A Bridge Dedicated to the Fallen

Yen Ho
Nov 13
4 min read

If you ever walk on Bridge No. 83 over the Wissahickon Creek west of the railroad tracks, you would notice a plaque that has the list of people who were part of the construction of the bridge. The next time you walk through the bridge, you will understand why this bridge was important after reading this post. Enjoy!

On December 1, 1926, the bridge was officially opened. Dr. Richard V. Mattison, of the Keasbey and Mattison Company, dedicated the bridge in honor of the soldiers who gave their lives to preserve the liberty and freedom of America in World War I, as well as those who worked hard to help the US Army fight against the enemy.

Here is the full speech from Dr. Mattison on the dedication of the bridge:

"Ladies and gentleman, fellow citizens of Montgomery County, we have assembled here upon this occasion to take advantage of the fact that we have today ceased the pursuit of our ordinary advocations in order to unite with our fellow citizens in laying a wreath of laurel upon the memories of all those brave fellows who gave their lives that the freedom of the world might not be placed in shackles, through the triumph of those arrogant descendants of the devastating Hun, of the middle ages.

"More than this, or for equally as much, we have ceased work today to bear tribute to that great army of equally heroic souls representing that American manhood which stayed at home and forebore the winning of this brevetted laurels upon the battlefield in order that their more fortunate comrades might have a chance to do so because of that self-denial which deprived them of the privilege of sharing the glories of the battlefield in order that others might have something to fight with!

"These gallant men who stayed at home and provided the sinews of war, who provided the shot, the shell, the torpedoes, the mobs, the ships, the food, the money, and what not, deserve praise. Not all the heroes of modern times go 'over the top,' or even 'over the seas,' but by their assiduous attention to the duties assigned to them enable others to win battles in a much more spectacular manner.

Ad from International Marine Engineering (1925)

"At Hog Island navy yard were created 122 ships, assigned mostly for the transportation of our men over seas. Each ship was insulated with magnesia, made by the brains and brawn of the heroes of Ambler who stayed at home and who in the long run were just as important in winning the war as those other gallant boys who went over the top at Belleau Wood.

Clipping from Ambler Gazette (October 2, 1919): Page 4

"These men of Ambler, heroes through they were, were denied the privilege of sleeping their last sleep amidst the flaming popies of Flanders Fields, or of marching down the Champs Elysee past the Arc de Triumphe in proud array listening of the plaudits of the admiring multitude, but they were heroes, in their devotion to that duty which made other heroes possible.

"Heroes; one and all! The brawn and brains and muscle of America, whether they worked at home or abroad, all with the one single purpose: viz., to win the war! We pledge our homage to these men, and have set apart this day, not to do honor alone to American Legion, notwithstanding the heroism which it represents, but to all those gallant men who contributed to bringing about the Armistice of November 11th, in order that the white-robed angle of peace might once again envelop the earth with her sheltering wings.

"Heroes; one and all! We renew our pledges and our homage to that great battalion of young American manhood, both at home and abroad, whose pulsating energy forced the great triumph of November 11th, 1918, and caused the weary Hun, to sue for peace, protection, and forgiveness.

"We are moreover gathered at this particular spot today to celebrate the completion of this beautiful bridge spanning the romantic Wissahickon, and to dedicate it to the cause of humanity!

"Its creation is a benefit to our fellow men, and this benefit has been most largely due to the able work and thoughtful recognition of our efforts, by the commissioners of Montgomery county, to save human life by the removal of a dangerous condition which was a constant menace to the well-being of so very many people. These men who recognized the great danger, are your neighbors and caretakers. Let me name them. They are: Daniel F. Stout, Samuel D. Crawford and J. Rein Keelor, -- with their solicitor, Henry M. Brownback. The efforts of these worthwhile men were ably seconded by the well-known and justly praised comptroller of our county: William C. Irwin, whose aid, encouragement and sympathy enabled Warren F. Cressman to go over the top, with the result, that we today are dedicating this structure which must prove of lasting benefit of all our people and the many thousands of strangers who travel through this section of our great country.

Our board of commissioners and our comptroller have stood by us! Let us not fall to stand by them when they need our help inasmuch a then by our votes, we may say to them: 'Well done, good and faithful servants, enter thou into the joy of the approval of your fellow citizens, because of this tribute being so richly deserved.'"

- Dr. Richard V. Mattison, November 18, 1926