry Historical Society page. The bridge was even featured on Japanese television in a spot about Bridges Around the World. Soon came the first model T Fords the campers and the tourists staying for the summer. As this era faded due to faster cars and highways people came to this area for a better place to raise their families.
Crossing the Bridge, you get the feeling that you're going back in time. Some feel that the rattle and bang of shifting wooden planks under car tires is sure to trigger an uneasy feeling. But fear not, this structure gets more maintenance than any state or federal bridge. Bridge safety inspections are conducted every June and the bridge closes for maintenance for a brief time every September.
In November of 1900, the 'iron railway bridge' opened for traffic and remains open 24 hours a day year round. When you work at a tollbooth, Elsie reported, you have to know directions. You can't tell a lost soul “I don't know.” The century celebration of the bridge was held in November 2000. For two days bridge crossings were free and souvenirs were given out.
All of this activity flowed through and over the Dingman Bridge – and Elsie Bensley was witness to many joyful and tragic years, being kind enough to share this history with us.
The Dingmans Choice and Delaware Bridge Company has always contributed to the community by sponsoring children's teams, making financial donations and has even worked with the police when needed. That's the story of “our Bridge”..... “the Bridge With a Heart”!
