Trenton Makes, The World Takes

The Lincoln Highway Bridge in Trenton was featured by photographer Mark K on flickr see nobody@flickr.com.

It was originally a toll bridge and opened Jan. 30, 1806, the first bridge to cross the Delaware River. In 1918, the tolls were removed and the Lincoln Highway was realigned to cross it in 1920. (It had originally crossed the Delaware River at the Calhoun Street Bridge.

In 1927, the bridge became part of US-1. In 1928, the current bridge replaced the original one. The year 1952 saw US-1 moved to the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge and this one became Alternate US-1 which is now marked Bus US-1 on the New Jersey side.

THE SIGN

The sign "Trenton Makes The World Takes" was originally put up in 1911. It is usually referred to as The Trenton Makes Bridge and the slogan has been adopted by the Trenton Chamber of Commerce. This was to espouse Trenton's huge role in manufacturing with its steel, wire rope, linoleum and ceramics industries.

In 1917, it was enlarged with 24,000 incadescent bulbs and the sign was removed whebn the new bridge was built. The sign remained off during the Depression and was replaced with neon in 1935. It is believed to be the world's largest neon community sign at 330 feet.

The sign fell into disrepair due to neglect until the Chamber undertook a restoration in 1981, adding even high efficient neon lighting.

See www.stanglpottery.org/trentonbridge.htm

Something I'd Like to See Some Day. Pretty Impressive. --RoadDog