The Black Bass Hotel and the Lumberville–Raven Rock Bridge

On the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River about 8 miles north of New Hope, Pennsylvania and 10 miles south of Frenchtown, New Jersey sits the small river town of Lumberville, Pennsylvania.

After an outing yesterday in nearby Lambertville and Stockton, New Jersey, we ended the day by driving to the Black Bass Hotel on River Road in Lumberville to relax and enjoy a tap beer before heading back home.

The Black Bass Hotel was originally built in the 1740s and has a distinct British feel to it and boasts one the largest collections of vintage British memorabilia in the US. The hotel seems to always be full and serves as a nice bed-and-breakfast type of getaway during all four seasons. It does a brisk dining business and has a nice relaxing bar with an English pub atmosphere.

---

---

---

---

Here are a few points of interest from the Bass Hotel's HISTORY & LORE webpage:

• Built in the 1740s, the Inn originally known as The Lumberville Hotel served as a haven for river travelers, traders, and sportsmen.

• It’s true… George Washington DID NOT sleep here. While he was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, he knocked on the door and was turned away. Why? The innkeeper, a “Tory,” was loyal to the British Crown.

• The pewter bar in the Tavern is from the famous Maxim’s of Paris.

A very short walk Northbound on River Road brings you to the Pennsylvania entrance to the Lumberville–Raven Rock Toll-Supported Pedestrian Bridge. This toll-free bridge permits pedestrian and bicycle traffic and traverses the approximately 800-foot wide Delaware River.

---

The New Jersey entrance to this bridge is on Bull's Island Recreation Area which is in the hamlet of Raven Rock, New Jersey.

This bridge with its four stone spans was originally built in the 1850s and has survived a number of major floods. The superstructure was originally a wooden covered bridge. However in the 1940s the timber spans were considered to be unsafe and a complete redesign was undertaken as a 5-span suspension bridge using a multi-catenary design. While much of the original stone substructure is still present, the superstructure (i.e. the decking, railings, lighting, approach ways, etc) has received several major rehabilitations over the years.

---

---

Here is the inscription from a plaque that was affixed to this bridge during its rededication ceremony in May 2013.

This rare multi-catenary, pedestrian-only suspension bridge was designed and constructed by John A. Roebling's Sons Co. of Trenton, N.J. - the famed builders of the Brooklyn Bridge. It replaced a former vehicular bridge that consisted of four original wooden covered spans and a single steel-truss replacement span. The original bridge at this location operated as a shareholder-owned toll crossing for 75 years before being freed of tolls in 1932.

Superstructure constructed - 1947
Superstructure rehabilitated - 2013

---

---

---

This is a nice bridge to walk over as it gives you some spectacular views of the Delaware River and the Black Bass Hotel. However, you can definitely feel it swaying a bit from a combination of the wind, water, and other people walking on it. There was also a very large American flag that was hanging from the PA side of the bridge.

---

Here are a few links of interest, including a Google Maps image showing the bridge, the Black Bass Hotel, the Lumberville General Store, and the Bull's Island Recreation Area:

• Google Maps: Lumberville–Raven Rock Bridge, Black Bass Hotel, and Lumberville General Store
• Historical Marker Database: Lumberville - Ravenrock Toll-Supported Pedestrian Bridge Rededication May 2013
• Lumberville-Raven Rock pedestrian bridge rehab wins design award

All images @cognoscere and taken on Saturday February 4, 2017 in Lumberville, Pennsylvania. (Sony RX100 V)